Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tim watched in bemusement as Lucy jumped out of bed, rushing to her dresser to grab clothes for the day. She was still in her pajamas—cotton shorts and a tank top—her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun as she moved around the space in a flurry.

“Babe, why are you freaking out? It’ll be fine,” Tim tried to calm her and she just glared at him.

“Fine? Tim, Grey called us in ahead of time. Ahead of roll call—which we both have to be in thanks to Nolan being on his honeymoon—because we have things to discuss.”  

“Yeah, and we knew that we’d be having this discussion with him soon,” Tim said pointedly.

“Tim, we got married before we even told him we were dating and then just sprang it on him at Nolan’s wedding. Actually, scratch that, we didn’t even tell him! We showed up in matching wardrobe!” Her arms were flailing as she stood with jeans in one hand and her T-shirt in another, while she looked at Tim who was watching her wide-eyed in the doorway to their closet. “Why are you just standing there? Get a move on, we’re going to be late!”

 Tim walked out of his closet, sliding his hands around her waist and planting a firm kiss on her lips. Lucy immediately stilled, calmed by his mouth and hands. Her arms went slack, clothes hanging limply by her sides.

He pulled away and met her eyes, moving his hands to her cheeks, “It’s going to be fine. I’m not in your chain of command and we were planning to disclose today anyway. We might get a slap on the wrist, but we will be okay.”

For a moment she looked like she believed him, and Tim felt himself relax. But then her face screwed up, “Yeah I don’t think so.”

Rolling his eyes, Tim blew out a breath. There was only one way he was going to get her out of her head. “Okay. I’m going to take a shower.” He dropped his hands and headed to their bathroom.

Lucy’s eyes trailed after him and she bit her lip in consideration, “Right now?”

Tim pulled his shirt off letting it fall to the ground, “What’s it look like?” He shot back without turning around, switching on the shower and promptly pulling off his underwear.

Lucy tossed her clothes to the bed, hurrying after him, “Wait for me!”

Tim and Lucy stood across from Sergeant Grey as he stared quietly at them in his office. Lucy tried to remain stoic, but her insides were doing somersaults. Tim distracting her in the shower that morning only worked for about fifteen minutes afterwards and then she was back to freaking out. Tim remained a calm, steady presence by her side, even preparing peppermint tea for the day instead of coffee or chai.

It wasn’t helping.

She rubbed her finger over where her ring should be, having become accustomed to it since they outed themselves at Nolan’s wedding. Grey’s eyes flicked towards the movement, and she immediately stilled, clenching her hands into fists.

Finally, he spoke, “You know…if I had hair, it’d be grey by now.”

“Sir…” Tim began to speak, but Grey held up a hand.

“Listen…I always knew we’d end up here. Ever since Luna and I did that team bonding exercise at our house. Hell, even before that. I just didn’t think that five seconds I found out you were dating, I’d find out you were married.” He shook his head, breathing out a sardonic laugh as Lucy gave Tim a look that said ‘I told you so.’

“Sir—” Lucy started, “We didn’t mean to keep it from you. We were actually planning to tell you today—”

“Save it.” Grey reached into his desk, pulling out some paperwork and setting it on the surface in front of them, tapping his finger on the small stack, “Declaration of relationship, Change of Address. Fill these out and get them back to me. You are already in different areas and out of her chain of command, thank god.”

Lucy and Tim exchanged a glance, remembering that when this all started, they were most decidedly not out of each other’s chain of command. But that wasn’t the point here. They weren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“I don’t think I need to tell you the rules here,” Grey said, sliding the paperwork across the desk “You must remain professional at all times, keep marital issues at home. I’m submitting this to HR and leadership but otherwise this will not be advertised.”

“Yes, sir,” Tim and Lucy both nodded.

“I’m not going to say you will never ride together again. Heaven knows you two are more professional than quite a few officers, even on a bad day.” He then focused his gaze solely on Lucy, “Chen, are you still planning on going the detective route? We haven’t talked about it since you asked to stay on patrol.”

“I’m still weighing my options, sir. I know the exam is coming up, and I’ve been reviewing the materials, but I’d rather take my time, make sure it’s right,” Lucy said thoughtfully.

Grey smiled, “Of course, how about this…I’ll talk to Harper and Lopez, see if there might be some opportunity to shadow them as certain cases come up. You know, get exposure to the position outside of UC?” Lucy’s eyes lit up and Tim’s eyes twinkled as he watches her expression.

“Absolutely!” She nodded enthusiastically, “Thank you sir.” 

“You’re welcome,” Grey replied, “It won’t be all the time, you know, we still need you on patrol. But we can take it case by case. And then a lot of this might eventually resolve itself.”

“Of course,” she nodded, turning to beam at Tim who was already grinning. 

“Alright, before we get to roll call, Bradford, Harper is needed back with the defectives, so I need you to act as Celina’s Training Officer til Nolan gets back.”

“Got it,” Tim nodded.

“Hey Harper, Lopez,” Lucy said walking over to their desks, “Grey told me he spoke with you two about me shadowing you guys from time to time?”

“Yeah,” Harper said, “It’s a good call. Because of your previous focus on UC, you didn’t always get embedded in the nuances of regular detective work. Everything was high-risk, high-stakes.”

“Yeah,” Angela agreed, “There are other focus areas and nuances that you need to be aware of as a homicide detective. Personal risk decreases, but paperwork and puzzles skyrocket.”

“I’m definitely well aware,” Lucy smiled, but before she could continue Harper’s phone began vibrating on the table.

“Now why is Nolan calling me from his honeymoon? And a face time at that?” she frowned, while Angela and Lucy made faces as Harper answered the call.

“Are you calling to rub in how beautiful your island paradise is?”

“I wish. This place is run down, the phone and internet are very spotty, there was a creeper outside our window watching us sleep for an hour, and now we found a body.”

Lucy and Angela exchanged a glance and went to join Nyla at her desk.

“Seriously? A body?” Angela wrinkled her nose as she looked at Nolan’s face on the screen.

“Yeah…the housekeeper just washed up on the beach. Something is wrong here, a-and local law enforcement is non-existent.” The phone glitched for a moment, “I’m worried somebody maybe found out I was a cop and is targeting—could you—”  The call dropped and the trio was left hanging.

“Seems like he might need some back up,” Angela observed and the two women looked at her.

“Are you suggesting we what…take a trip to the tropics to help him?” Nyla asked drily and Angela’s smirked.

“You know…I wasn’t, but now I am,” she turned to Lucy, “You want in?”

Lucy’s eyes lit up, “Uh, yeah!”

“Oh, perfect timing! Sergeant Grey, we have a problem,” Harper stopped him in his tracks as he walked by their desks, “Uh, Nolan just called. They found a dead body on the beach.”

Grey rolled his eyes. Of course Nolan of all people would go on his honeymoon only to be embroiled in a crisis, “Why do I feel like I should be more surprised about that?”

“Yeah, our thoughts too,” Harper quipped.

Lucy stifled a laugh, “By now we’ve just accepted that he and Bailey are basically trouble magnets.”

“He doesn’t have his gun, no back up, and now he’s in the middle of an active crime scene. We want to go down there,” Angela said.

“To an island where you have no jurisdiction?” Grey frowned, “By the time you even get the funds approved to book the travel, he’ll be celebrating his anniversary.”

“I can put it on Wesley’s card, which makes it my card. He’s always saying we should take a vacation and then the department can reimburse us,” Angela smirked while Harper and Lucy watched on.

“The department won’t cover first class,” Grey shot back.

“But the trust fund does,” Angla grinned.

“Ok,” Grey sighed, “Seriously, do you think Nolan needs saving, or are you just looking for an excuse to get out of the office?”

“Who says two things can’t coexist?” Lucy stifled a grin at Angela’s words and Grey threw his hands up. It was a mastermind negotiation.

“Oh, sir!” Harper stopped him before Grey could retreat into his office, “Permission to take Officer Chen along? It is quite a unique case.”

The trio stood expectantly in front of Sergeant Grey as he leveled them with an unimpressed yet amused look. Sighing again, he shook his head, “Fine. But Chen—Bradford—whatever name you’re going to go by, make sure you call Tim and let him know please? The last thing I need is for him to come back from patrol to suddenly find out you’ve fled the country to go solve a murder.”

“You’re doing what now?” Tim’s voice sounded through the phone as the detective and officer trio drove to the airport. Angela and Harper exchanged grins as they listened to the call, having goaded Lucy into keeping it on speaker.

“We’re going to help Nolan investigate a murder. A dead body washed up on the beach, and their law enforcement is not going to do anything anytime soon,” Lucy replied holding the speaker near her mouth.

“I don’t like this. He and I are on good terms, but it doesn’t mean that I trust him with your life in unfamiliar territory.”

“Tim I’ll be fine. Harper and Lopez are with me. We’ll be well armed. But we lost contact with Nolan and we’re worried.”

“Who finds a dead body on their honeymoon?! If we were on our honeymoon we wouldn’t leave the damn room. What the hell were they doing there that they had time to find a fucking body?”

No one could contain their laughter. As much as Lucy wanted to chastise him, he wasn’t wrong. “That’s what we’re going to find out. I will be careful, I promise. I will text you when we land and then as soon as I can once we have cell service.”

“Please, please be careful. Nolan is a trouble magnet at best. I need you back in one piece alright?” His voice was urgent, strained. When she really thought about it, the last time they’d been apart was a little less than a year ago when she was in Sacramento. And that was less than a two-hour flight and within the same state. Now they’d be separated by water and five hours? And going to see Nolan, who he just got back on good terms with. Lucy was surprised he was taking it this well.

“I promise. No crazy risks. Just helping out a friend. We’ve requested back up as well.

“I should be your damn backup.” Tim grumbled.

“You just focus on training Celina okay? We’ll be fine. And then you owe me a real honeymoon,” her expression transitioned into a smirk imagining Tim trying to hide his own smile. 

“The night under the stars at the Grand Canyon wasn’t enough?”

“That was our wedding night, we have yet to have the honeymoon.”

“I guess I better start planning then. Be safe, okay? Lopez, Harper! You be careful too and make sure my wife gets back in one piece!” Lucy grinned hearing Tim call her his ‘wife.’ It had only been a month and she was still getting used to the fact that she and Tim were married. Husband and wife. Joy bubbled up inside every time she thought about it.

Angela rolled her eyes, “Your wife is just as much of a badass as we are. We will be fine. But thank you for caring Timothy.”

Lucy could hear the eye roll through the phone and resisted the urge to giggle. “I know you’re all badasses Lopez. Doesn’t mean I don’t have a knot in my stomach when you’re going to see the guy who can find crime when he’s supposed to be in bliss. Call me as soon as you can, okay? I love you.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you soon.” She said and hung up.

“This is the island? Who the booked this place?” Angela turned her nose up as she looked around while they walked towards the villas from the ferry dock. The island looked almost deserted. Eerily quiet. Not at all like a tropical paradise.

“Bailey said they had a great website,” Lucy said squinting her eyes, her back towards the ocean.

“Well they clearly falsely advertised, do either of you have any service?”  Angela asked and the two other women pulled out their phones.

“Nope,” Harper said, and Lucy shook her head confirming the same. “Ugh this means we can’t track their phones or get an eta on our back up.”

“I don’t like this,” Angela said as they continued to walk.

“Yeah, there is no one around to greet you,” Harper added.

“Or hear you scream,” Lucy chimed sarcastically, hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder.  As if on cue a scream sounded in the distance and Lucy couldn’t help but roll her eyes, sighing as she dropped her bag as the two detectives followed suit, “Of course that would happen. Of course he would be here.” It was like a fucking horror movie.

Grabbing their guns and badges, the trio took off towards the villas, moving cautiously through the overgrown pathways of the rundown island, their boots crunching on sand and gravel. They eventually located the Honeymoon villa that the newlyweds booked.

“What the hell? There put up cameras all over the place,” Angela’s said after they cleared the room.

“Can you get to the footage?” Lucy asked, walking over to Harper who was standing at the desk examining the equipment.

“I’m not quite sure if I want to,” Harper grimaced while she tapped through the tablet.

“Just squint. Hopefully you won’t see anything,” Angela grinned as she examined the map of the resort, “It looks like there are some cabins over in the east.”

Harper and Lucy stood over the tablet, their eyes trained on each clip, trying to find any sign of what was going on. “So far nothing,” Lucy sighed as Harper swiped again, “Just a bunch of opossums and then…what the hell, who sleeps in their bed fully clothed? With shoes?!”

“Well in all fairness, if they had already discovered the body and given the straight up horror movie we’ve stepped into…I don’t really blame them,” Harper pointed out, but Lucy ignored the logic with a shake of her head. Tim was right, this would’ve never been them.

Harper continued to swipe, when Lucy suddenly noticed something different, “Wait! That looks like a live feed.” Angela joined them at the desk. Nolan and Bailey were being held hostage by some creepy looking man with a bandaged face. They looked fairly roughed up and dirty, but otherwise unharmed.

After figuring out which direction the remaining cabins were, they took off out of the villa, sprinting through the rugged terrain, ducking low-hanging branches, guns drawn, in search of the couple. Fortunately, right as they reached a clearing there was a ragged scream in the distance that told them which way to go. Locating Nolan and Bailey, they found that they’d already taken down the suspect, so Lucy stepped in to secure him, while Nolan released Bailey from her binds, and they helped the injured property manager.

Of course, back up arrived just as the dust settled, but it was just in time for them to take their suspect into custody. Angela had firmly instructed their ferryman to stay docked until they returned, allowing Nolan and Bailey to get cleaned up, changed and packed. They were ready in record time, wanting to forget all about their ‘Honeymoon from Hell,’ as Angela dubbed it.

The sweet smell of something baking traveled up Lucy’s nostrils, assaulting her senses as she opened the door to the mudroom from the garage. Setting her duffle bag down and toeing off her shoes she stretched a bit, hearing the faint sound of a whisk against a metal bowl drawing her toward the kitchen.

Tim was standing at the island with his back to her, a dusting of flour on the side of his tight, black t-shirt and a small smile his face. Now that she was closer, she could discern the scent of vanilla and sugar. An open container of colorful sprinkles sat nearby, and he was meticulously spooning batter into lined tins.

Without a word, she slid her arms around his waist from behind, resting her cheek against his back. He didn’t startle—he never did. Instead, he smiled, a small, knowing curve of his lips, and let out a low, contented hum.

“Hey, you,” he murmured, his voice warm and steady, as he leaned back slightly into her embrace, his hand briefly covering hers before resuming his task. “Welcome back.”

Lucy snorted a light laugh, squeezing him a little tighter, “I was hardly gone. We spent more time traveling than we actually did on that god-awful island.”

“Was it really that bad?” He asked, pouring another scoop of batter into a lined tin.

“Oh my god,” Lucy moved from behind him to go wash her hands at the kitchen sink. “It looked like what you’d imagine The Shining would be if it took place on a remote island.”

“Why did they even go there?”

“I have no clue. Apparently, they were swindled,” Lucy shrugged.

“You know…for a cop and a lieutenant in the army reserve they’re…ridiculously gullible,” Tim rolled his eyes, “I mean the porn filming at her house, now this?” He picked up the trays and placed them into the oven, Lucy’s eyes tracking his every move.

“Speaking of porn…did you know Nolan bought this like insane state of the art camera package? And he brought it with them?”

Tim shot her a look of disgust, “Ew were they making their own?”

“Oh come on, you act like we haven’t made our fair share of videos,” she shot back and Tim grinned.

“Yeah but ours are hot…not…whatever Nolan’s would be,” he grabbed the container of powdered sugar and began scooping cups into a sifter.

“Well…” she grimaced for a moment, “You’re not wrong. We had to review their footage to figure out what happened to them.”

Tim’s eyes widened, “Oh shit, did you see them…?”

“On the contrary,” Lucy snorted, “Not a thing. The only thing I saw fucking on screen were some opossums. In fact, at one point Nolan and Bailey were in the bed, over the covers, fully clothed and with shoes on.”

“Well in all fairness, they did stumble on a murder,” Tim pointed out as he added softened butter to the bowl of powdered sugar and beginning to whisk.

Lucy shook her head, “Yeah, Harper said the same thing. And I’ll give them that bit, but it’s like you said, if that was our honeymoon we wouldn’t have even had time to discover a dead body.”

“True,” He smirked, adding a bit of vanilla and a few tablespoons of milk and beginning to whisk again, this time much more rapidly.

“Ok, I know what you’re making,” Lucy said unable to keep her curiosity at bay any longer, “but now I need to know why you’re baking cupcakes at 11 o’clock at night?”

“Genny called,” Tim grinned, picking up the frosting covered whisk to check the consistency. Not yet happy with the result, he returned the utensil to the bowl, rapidly whipping. “Apparently, she agreed to bring cupcakes to Tyler’s game tomorrow and the boys decided they wanted to help.”

“Oh,” Lucy raised her eyebrows and then scrunched up her nose, recalling the time they let their nephews bake chocolate chip cookies and they ended up using salt instead of sugar.

“Yeah,” Tim responded, “All I know is that she called me in a panic, certain there was eggshell in the batter and double the amount of oil than the recipe called for. Not to mention the oven started smoking.”

“Yikes,” her eyes widened, “So Uncle Tim to the rescue?”

He shrugged, “It wasn’t much trouble, I have all the ingredients. I’m going to drop them off to her before shift tomorrow.” He paused, tasting a small dab from the whisk on his finger, and nodded in approval. Satisfied, he grabbed the tub of rainbow sprinkles, pouring a generous amount into the mixture.

“Funfetti cupcakes from scratch? You are seriously the best uncle ever,” she asked, amused.

He glanced up, mock serious. “Store-bought mix is for amateurs,” he said with a wink, as she laughed, already reaching for a spoon to swipe some frosting.

“Hey! I need this!” He glared.

“But it looks so yummy!” She pouted and he shot her a playful look.

“Tell you what…if you’re good…I’ll let you lick the frosting off the bowl.”

Lucy raised her eyebrows, her expression turning heated as she sidled up to him, breasts pressing against his chest, “And what if I’m really good? Do I get to lick the frosting off you?”

Tim smirked, giving as good as he was getting, “If you’re really good, you can this this frosting and mine.”

She tossed her head back with a laugh, pressing closer to him and pushing up on her toes to plant a slow kiss on his lips, “I’ll hold you to that Bradford. You finish those cupcakes, I’m going to shower.” She sauntered off, a little extra sway in her hips and his eyes trailed after her hungrily. He thought about following for a moment, but he’d for sure burn the cupcakes. Perhaps, if time was on his side, he’d be able to get things done in time to join her.

When the timer chimed a few minutes later, Tim quickly grabbed an oven mitt, opening the top oven door to reveal two trays of perfect cupcakes. He carefully transferred the trays to a cooling rack and then repeated the actions with the bottom oven. He glanced toward the hallway, hearing the faint sound of water running and smirked—Lucy was still in the shower. Perfect timing.

Patting himself on the back for being the type to ‘clean as you go,’ Tim placed the mitts back in the drawer and covered the bowl of frosting before making his way toward the bedroom.

Toeing off his moccasins he shed his T-shirt and joggers, silently entering the bathroom. The door to the shower had fogged up and he could see Lucy’s silhouette, blurred and softened by the steam in the air. She hummed quietly to herself, a tune that sounded vaguely familiar, but was drowned out by the stream of water.

He opened the door quickly and Lucy turned, feeling the woosh of the cool air behind her. She smirked as the spray rained down over her, “I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to join me.”

Tim’s wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning in close, “I couldn’t just abandon the cupcakes. Not when I’m going for best uncle ever.”

Lucy slid her hand up to his neck, her fingers threading through the short hairs at the nape of his neck, “Well how about you go for best husband ever?” She breathed against his mouth, which opened in anticipation.

“I thought that was already a giv—” she cut him off with her lips, pulling him under the spray with her. Tim groaned giving into her demanding kiss, pulling her slick body flush with his. Her nipples, budded and sensitive, dragged against his chest as she rubbed against him, sending a burst of arousal straight to her core. Tim swallowed her moan hungrily, his hands reaching down to knead her ass, shifting to press her against the slick shower wall. Lucy’s fingers trailed further upward, sliding through the longer strands of his hair near the top of his head. She gripped them gently at first, then tighter, tugging sharply, her touch a silent plea for more, pulling him even closer.

He ducked his head, bending his knees slightly to lick a path down the side of her neck.

“Lift me, babe,” she husked, “I need your teeth.”

Not one to leave her wanting, he lifted her easily, sliding her up the wall so her breasts were level with his mouth. With his body pressed against her to hold her in place, Tim took her right nipple between his lips. He flicked his tongue against the tight bud while his other hand worked her left nipple, flicking and tugging just the way she liked. A slight sting followed by the ebb of pleasure.

Lucy arched against him, pressing into his mouth and hand. He continued to lave at her right breast and Lucy pinched his neck.

“Stop teasing me. Bite me.”

“You’re feisty today,” Tim shot out before taking her nipple between is teeth and adding a bit of pressure before tugging. He mirrored the feeling with his left hand, pinching just a bit tighter and then pulling.

“Fuck,” Lucy hissed unable to think of a better comeback once she felt the pain that bloomed instantly. But just as quickly as it came, it unraveled into a wave of warmth as Tim soothed it with his tongue, switching to her left nipple and giving it the same treatment. She was left breathless, arousal pooling between her legs, her slick a stark contrast to the water.

“Fuck, Luce, I need to be inside you,” Tim groaned, sucking her hard then releasing her breast with a pop, audible above the stream. He couldn’t wait any longer. Whenever Lucy wanted things a little bit rougher, his cock got on board so fast it was as if she’d been blowing him.

“Yes,” she moaned in agreement, arching her pelvis to him as Tim reared back to get the right angle.

Their joining was intense as Tim’s hips surged forward to enter her, his cock filling her so deep, she gasped at the slight sting of him hitting her cervix.  Lucy braced herself against the shower wall and held up by Tim’s strong arms as he pounded into her. Her moans weren’t more than high pitched whines, jumbled with every thrust. Her breasts were heavy with arousal, and they sent another zing to her core each time they bounced.

“Touch yourself for me, baby, I don’t want you to fall,” he said roughly, feeling his orgasm looming closer as Lucy’s pussy began fluttering around his cock. She rushed to comply, her small fingers rubbing frantically just as Tim’s balls began to draw up, his cock swelling.

Their climax bounced off the shower walls moments later, their rhythm faltering as Tim’s hips stuttered, sending long spurts of his hot cum inside her. Lucy accepted it eagerly, her grip like a vice as her body jerked, riding out the aftershocks.

They grinned at each other, still breathless as Tim let her down, steadying her slightly when she wobbled. Rinsing them off quickly, he shut the water off, grabbing their towels to dry off.

“Don’t bother with clothes babe,” Tim smirked, as Lucy hung her towel on the hook. Instead, he tossed her robe, before grabbing his own, “There are some cupcakes that need icing.”

“Does that mean I was good?” she asked playfully, sliding her arms through the sleeves

“You better believe it,” Tim shot back.

“Well, if that icing tastes as good as it smells, it’s going to be some night.”

Chapter Text

Tim’s pen scratched the paper as he filled out yet another form. Sighing, he glanced at his watch. One more hour and he could head out.

He hadn’t heard from Lucy since she had gone back out on patrol earlier that day. He had made sure Aaron was fit to be back out on the streets and given Grey his evaluation and then retreated into his office to catch up on paperwork. Lucy popped in after processing a woman she’d arrested for shoplifting. She drew the blinds, locked the door, placed a paper bag on his desk filled with his favorite chili because if she wasn’t around, he wouldn’t eat until his stomach started yelling at him. Then she slotted herself on his lap, wanting “some lovin’ from her husband” before she had to go hit the streets again.  

She’d left him panting after her in his office, with a promise to make the night worth his while if he got home on time.

Tim had made a smart comeback telling her not to try any heroics that day because he too, had plans for her. She giggled as he pulled her back into him, planting a kiss on the exposed skin above her collar, whispering “be safe out there, baby” into her ear. They ended their brief interlude with ‘I love yous’ and promises to see each other later.

That motivating moment was how he found himself flying through his stack of reports. The once daunting height of the ‘to be completed’ pile had shifted to the ‘completed’ stack. It was a good feeling, especially since it meant he wouldn’t have any of it looming over his head the next day.  There would be nothing to take his attention from his gorgeous wife that night.

Tim scoffed to himself as he signed his name on another report and added it to the ‘completed’ stack. Who was he kidding? Lucy was the only thing that could drive him to distraction.

He was halfway through another document when he heard a rap at his door. Not wanting to pull his attention from his tasks, kept his head down, dramatically swooping another check mark as he called out, “Yeah?”

“Tim…”

It was Angela.

Hesitant. Quiet.

Not at all as he knows her to be.

His head shot up as dread begins to creep in. His brow furrowing as he took in her expression and body language as she made her way into his office. Her fingers picking at her nails. It was a nervous tell. Her nervous tell. One he hadn’t seen since that day at the hospital when Wesley had been stabbed.

“Are you alright? Wesley? Jack?”

She shook her head, slowly coming closer to his desk, “No…no they’re fine, uh…I just came back from a scene…”  

“Okay…” he said slowly, still frowning. “Do you need Metro on something?”

“No. No nothing like that. It’s just…Lucy was on scene with us…”

He drops his pen, shoving his chair back. Eyes wide, mouth drawn.

Oh god…Don’t tell me…Don’t FUCKING tell me…

“Ange—” he chokes out, chest tightening. Fuck he could barely breathe. “Wh-what are you here to tell me?” He couldn’t blink. His muscles felt frozen with tension.

Angela shook her head, as she opened her mouth, but he didn’t want to hear it. He couldn’t hear it. If they sent her…it-it had to be bad.

“For the love of god please tell me she’s…”

“She’s okay, Tim.”

His breath was released in a woosh. His eyes burning with relief.

“Then what? Where is she?” He stood up, immediately departing his office for the bullpen.  

“She took out the suspect. He’s in surgery now. We’re waiting to hear if he makes it.”

“Oh god. But then…where…where is she now? Is she here? Why are you telling me this? Is she with IA? What is going on?” He fired off question after question as Angela kept up with his stride.

“She was hit. Her radio caught the brunt of it. So she’s at the hospital to get checked out and to wait for news on the suspect.”

“Christ Angela, you couldn’t have led with that?” His expression held a soft accusation.

“I’m sorry, it—you were going to lose it no matter which way I delivered the news.” She said remorsefully, “Grey and Wesley are at the hospital now. Harper and I gave our statements on scene and Lucy insisted that I be the one to come tell you.”

“Fuck. I gotta get over there now.”  He turned to head towards the exit when Angela stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“She’s okay, Tim. At least physically. Get her stuff first. She doesn’t have any clothes. And then go be with your wife.”

Tim rushed through the hospital doors, his heart pounding harder than it had in years. This was a close call. He knew the risks they took. Hell, he was the one reminding her of the risks of the job. But knowing didn’t make it easier. In every sense, Lucy was his partner. In life, in love, and if you asked anyone, they still made the best partnership in all of Mid Wilshire, despite not being able to ride together any longer. The idea of her facing that kind of danger without him at her six shook him to his core.

When he finally found her room, Lucy was sitting with her legs crossed on the hospital bed, looking small and scared in the ugly hospital gown and a pair of sweats. Her thumb and forefinger picked at her bottom lip with a trembling hand, her knees bouncing anxiously. He breathed a sigh of relief as he laid eyes on her and Lucy’s tearful eyes immediately went to him. Tim ignored the officer standing guard at her door and set her bag down on the nearby chair.

“Hey,” he breathed, “Are you hurt?” This was no place for ‘are you okay?’ She was most certainly not okay, but he needed to be sure that she wasn’t physically hurt before they could lean into the deep cut of the emotional wounds.

Lucy’s head shook frantically, the lump in her throat tangible as she tried to hold back her tears. Tim’s hand went to her head, stroking her hair soothingly, “My God, baby. You didn't have to take my hero suggestion so literally.”

Her eyes flicked up to him and the tears broke, “I don’t feel like a hero…At all.”

“Angela told me a bit of what happened. Has there been any news?” He asked calmy, his hand alternating between stroking her head and massaging her shoulder gently.

“He's still in surgery right now,” Lucy said distantly as her gaze went to the hall where Grey and Wesley stood. Then she looked back at Tim, “What if he dies, Tim? Fuck, what if I killed that guy?”

Tim added a bit more pressure to the hand on her shoulder, ducking his head to meet her eyes as he cupped her jaw, “Then we'll deal with it.”

They were interrupted by Grey and Wesley entering, thankfully to bring some relief by informing her that the suspect had made it through surgery. Tim offered a quiet moment of gratitude, followed by a silent plea to the universe that he remained alive.

“He’s alive?” She asked in disbelief, her voice wet. Tugging Lucy closer into him, Tim felt her relax slightly as she listened to the two other men rattle off next steps.

“Can the statement wait? Tomorrow morning?” Tim asked them imploringly. Lucy was in no state to deliver her statement right now. Grey nodded, tapping Wesley to exit and Tim turned his attention back to Lucy. Her trembling hadn’t subsided. She was desperately trying to hold it together.

“Come on…” He tugged at her shoulder encouraging her to stand, “Let’s go home.”

“Okay…but first…can you just hold me?” her voice was small, barely a whisper. Tim’s eyes softened even further as he immediately pulled her into his arms.

“Of course,” he whispered back, “I’ve got you.”

Tim could see the exhaustion etched into Lucy’s expression as they crossed the threshold of their house, Kojo greeting them enthusiastically. Lucy bent down to cuddle him, murmuring words against his fur as Tim placed their bags down on the bench. He watched as she rose back up to full height, toeing off her shoes before heading to the doors to the backyard to let him out. She paused in the doorway once Kojo was outside, keeping her eyes on him as he chased some imaginary animal. He could see the weight of her thoughts in the tension of her shoulders. They hadn’t spoken much since they left the hospital. Tim knew she wasn’t ready yet, but he also knew that she’d be heading for a breaking point if she didn’t find some way to quiet her mind.

Without a word, he walked over, placing his hands on her arms, giving a gentle squeeze. He felt her take in a breath and release it before closing the door. “Come on,” he said quietly, guiding her into their bedroom and then toward the bathroom, his hand a steady pressure on her lower back. He switched on the shower, adjusting the knobs to their preferred setting to get the water termperature just right.

Silently, he unzipped her hoodie, bringing it down her shoulders. She hadn’t bothered with a bra at the hospital and her breasts bounced slightly as they were freed. Next, he slowly drew her leggings and underwear down, keeling so she could step out of them. She stood naked before him and Tim quickly shed his own clothes as a faint whisp of steam began filling the room.  He maneuvered them under the spray and felt Lucy release another breath as the warm water first hit her skin. He decided to pour some body wash into his hands rather than her sea sponge. This shower was less about cleansing the body and more about the mind, and so he hoped that his touch could help calm her nerves a bit. His fingers carefully washed her, adding gentle pressure with each pass of his hand. Lucy leaned into him grateful that he was taking the lead, feeling her body relax into his touch.

When they finally stepped out, Tim wrapped her in a soft towel and kissed her forehead, guiding her into the bedroom to change. Sensing that ultimate comfort was key for that evening, he pulled out his grey Henly and fuzzy wool socks, both of which were Lucy’s favorite. He handed them to her, and she sent him an appreciative look as she tossed the towel aside and pulled the shirt over her head before grabbing some underwear and sliding the socks on.

Tim quickly threw on a T-shirt, underwear and joggers, sliding his slippers on and then moving to stand in front of Lucy, his hand outstretched.

“Come on,” he said softly, and she took his hand allowing him to lead her from the room. Guiding her to the couch, she sat as he pulled over the plush throw blanket that was on the corner of the couch, tucking it around her.

He grabbed the remote, handing it to her, just as the doorbell chimed, “Here. Why don’t you find something for us to watch, while I grab dinner? Maybe we finally catch up on Top Chef?”

Lucy sent him a tired smile, “Sounds good.” He rubbed her leg briefly and gave her an affectionate smile before he went to retrieve the food that he’d ordered earlier, not wanting to remove his attention from her for too long to cook anything. He plated her veggie burger and extra pickles and his beef burger, while placing their fries in the air fryer to re-crisp. He only hoped that by ordering her favorite meal it’d entice her to eat something.  

Moments later, he placed their meals on the coffee table then settled himself down next to her after grabbing some water for them both. She hadn’t touched anything.

“Babe, you’ve gotta eat something. You may have brought me lunch, but I know you probably only grabbed a bar.” He held up a fry in front of her, brushing a stray strand of damp hair from her face. “I can do an airplane if that’ll help, but I draw the line at choo-choo trains.”

He saw the first flicker of light in her eyes at his little quip when she glared at him playfully, grabbing the fry from him and popping it into her mouth. He offered another and she repeated the action, activating her hunger. They slowly ate together as the TV played the first episode of the newest season of Top Chef and Lucy settled into the show.

A couple of episodes later, Tim could sense that the show was no longer doing its job to distract Lucy. Her eyelids were heavy, but she never allowed herself to settle, snapping back to attention and then darting around the room each time. Finally, her eyes would fix either on the TV or past it her brow slightly furrowing. She tried to appear calm, but the slight tremor of her crisscrossed legs betrayed the storm of thoughts. He knew that look all too well—her mind was running circles, untamed and relentless, likely replaying the shooting and then leaping from one scenario to the next about the possible outcome.

He nudged her a bit, and she startled slightly, her eyes darting to his, and he offered a soft smile. "Come back to me," he said gently.

“Sorry…I—” she started, but Tim shook his head, cutting her off.

“No, babe. Don’t apologize. You went through a lot today. I could just see you getting lost in your thoughts.”

“I-I just can’t stop thinking about what might happen…a-and I haven’t given my statement yet…what if…?” She was working herself up and Tim could see she was heading for a meltdown.

“Hey… hey… Luce, everything’s going to be alright, okay?” Tim’s voice was soft as he tried to ease her nerves. But he saw the way she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, the silence doing little to hide the whirlwind of thoughts spinning behind her eyes. He sighed quietly, then stood and switched off the TV. “Alright, up you get.”

Her brows knit together in confusion as he reached for her, pulling her gently to her feet before scooping her effortlessly into his arms.

“Tim, what—?” she started, looking around as he carried her to their bedroom.

Depositing her on the edge of the bed, he knelt between her legs, his hands steady on her waist. His gaze was calm but firm as he spoke. “I know you, babe. You’re going to turn this over in your mind all night—thinking about your statement, waiting to hear from IA and the hospital. You won’t sleep. So, I gotta get you out of your head.”

“And how are you gonna do that?” she asked distractedly, her voice distant, and Tim knew right then she wasn’t in a good place. Normally, she would’ve caught on immediately to the implications of their location and the way he was kneeling between her legs. But this time, her mind was somewhere else entirely.

He gave her thigh a playful pinch, just enough to draw her attention back to him, his hands sliding up the smooth skin of her legs. His fingers found the waistband of her underwear, hooking into the delicate fabric. He paused, his hands stilling as their eyes met, his gaze steady and focused. “By doing one of the things I do best…” he murmured, his voice low, carrying the faintest hint of a smirk.

He slid the soft cotton down the curve of her legs, his touch unhurried, as if they had all the time in the world. The shift in her expression was subtle at first—a flicker of warmth. Then he spread her legs and the realization dawned fully, her eyes sparking with heat and understanding as her breath hitched.

Though his movements were slow, they were intentional and no less intense. He gave her cunt a long slow lick, feeling her release a long breath, preparing for him. He latched on, mouthing her vigorously and she let out a small cry of surprise, despite the initial warning of his tongue.

Her body jerked and arched as he licked her folds, working her up into a frenzy, spurred on by her moans and soft cries, the fingers gripping his hair. He kept his whole mouth on her, engulfing her pussy, suctioning her pussy her while his tongue worked her clit. Lucy’s breathing was heavy above him as her first orgasm washed over her and her body stiffened and then relaxed. She released a final long breath that sounded like relief, and he eased up, pressing gentle kisses against her inner thighs as her body calmed.

“Thank you,” she breathed, and Tim looked up from between her legs as she propped herself up on her elbows.

“You never need to thank me for taking care of you, baby.” He said, brushing a kiss against her mound, “But…I’m not done yet. And I won’t be until you can’t talk.”

Lucy’s eyes widened a bit as Tim gently pushed her back down to the bed, sliding her back a bit further and climbing on himself. He laid on his stomach, her legs bracketing his shoulders and he pushed her thighs further apart, whispering, “Just relax.” And then he was dragging his fingers down her glistening folds, petting gently, Lucy’s hips twitching slightly. He let the tips of his blunt nails scrape over her outer lips before pressing his index and middle finger down, trapping her clit, bringing it forward. He pulled back the hood, exposing her tiny stiff bud and blew, feeling her hips tremble at the sensation.

Leaning in, he released a stream of saliva that dripped down over her and let his bottom lip drag lightly, testing her response. When Lucy hissed at the sharp pleasure but didn’t jerk away, he flattened his tongue, lavishing her nub. Her hips jumped off the bed, her shout bouncing off the walls of the room and Tim hooked his arms around her thighs, pulling her back down to the bed, but didn’t release his mouth. Instead, he redoubled his efforts, pulling her hood back again and latching onto his target. He collected saliva in his mouth as he sucked, drenching her already sopping pussy even further. He pulled with his lips and massaged with his fingers. Never too fast, but always steady, purposefully working her higher and higher as she thrashed.

Her second orgasm was harsh, exploding out from her clit to the rest of her body as if she had been shocked. Her pelvis leapt off the bed as she cried out, the force of it surprising her a bit. Tim followed her movements, keeping his mouth on her until it became too much and she grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head up.  

Instead of completely moving away, Tim eased two fingers into her weeping hole, pumping slowly, feeling the flutters of the aftershocks around his digits. It took longer for her to come down this time, her body slightly shuddering with every gentle thrust. He ran his tongue over her hip bones, planting small sucking kisses on either side until he felt her labored breathing subside. Keeping the pace of his thrusts, he began to curl his fingers, brushing up against her little spongy bundle that was just right for his fingers to reach. His motions were at the steady pace Lucy loved, and always with the pleasurable end in mind. Tim listened as her moans began to increase and he sped up just so. Taking his free hand, he gathered a bit of her arousal, trailing his finger down over her perineum to nudge against her puckered hole. He slipped in easily, her entrance already well lubricated by her juices and he pumped in time with the fingers in her pussy. Her hips were bucking in time, and he could feel her climax approaching as she began to flutter.

His tongue returned to her clit, only getting a few wet flutters in when Lucy wailed, her pussy gushing over his fingers and face.  He ducked down, lapping up every drop, relishing in the taste of her juices as the sounds of her pleasure took over the room. Tim pulled back, his fingers still coaxing the last dredges of her orgasm from her until she finally relaxed.

Moving from his place between her legs, he looked up at Lucy. His beautiful wife seemed as if she was melting into the bed and he smiled softly, nodding to himself, pleased that it appeared his plan worked. Her mind appeared to finally be silent for the first time that day, her lids heavy, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

Tim pulled her shirt back down before retreating into the bathroom to grab a wet washcloth. As he cleaned her up, she made a little sound, turning her head to face him.

“Mmmm…thank you, baby,” she breathed, her eyes drifting shut, and he leaned down, kissing her cheek.

“I told you…you don’t need to thank me for taking care of you,” he whispered against her skin and she let out a small sound of acknowledgement finally succumbing to sleep.

Lucy lashes fluttered as the stream of light landed on her face through the curtains and she turned her head away to avoid it. She had fallen into a dreamless sleep, thoroughly sated and her mind blissfully blank the night before. This morning her body felt light, as though a weight had been lifted overnight, leaving her strangely and wonderfully refreshed.

She stretched lazily, letting out a groan as her arms stretched out to the sides when she was suddenly struck by the realization that she was alone in bed. It wasn’t Tim’s embrace keeping her warm and cozy, but the fluffy down comforter that she was wrapped in. She let out a soft sigh, sinking back into the bed’s inviting warmth, unwilling to leave its sanctuary just yet. As her senses sharpened, the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted into the room, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the shower switching on and water cascading onto tile.

A smile came over her face as the last remnants of sleep dissolved and Lucy slipped out of bed, padding quietly toward the bathroom, only one thought on her mind. There he was, standing beneath the steady stream of water, one hand braced against the wall, his head tipped back as droplets traced down his face. He looked like a damn adonis, lost in the moment, savoring the relaxing warmth. Shedding his henley, Lucy opened the door, stepping into the shower. At first, he didn’t notice her, but the moment her arms encircled his waist, he turned. His sleepy eyes softened when they met hers, his lips curving into a tender smile.

“Good morning,” she murmured, leaning into him, and he chuckled, pulling her closer, slanting his mouth over hers.

“Mmm…good morning,” he muttered against her lips, “How are you feeling?”

“It seems my catchphrase is ‘pleasantly numb’ when it comes to you,” she smirked and Tim grinned softly.

“Well, I did my job then,” he said, ducking down again for a kiss.

“You did and…” Lucy pulled away and sank down to her knees, pushing his back against the wall, “Now that I’m feeling better, I think it’s time I returned the favor.”

“Luce, you know you don’t have to. That was all about you,” Tim cupped her jaw so she looked up at him.

“I know that.  But I want to.”  

“Are you sur—fuck!” She cut him off, licking the underside of his half hard cock, before taking him fully into her mouth. He had clearly already been thinking about something when he got in here. Tim’s hands went to her hair which was plastered to her head as water pelted her back.

Taking a breath, she swallowed him down, wrapping her fingers around whatever she couldn’t take. She pumped her hand along with her mouth, Tim’s groans steady above her.

Releasing him from her mouth for a moment, she continued to jerk him, running her fingers over the tip of his head as she looked up at him, “You took such good care of me last night…always knowing what I need…sometimes before I do. You’ve been that way from the very beginning, you know?” She said, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the spray.

Tim swallowed hard, his hips twitching as he tried to keep himself from thrusting into her fist. “I know…you’ve been the same for me, too.”

“I know,” she smirked leaning in, settling her open mouth against his slick, darting her tongue out, “It’s why I also know, that you need this.” And her mouth was back on him, taking him deep for one blissful moment before she pulled off again.

“Fuck my mouth,” she said breathily, placing Tim’s free hand on the other side of her head. She stilled, resting her hands against his thighs and Tim’s hips surged into action, letting out a strangled growl as he slid down her throat. He fucked her mouth eagerly, watching her spit and tears mingle with the wetness of her skin as she stared up at him.

She dragged her hand over, reaching around to massage his balls. Tim’s hips stuttered for a moment in response, and he pulled Lucy off of him, allowing her to catch her breath. Then he was on her again, finding his original steady yet forceful rhythm. She could feel his sack drawing up, getting tighter as his cock swelled in her mouth, stretching her lips around him.

He came with a loud, long and drawn out, “Fuckkk,” shooting his load down Lucy’s throat. For the first time in a long while, she gagged, coughing and pulling back slightly as Tim’s hold eased up, allowing her to swallow more though some still dripped out of her mouth. She felt a swirl of affection in her stomach that he was still in tune with her needs when he could barely string a sentence together.

Tim slumped back against the wall, spent, but offered his hand to Lucy to help her up. She wiped her mouth, and he looked at her with a relaxed smile, through heavy lids, “Better than vitamins.”

She snorted out a laugh and grabbed the body wash, while Tim finally righted himself to grab their loofahs.

Tim drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on Lucy’s thigh, while she sipped coffee from her travel mug. He glanced over at her, the easy atmosphere of their morning beginning to evaporate, her nerves setting in as they drew closer to the station.

Wanting to distract her for just a bit longer, he squeezed her leg, “You know…I was going to tell you earlier…I’ve requested a few extra days off for us next month.”

Lucy’s eyes darted over to him in confusion, “What? Why?”

“Do you not remember saying, and I quote, ‘you owe me a real honeymoon,’” he said pointedly, cocking his head at her with a raised eyebrow, glancing at her before turning his eyes back to the road.

“I did say that, didn’t I?” she smirked, “So where are we going?”

“Nope,” he shook his head, “All you need to know is that you’ll love it.”

“Tim!” she sucked her teeth, “I still have to pack! Do I need warm clothes? Clothes for the beach? Should I pack a swimsuit? Multiple swimsuits? A girl needs to know these things!”

“Haven’t I planned enough things for you to know to trust me?” He picked his hand up off her thigh to poke her side, grinning as she squealed, “It’s somewhere warm. And you can bring swimsuits if you want, but don’t plan on needing them much. It is our honeymoon after all.”  

Chapter Text

The next few weeks flew by after Lucy was cleared by IA, and life gradually returned to normal. Work at the station ramped up, keeping Tim and Lucy busier than ever. Their once-synchronized routine shifted, and they started driving separately to work, their unpredictable schedules making carpooling nearly impossible. Mornings became a chaotic rush, a blur of activity that left little time for themselves—even their water consumption improved as quickies became a rare luxury.

Lucy split her time between patrol and helping Harper and Lopez with their cases, while Tim balanced major Metro operations and extra patrol shifts to cover a few recent hot spots. Their hectic schedules had taken a toll, leaving them barely any time to not only see each other, but also Tamara. They were even forced to miss their monthly breakfast.

But tonight, they were determined to make time for dinner with her. That’s how Lucy found herself in her old kitchen, standing over a cutting board and chopping vegetables for a salad to accompany the pasta Tamara was preparing. It felt strange to be back after so much time away, the familiarity of the space both comforting and bittersweet. For once, Lucy had managed to get off work on time, a rare occurrence lately. Tim, on the other hand, was still tied up at a scene and would join them later.

“I like what you guys have done with the place,” Lucy commented as she looked around. The door to Lucy’s former room was open, the walls now painted a sage green, the bed Tim had purchased was still there, though the mattress was Celina’s. The living room had been painted a soft blue and more plants had made their way in along with a scattering of Crystals that screamed Celina.

“Yeah,” Tamara smirked, “I can’t wait to hear what Tim has to say.”

“It’s definitely got Celina’s influence,” Lucy said, returning her attention to slicing cucumbers, “Speaking of…where is Celina tonight? I didn’t even think to ask.”

“I think she’s out with Aaron. Or Alison. Or both. I don’t remember, but she said she was going out tonight.”

 “Sounds fun whichever she went with,” Lucy dumped the cucumbers in a bowl, pulling the tomato to her, “God, I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t even been able to catch up with Alison.”

“Well, she’s good. I’ve seen her a ton. They’re not like you and Dadford, thank god. But they seem to be having fun. I’m sure you two can trade some interesting stories,” Tamara looked at her slyly, as she pulled out the dishes.

“I think I prefer not to have that knowledge of a coworker, not to mention a rookie,” Lucy looked at her incredulously and Tamara snorted.

“Well, I’m sure Celina could say the same thing with what she saw at Bailey’s bachelorette.”

“We weren’t that bad.”

“You guys boned on a pole on the party—”

“Yeah, okay, I get it! We don’t need to go over it again,” Lucy interrupted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she quickly reached for her phone, intending to check her notifications. Her brow furrowed as she stared at the screen. “Tim should’ve been here by now.”

“You think he got held up?” Tamara asked, setting the placemats down neatly on the counter, her voice laced with curiosity.

Lucy hesitated, biting her lip before tapping her phone a few times to send Tim a quick message. She placed it back on the counter with a soft sigh. “It’s possible. Nolan came back to process one of the suspects earlier and mentioned Tim said he was stuck on scene but would be out within the hour. Then Tim texted to tell me he was heading back to the station, and he’d be on his way. But was an hour ago.”

“Maybe he got held up at the station?” Tamara suggested, “You two are always reminding me that things are unpredictable.”

“Yeah... I know...” Lucy murmured, her voice trailing off as her attention shifted back to her phone. She checked the screen, noting with a flicker of frustration that the message she’d sent to Tim was still marked as ‘delivered’ but not read. Her thumb hovered over the screen before she pressed the call icon, lifting the phone to her ear. The ringing tone filled the silence, each passing second tightening the knot of worry in her chest. When the call went unanswered, she frowned and pulled the phone away, her brow furrowing deeply. Without hesitation, she tapped a different contact, her fingers moving faster now, a sense of urgency creeping in.

“Hey, Ange, are you still at the station?” Lucy asked immediately when the call connected. Tamara looked on intently, abandoning the food and dishes.

“Hey, no I left an hour ago.”

“An hour ago? Was Tim still there?”

“No, he was rushing out. Said you guys were having dinner with Tamara.”

Lucy fidgeted anxiously, her fingers absently scratching her ear as her gaze darted to Tamara. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her unease growing with each passing second, “He hasn’t gotten here yet. I haven’t heard from him.”

“He mentioned he was stopping at the store before heading over. Maybe he’s there?”

“I’d say yes, but he’s not answering…I just…I have a bad feeling.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Hold on, let me check the lot first,” Lucy sighed, heading toward the window. She pulled back the curtain and peered out at the visitor’s lot below, her eyes scanning the rows of parked cars for any sign of Tim. Car after car blurred together until her gaze finally landed on his truck, parked near the edge of the lot. Relief flickered in her expression as she recognized it, though it wasn’t in his usual spot. Still, nothing else seemed out of place or suspicious, but the unease in her chest lingered.

Her eyes flicked to the pathway up to the building, but it was clear.

“Ange…I’m going downstairs. I’ll call you back. Tam, stay here, okay?” Lucy held the phone between her shoulder and ear, reaching down to grab her off duty piece.

“Yeah, like that’s gonna happen,” Tamara scoffed, grabbing her keys, and Lucy rolled her eyes in exasperation, but rushed to the door. Not wanting to waste a second, she bypassed the elevator entirely and headed straight for the stairs, practically running down the flights, Tamara hot on her heels. She pushed the door open to exit the building.

Nothing.

She had been hoping that Tim was down here, juggling a few things in his arms and just having trouble getting in. But there were no signs of him.

With trembling hands, Lucy fumbled with her phone, her fingers barely steady enough to dial Angela’s number. Her voice was shaky as she whispered, “He—he’s not here, Ange,” while her eyes darted around, scanning her surroundings. Tamara had started walking down the sidewalk, her own gaze alert and searching.

Cop eyes, Luce. She heard Tim’s voice in her head.

Lucy tried to steady her breathing, focusing on the details. “Was he going to grab Kojo? Maybe he took him for a walk?” Angela suggested.

Lucy shook her head frantically, forgetting for a moment that Angela couldn’t see her. “Uh...no. Kojo’s at The Graham’s for the night.” She continued scanning the area until her eyes caught a glint of something reflecting faintly in the bushes nearby.

“Wait…” she murmured, crouching down to get a closer look at the object. Her breath hitched as shined her phone light on it.

“Oh god,” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

“What is it? Are you okay?” Angela’s voice sounded frantically through the speaker.  

“Ange...I—his phone. His—I found Tim’s phone smashed to bits in the bushes,” Lucy choked out, her voice trembling as she reached for broken device with shaking hands.

“Don’t touch it!” Tamara yelled and Lucy’s hand immediately balled into a fist as she realized her near error, her wide, terrified eyes meeting Tamara’s. The horror reflected back at her made the moment all the more real. Tears brimmed in both their eyes, and Lucy’s voice cracked as she whispered, “He’s... Tim’s... he’s gone.”

There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line before Angela’s firm voice broke through, steady but urgent. “I’ll call it in. And I’m on my way.”

“I’m—I need start looking…he could be…he might be somewhere nearby—” Lucy’s voice cracked thinking about where Tim could possibly be.

“No. Stay put. You need to guard the evidence,” Angela said firmly, and Lucy could hear her moving around quickly, grabbing her keys. “I’m calling Grey, and he’ll issue the BOLO. And I’m calling the team. I will be to you in 15.”

True to her words, Angela arrived at Lucy’s former apartment in under fifteen minutes. The rest of the team arrived shortly after. Tamara had gone up to grab jackets for them while they waited, and Lucy found herself wishing that she had one of Tim’s hoodies with her to keep her warm instead. She stood hugging her arms tightly across her chest as her fellow chosen family exchanged glances, while Angela examined the phone in the spotlight of a tactical flashlight.

“Okay Lucy,” Harper started calmly, “I know this is hard, but we need you to walk us through everything you know. From the last time you saw Tim, til now.”  

“There’s nothing to say!” She said, throwing her hands up, her voice trembling, “I hadn’t seen him since lunch. He was stuck on scene with Nolan and had him tell me he was going to be a bit late to our dinner with Tamara. He was planning on getting here early and we were going to cook together. He texted me and said he was heading back to the station and then he’d be on his way. That was the last time I heard from him. I called Angela. Then I checked the visitors lot and I saw his car parked. But he wasn’t answering his phone, and when I came down here to look—” she gestures helplessly to the shattered phone now in the plastic bag in Angela’s hands, “—this is all I found.”

“And when you saw him today, he didn’t mention anything strange? Anyone following him? Calls that seemed off? Anything at all?” Grey asked gently.

Lucy shook her head, swallowing hard, “No. Nothing. It was just a normal day.”

“Thorsen,” Grey turned to him and Aaron shot to attention, “What about you? Notice anything off with Bradford when you rode with him today?”

“No sir. He seemed the same as always. A bit eager to wrap up for the day, but that was it. What about his sister? Is there any chance that she’s seen him?”

“No, his truck is here, remember? And I already called Genny, she hasn’t seen him,” Lucy said softly, closing her eyes for a moment.

Celina spoke up hesitantly, “You don’t think…”

“No!” Lucy, Angela and Tamara chorused fiercely, their expressions accusatory.

Grey shot Celina, then Nolan, an annoyed look, “Don’t go there yet. We don’t have enough information to say what this is.” He looks back over at Harper and Angela, “Alright, here’s the plan. Contact the property management company and get access to the security cameras. Start with everything covering the parking lot, entrances, and exits. We also need to get to his phone records. And pings on his location for the last twelve hours.”

“You got it,” Harper and Angela immediately got their phones out, walking off to their vehicles.

“Sir,” Lucy started, clearing her throat, “I’ll call our phone carrier. It’ll be faster for me to get his call history.”

“Alright,” Grey sighed, “I’ll meet you at the station. I shouldn’t let you work this. But I know it’s one of the only times you’d go rogue.” Lucy didn’t say anything, but continued to stare at Grey, “You stick close to Harper. Tim’s family to all of us, but you and Angela need to play everything by the book.”

“Yes, sir,” Lucy nodded, thankful to be able to do something. Unlocking her phone, she turned to Tamara, “Let’s go.” The pair retreated into Tamara’s building and Grey turned to Nolan, Aaron and Celina.

“I need you three to go back through his previous cases, see if any of his arrests resulted in some enemies. Anything that might have been going on in his personal life, that maybe Lucy wasn’t aware of…”

“Sir, with all due respect, Tim’s a Sergeant. He’s probably got a ton of criminals who can’t stand him. And he’s had his share of tough calls recently, but nothing that stood out.” Aaron said.

“Yeah,” Nolan agreed, “And with Lucy…I mean those two know more about each other than anyone I’ve ever known. If it was something with his personal life, he either already told her, or just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter,” Grey said, frustration in his voice, “You know how this goes. We have to treat this like any other case, no matter how much we don’t want to. That means, everything is questioned, everything is suspicious. Especially when we have nothing to go on. Understood?”

The three offices looked put in their place, as Nolan swallowed hard, preparing to be the spokesperson, “Understood, sir. We’ll get right on it.”

Mid-Wilshire rallied in a way that spoke volumes to Lucy about just how deeply the station respected Tim. By the time she and Tamara arrived less than 30 minutes later, the station was buzzing with urgency. The air hummed with the sound of ringing phones, hurried footsteps and clipped instructions. It was all hands on deck. Grey had officially declared Tim missing, and the weight of those words galvanized everyone into action. Officers from the day shift, many of whom had already clocked out, were suiting back up and heading out on patrol without hesitation.

They met the rest of their core team in the roll call room where Nolan, Aaron and Celina had taken up post. Celina was at the board, outlining Tim’s movements for that day, Aaron sat with a box of his old casefiles while Nolan combed through more recent cases on the laptop. Lucy immediately placed herself down at one of the tables, opening her laptop, Tamara at her side.

“We managed to get through to the property management company,” Harper announced as she entered the room alone, her steps brisk and purposeful. “Lopez is still on the line with them, working on getting access to the camera feed.”

“Good,” Grey replied, his brow etched into a deep, unrelenting frown. His gaze shifted toward Lucy. “What about the phone records?”

Lucy inhaled sharply, her chest tight as she forced herself to focus. “I’m going through them now,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension radiating from her. “I recognize my number, Tamara’s, Genny’s… but there are a few I don’t know.”

“You should separate the ones you recognize from the unfamiliar ones,” Harper suggested, her tone calm but firm. “Isolate the unknown numbers and see if anything stands out.”

Lucy nodded, her expression taut with a mix of anxiety and determination. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned back to the task at hand. The strain in her eyes was unmistakable—she was hanging on by a thread—but her resolve was ironclad. Everyone in the room could feel it: she wasn’t going to stop until her husband was found. And neither would any of them.

“I’ve got access to the feed,” Angela announced, rushing into the room with her laptop clutched tightly in her hands. She moved to the table near the TV screen, setting up with practiced efficiency. Within seconds, she connected the feed, and the first flickers of footage appeared on the screen.

The room seemed to collectively hold its breath. Most of the team paused what they were doing, their eyes glued to the monitor as Angela searched through timestamps, but Lucy remained locked on her task. She didn’t dare slow down, not until Angela found something. They would all know the moment she did, and in the meantime, Lucy needed to determine if anyone had contacted Tim before he disappeared.

“I’ve got him!” Angela called out, her voice cutting through the silence.

The sharp scrape of Lucy’s chair against the floor was immediate as she bolted to her feet, hurrying to the screen without hesitation. Her heart raced as she joined the others, now huddled in close, eyes riveted to the screen.

Tim was walking up to the building, phone to his ear. His expression looked angry, his back ramrod straight as he came to an abrupt stop. His body language was tense as he spoke into the phone.

“He does not look happy with whoever he’s talking to,” Nolan observed, Lucy looked at him tersely, silently acknowledging the accuracy of the statement and wondering who could be on the other line.

 As they stood together, she was reminded of the last time they watched footage of one of their own who was missing and felt a slight buckle in her legs. Aaron and Nolan reached out to steady her, but she quickly righted herself and shrugged them off.

She could only pray that this turned out differently than Jackson.

As Tim pulled his phone from his ear, preparing to pocket it, a shadow suddenly moved in the corner of the frame, and Lucy’s heart dropped. From behind, a masked figure swiftly lunged at Tim, catching him off guard. Tim spun around, his reflexes sharp, and managed to fend off the initial attack, landing a solid blow to his assailant’s side. But the attacker was relentless, and clearly as well trained as Tim.

They scuffled, exchanging several blows but the attacker got in a good hit to Tim’s solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him for a moment. He followed quickly by pulling out a taser and jabbing it into Tim’s torso. His body convulsed, his phone clattering to the ground. Even then, Tim struggled, his movements sluggish as he tried to fight off the effects of the taser. Before he could recover, the attacker produced a syringe, quickly injecting something into his neck. Tim’s resistance faltered entirely, his body slumping. The attacker wasted no time, quickly stomping out Tim’s phone several times, kicking it beneath the bushes and dragging him off-screen.

Lucy’s hands flew to her mouth as her eyes welled, a gasp releasing her lips as Angela paused the footage. A wounded sound emanated from her, guttural and anguished. He had been right there. She and Tamara had been joking and laughing, listening to music and Tim and been right at the front of the building fighting for his damn life.

The team watched as Lucy took a moment inhaling deeply, as she fought to get herself under control. Her fingers curled into trembling fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms as she forced the panic down. One second seemed to stretch into eternity as she stood there, her eyes unfocused, her mind racing. Slowly, her breathing evened out, no longer frantic, but deliberate.

Something had shifted, it started low in her stomach, a molten heat spreading outward, igniting every nerve with purpose. The fear, the helplessness…it burned away, leaving behind only a fierce, unrelenting determination. Her jaw tightened, her eyes sharpening with a cold fire that promised retribution. Whoever had dared to lay a hand on her husband, whoever thought they could take him from her, was about to learn the true meaning of regret. Someone was going to pay dearly for fucking with her family.

“Lucy…” Harper started.

“I want the time stamp,” Lucy cut her off, her voice authoritative, “Give me the goddamn timestamp when he was on the phone.”  Angela complied immediately, rewinding the video and pausing to when she’d first seen Tim on screen. Lucy’s eyes shuttered, blocking out the fight images as she pulled her laptop over scanning for a moment.

“Whoever he was talking to then, also called him 3 other times in two days. It looks like he only answered once and then ignored the others until this one.”

“I’ll run a search on that number,” Nolan said, turning to the laptop and Grey nodded, his eye still on Lucy.

“Is-is Tim going to be ok?” Tamara asked timidly from the background, and everyone turned to her, having almost forgotten she was there, witnessing the man who was like family to her being abducted. She did not look at all like a sassy, confident young woman. Right now, Lucy was reminded of just how young Tamara really was.

Lucy’s eyes softened for a moment as she turned to the only other person who could break her intensity and the odd mix of big sister with a tinge of maternal energy broke through. She placed her hands gently on her shoulders, “Tam, you better believe we’re going to do everything we possibly can to get him back safely. And you know he’s gonna fight like hell to get home to us too.”

Tamara smiled softly, “I know.”

“Sir?” All heads swiveled to the doorway where Office Jan stood in the doorway, his hands holding a clear evidence bag, with a metal object in it. “T.I.D. collected this from the scene. Asked that I bring it to the team ASAP. It was collected from the bushes. They said you requested anything else found to be turned right over to you.”

“Yes, thank you,” Grey said taking it from him.  

“What is it?” Harper asked curiously as Jan left and Grey held the bag up in the light.

“They’re dog tags.”

“As in military?” Aaron asked.

“As in military,” Grey confirmed, squinting at the tags, “Looks like they belong to someone named…Ray Watkins.”

Everyone looked over at Lucy and then Aaron, who both frowned.

“Doesn’t ring a bell for me,” Lucy said and Aaron vocalized the same, much to her frustration, “We don’t even know if those have anything to do with Tim being taken.”

“You do have to admit, Dadford being military and those are found on scene is a bit of a big coincidence,” Tamara commented.

“That’s true. And if it did have something to do with Tim, then I’ve also got to believe that he intentionally pulled them off,” Lucy chewed her lip in thought. Had Tim been trying to leave her a clue when he discovered that things were remiss?

“I got a hit on that number, it’s registered to a…Cecilia Greer,” Nolan said and Lucy’s eyebrows knitted together.

“Maybe he has a stalker? Some woman hitting on him like what happened to you Nolan.” Angela suggested and Nolan shot her a unimpressed look.

“No, it’s definitely not that. I would’ve heard about something like that by now,” Lucy said still wracking her brain.

“Unless Tim thought it was nothing,” Aaron said cocking his head.

“If Tim thought it was nothing then Lucy definitely would have known after the first call,” Angela let out a long breath, “I’m with her on that one.”

“Yeah,” Lucy said absentmindedly, still rolling around the name in her mind, “I’m pretty sure I remember Tim telling me stories about a friend of his named Greer from the unit he led in the army. I think it was like Matt…or Max…or maybe it was Mike…”

“Mark?” Nolan interjected looking at the computer.

“Yes!” She snapped her fingers, pointing at him and hurrying over to the table, “Yes it was Mark Greer!”

“Mark Greer, Age 41, former US Army, relocated to Los Angeles 5 years ago,” Nolan rattled off, everyone making mental notes.

“Alright, what about this dog tag character? Any indication that they might be involved?” Grey jutted his chin to Nolan who turned back to the computer, typing in the information from the evidence bag that Grey placed next to him.

“Okay…Ray Watkins…” Nolan breathed a sigh as he typed in the information and waited, “Nothing.”

Everyone reeled back in shock. Lucy and Grey walked over to stand behind him, “Nothing? What do you mean?”

“I mean just that. Nothing. Ray Watkins doesn’t exist,” Nolan said gesturing towards the screen. Lucy’s stomach dropped. This had to be the guy that took Tim. What were the chances that the same night he gets abducted, they also find dog tags of a non-existent person? If there was anything that Tim taught her as a rookie…it was never a coincidence.

“Well, that right there is suspicious as hell. And my gut says that whoever this nonexistent Ray person is, has everything to do with Tim being taken,” Harper pointed out and Angela nodded in agreement.

“Alright, Harper, you and Lopez go question Marc Greer. Something tells me he won’t come in willingly. And take Officer Chen with you,” Grey said before Lucy could say anything. She shut her mouth gratefully.

Lucy opened her mouth to object but quickly shut it when Grey’s sharp gaze landed on her. She swallowed her words and nodded instead, grateful for the distraction from her rising worry.

“Yes, sir,” the trio responded in unison, already moving toward the door.

Lucy hesitated just before stepping out and turned to Tamara. “Tam, stay here. Don’t go anywhere alone, okay? Promise me.”

Tamara frowned but nodded reluctantly, sensing now wasn’t the time to argue, even if she didn’t believe she was in any real danger.

Lucy let out a quiet sigh of relief, her expression softening for just a moment before hardening again. A fierce determination settled over her face as she turned back to the detectives.

“By the book!” Grey’s voice barked after them.

“Got it,” Harper called back as the trio left, determination etched into every step.

Grey pivoted toward the remaining officers. “Nolan, Juarez, Thorsen—stay on the footage and dig deeper into this Watkins guy. Let’s see if we can figure out who this guy really is.”

“Yes, sir,” came the chorus of agreement as the room fell back into focused chaos.

“What is this guy doing?” Angela wondered, her voice low as they watched the car parked on the side of the road. They were parked several cars away, using an unmarked SUV. “This doesn’t seem like the kind of neighborhood he’d be in based on his current lifestyle.”

“He’s clearly watching or waiting for someone,” Harper said.

“Well I for one don’t think we should waste anymore time sitting here,” Lucy said impatiently.

“I agree. You two wanna take the passenger side?” Angela asked.

“Now hold on,” Harper held out a hand, “If he is in cahoots with whoever took Tim, we don’t want to spook him. He might alert them. We need to approach with caution.”

 “We know,” Lucy and Angela whispered in unison.

“Alright let’s go. I will be contact. You two are cover.”

“Copy,” Lucy said and the two detectives prepared to exit, “Wait.” She reached up, turning off the dome lights.

First lesson in black ops -- make sure the lights don't come on when you open the door.

The trio exited their vehicle silently, moving swiftly toward the parked car. Weapons drawn, their eyes darted over the area, scanning for any threats. Harper reached the driver’s side and knocked on the window, flashing her badge.

Inside, Marc Greer jolted awake, startled. He had been dozing, clearly staking out the spot for a while.

“Marc Greer?” Harper said firmly.

His eyes flicked around nervously as he rolled down the window. “Yeah? What’s this about?”

“LAPD,” Harper continued, her tone sharp and authoritative. “We need to ask you a few questions.”

Greer’s jaw tightened. “And why would I answer your questions when you creep up on me in the middle of the night?” His voice was low and defensive, edged with urgency.

“Why would you be staking out someone in the middle of the night when you’re not law enforcement?” she countered coolly. “And I’m willing to bet there’s a gun in this car. That tells me your little operation here isn’t exactly aboveboard. Now, step out of the car, open the door from the outside, and keep your hands where I can see them.”

Greer’s face faltered, his confidence cracking. He didn’t deny it, which told her everything she needed to know. He complied with her instructions, as Lucy and Angela came around to the other side.

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice resigned.

“We need to ask you about your relationship with Sergeant Tim Bradford,” Harper said, her eyes narrowing.

Greer’s eyes widened, darting around again, as if making sure no one else was listening. “What about him?”

“He’s missing," Lucy cut in, her tone laced with frustration. “Did you have anything to do with it?”

Greer’s reaction was immediate. “What? No. He’s missing? Since when? I just talked to him.” His words tumbled out quickly, but Lucy caught the detail that set off alarms in her mind—he hadn’t said Tim’s name.

“Right after you spoke to him,” Angela said, stepping closer. Her tone was razor-sharp, and her gaze didn’t waver. “From where we’re standing, it looks a lot like you might be involved. Or at the very least, you know something.”

“We need to know everything,” Lucy pressed, her voice cold but measured. “And trust me, it’ll go a lot smoother if you cooperate. Otherwise, we’re prepared to make this difficult.”

Greer glanced around again, his shoulders tense. “Not here,” he muttered.

“You can follow us to the Mid Wilshire station then. And don’t even think about trying to give us the slip. We’ll be calling in back up to tail you as well,” Harper said and the look Greer gave them would turn anyone else to ash, but no one even flinched.

Chapter Text

Consciousness crept in slowly, nudging at the edges of Tim’s mind. His eyes felt heavy, and he struggled to blink them open. Everything felt sluggish, as if time had slowed down and he was trying to make sense of his surroundings. His body felt weighted down, his limbs unresponsive at first, as though they belonged to someone else. Fragments of memory flickered and faded, just out of reach.

A groan sounded, echoing faintly.

Was that him?

Tim’s eyes remained unfocused as he finally lifts his head, trying to shake off the last dredges of fog. He attempted to move, instinctively shifting to stand, but nothing happened. Somehow, that’s what shocked him awake, his heart rate instantly pounding as panic claws its way in. He tried to move again, his arms this time, only to realize they’d been handcuffed behind him. He tried his legs, and glanced down, realizing they’d been similarly immobilized, ankles bound to the chair legs with the very zip ties he uses for suspects. And for insurance, he was tied with thick rope that was secured in military knots.

Though he knew it was futile, Tim couldn’t help but pull against the bindings, muscles burning as they twist and tug, but the handcuffs dug deeper into his skin. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his breath quickening as he took in his surroundings while his legs strained against the ties.

Tim’s eyes darted around rapidly, searching for something—anything—that could tell him where he was or how he could escape. He was in a warehouse of some sort. That’s all he could figure out. A wave of frustration welled up and adrenaline surged through him as he let out a strangled growl and thrashed harder. The ropes didn’t budge. The chair didn’t even budge. He was guessing it had been bolted to the floor.

He was helpless.

He began wracking his brain, trying to recall the last few moments he could remember.

A masked man coming at him out of nowhere.

On the phone with Greer outside Tamara’s apartment building.

The anticipated family dinner with Tamara and Lucy.

Lucy.

Tim squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the burn of oncoming tears behind his lids. Lucy must be going out of her mind. How the fuck didn’t he see this coming? He was always going on and on about cop eyes, and yet he completely missed the signs of an attacker.

Fuck, he hoped Lucy and Tamara were alright.

Releasing a long breath, Tim forced himself to focus, willing his panic to subside. It wouldn’t help him now. He scanned his surroundings, his mind looping back to the attack. Closing his eyes, he strained to remember. Greer had called him, wanting to talk about Ray.

The name felt out of place after all this time. He died years ago. Why did they need to talk about him now? Tim’s thoughts hit a wall, fuzzy and sluggish, the lingering effects of whatever he’d been drugged with refusing to relinquish its grip.

His gaze flicked around the interior of the warehouse. It was clearly abandoned, old machinery rusted in the corner, stacks of crates and boxes off to one end. In another corner chains that swung ominously from the ceiling amidst metal shelving. If there were windows, he couldn’t see any. There was no visible escape.

Booted footsteps suddenly echoed as someone approached from behind him. Tim tensed as the figure stopped in front of him.

“Took you long enough to wake up.” The voice was cold as a hand nudged his head roughly.

Tim’s breath caught, a chill running through him as he recognized the voice which instantly knocked him back thirteen years.

Ray fucking Watkins.

Tim stared at the ghost of his past, unable to reconcile the image in front of him with the man he was sure had been dead and buried.

“Ray.” He growled with fire in his eyes, “How the fuck are you alive?”

Ray smirked, his head tilting in amusement. “Pays to have friends in high places. Or maybe low ones.” He chuckled dryly, his tone almost mocking.

Tim’s eyes narrowed, “So, what? All these years you’ve just been, what, in hiding?”

“Keeping a low profile.” He replied nonchalantly, “I’ve been waiting for the perfect time.”

“For thirteen years? What’s your brilliant plan?” Tim barked out a bitter laugh, “Kidnap me and get me to figure out a way to clear your name?” He nodded towards the restraints holding him in place.

“No,” Ray’s bellowing laughter was anything but friendly, “No nothing like that.” He shook his head.

Before Tim could reply, Ray’s face twisted into a snarl. His fist shot out in a blur, smashing into Tim’s jaw. Pain exploded, snapping his head to the side. Tim grunted biting back a wince as he worked his mouth.

He cursed himself silently for not seeing it during his attack. Ray had always been one of the best in their unit at hand-to-hand combat. His punches carried his full weight, and Tim could still feel every ounce of it.

“You’ve gotten weaker in your old age, Watkins.” Tim spat. Rays face darkened even further, and the second punch to the other side of his jaw made his teeth rattle, sending stars flashing behind Tim’s eyes.

Before he had time to recover, another fist connected just below his sternum and Tim’s body jolted violently against the chair's backrest. His muscles bulged with strain as his  cuffed hands instinctively moved, intending to cover his abdomen wanting to contain the explosion of pain. His breath escaped in a guttural wheeze, leaving him gasping and wide-eyed, slumped awkwardly.

He tries to speak but only broken rasps sound from his mouth, his lungs unable to draw air. For a moment, he teetered on the edge of consciousness, struggling to recover from the shock of the hit. Tim’s eyes rolled up as he saw Ray’s form looking above him, a satisfied look on his face.

 It was then that it dawned on him what this was.

Ray wasn’t remotely interested in clearing his name.

He wanted revenge.

“Alright, were here,” Harper said as she and Angela sat across from Greer in the interrogation room. Grey was in the observation room. Lucy stood off to the side, arms crossed, waiting. “Tell us what you know.”

Greer took a deep breath, “Thirteen years ago, Bradford and I served together in Afghanistan. He was our squad leader. There were ten of us. He was a damn good leader… deadly as hell…we called him The Reaper.”

Lucy’s head raised at the name and Greer caught her movement out of the corner of his eye, turning to look at her, “You look like you know what I’m talking about.”  Angela and Harper’s eyes shot to her and Lucy cleared her throat, ignoring the statement.

“What does this have to do with anything?” She fired out.

“One of our guys…his name was Ray Watkins.” The group exchanged a look, “He was one of our toughest guys…but…he was power hungry, and jealous as hell of Bradford. Tried to emulate what he did, but never quite measured up. And Bradford saw it. He tried to get him in line, but Ray…Ray went rogue. He turned his back on his team, on his oath. Bradford found out that he was in some pretty dark dealings with some big-time criminals.”

“What kind of dealings?” Angela asked.

“I’m talking selling secrets, dealing weapons. It was serious. Bradford had to report it. But…before he could, Ray figured out what he was planning to do. And he confronted him. Trying to appeal to his softer side, you know. His family…them losing all their benefits, leaving them destitute. But Bradford…he said he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t. The last thing Ray said to him was that he’d regret the decision.”

Lucy sucked in a breath. “But he didn’t hear from him for 13 years?”

“He went AWOL. For months. And they got intel on his whereabouts. But instead of sending military police after him, they sent a few from our unit on a kill mission. But we didn’t have all the details. He was running with the same group that got him into this mess. And our superiors were counting on us to intercept him. We located them in a village just outside of Mosul, but as soon as he found out we had him, he called in an airstrike right on top of us. Bradford and I were behind the Humvee that had our other guys, Henderson and Coyle. That’s what saved us. Those guys…they were blown apart. The building that Ray was in…it was completely destroyed.  We thought for sure he had been killed. We found his dog tags in the wreckage.”  

Lucy closed her eyes, her head bent as she listened. Tim had told her a bit about his time in the military, but this story was new. Her heart ached for her husband. Knowing the guilt he was probably still harboring because two of his men lost their lives on his watch.

“We found dog tags at the scene of Tim’s abduction. Dog tags that had Ray’s name and military ID on them.”

“Well I’m not sure what you found, but I do know is that a few years ago, I started hearing stories, that he was still alive, working as a gun for hire around the globe. So I set up some trip wires just to be sure. And I got him coming through LAX two days ago.”

“Can you give us access to that feed?” Harper asked.

“I mean…it’s not exactly above board….” Greer deflected.

“We don’t give a shit about that!” Lucy interjected from the sidelines, “Nothing that you tell us will be held against you if it leads to finding Tim, alright?”

“Chen,” Harper said, a note of warning in her voice.

“No, she’s right,” Lopez agreed and Harper shot her a look then sighed.

“Look, all we want is to locate Sergeant Bradford and bring down the person responsible. As long as you haven’t hurt anyone with this, we’ll be looking the other way. Consider it an anonymous tip.” Harper said and Greer sighed reaching into his pocket, pulling out his phone, tapping a few times, before turning it over.

“Here,” he said, “This is him.”

“Do you know why he’s back?” Angela asked.

“Well supposedly his mother is dying of cancer, but that’s clearly a load of bullshit.”

“Why did you contact Tim?” Lucy asked.

“I wanted to talk to him about what we should do about him. You weren’t there back when they came to blows before Ray went AWOL. The look in his eyes…he was going to have it out for Tim. Even though he squandered everything, and it was his own fault…Ray loved being in the military. He loved it. But he hated Tim. Or envied him. And that was his ultimate downfall. And it’s the reason Bradford’s missing today.”

“You called Tim moments before he was taken, but he didn’t look too happy about it. What did you two talk about?” Harper asked.

“I was trying to warn him about Ray. Tim said that it wasn’t the time to discuss it. That he had more important things going on that night. We agreed to meet tomorrow. I was going to suggest he loop in his contacts, but it looks like Ray got to him first.”

“So this is all about revenge for him then,” Harper said and Greer nodded.

Terror settled on Lucy’s chest like a unmovable weight. They were up against a man who had managed to remain hidden from the military for 13 years.

“Have you been tracking him since he got into LA? Why didn’t you just report him?”

“I’ve been trying to track him. But Bradford was the one with the connections. And if I had heard rumblings about him, then the CIA or the Feds were already on him too. There wasn’t a need for me to report him to them. Only to Bradford.”

“Do you really think he’s only here to target Tim? Because I could see it keeping him here, but if he’s a gun for hire I don’t see revenge being what gets him here.” Angela asked, her brow furrowing, “I feel like that’s the piece that might lead us to Tim. Because there’s no way he was working alone.”

 “I’m inclined to agree with you,” Greer said.

“Then I think it’s time we call in the Feds.” Harper sighed, looking back towards the window where she knew Grey was.

Tim was slumped over in the chair, or as slumped as he could be with his hands still cuffed behind his back. His body was a bloody and bruised map. One eye was swollen shut, the deep purple bruise spreading across his cheekbone. A gash above his brow oozed. His lip was split, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was shallow, ragged as each breath seared, reminding him of the cracked ribs beneath his torn shirt.

Ray stood in front of him, wiping his bloody hands on a rag. “You know…I tracked your career. Coming up through the LAPD, becoming a training officer, Patrol Sergeant, now a Metro Sergeant.” He shook his head, “You really think you’re better than everyone don’t you?”

“Not everyone,” Tim smirked, spitting out a mix of blood and saliva off to the side, “Just you.”

His face contorted into a menacing glare, his lips curling back to reveal clenched teeth as his fist reeled back for what seemed like the hundredth time as he drove it into Tim’s gut. His stomach muscles tensed as pain shot through his body and he let out a choked grunt, wheezing as he attempted to suck in a breath.

“Not sure if I’d say that based on where you’re sitting,” Ray said smugly.

“What’s your end game here, huh?” Tim coughed out, “Kill me? We already know I can take a few punches.”

“Eventually,” Ray chuckled darkly, flexing his knuckles, “No. That would be too simple. You need to feel every ounce of the suffering I felt. That my family felt.”

“Suffering,” Tim croaked, gasping a mocking laugh, “You made your bed, Watkins. Anything that happened to you or your family was your own damn fault.”

“Fuck you. If you just kept your damn mouth shut, it would’ve been fine. That was going to be the last job. And I was done. My family would’ve been out of debt. And then we could’ve lived off the military benefits when I was done. But you fucked that all up, cause you had to get up on your damn high horse.”

“You were committing treason. And if I turned a blind eye to that. If the team turned a blind eye to that and you were caught? We were too. And for what? Because you made some bad gambling decisions and fucked your whole world up? That’s on you.”

Nothing could’ve prepared Tim for the jarring force of the blow that Ray drove into his temple. Searing, blinding pain sent shockwaves through his head, blurring his vision. Each pulse felt like a hammer driving through his skull as he fought for consciousness. This pain was familiar. For a moment he was 12 years old again, crumpled at the end of the stairs after his father slammed his head into the end of the banister.

“I’m gonna blow up your world Bradford,” he hissed into Tim’s face, close enough so Tim could smell the staleness of his breath, “That hot little wife of yours—”

Lucy.

Clarity broke through the haze and Tim grit his teeth, “If you fucking go near her, I’ll –”

“You’ll what? Kill me?” Ray scoffed, “You aren’t in a position to make any threats. No, beating you to a pulp will only give me momentary satisfaction. You thought I was gonna what? Just take you, torture you and kill you? Oh no, no no, that’s not real pain. The real pain is going to come when I kill her. Right here.”  He tapped the ground a few times with toes, “And you get to watch me do it strapped to that chair.”

Tim felt the bile rise up in his throat and this time it had nothing to do with his injuries. He could only hope that throwing those dog tags amounted to something. She would’ve known instantly that something was wrong. For as much studying as Ray had done up on him—on them—there was one thing that he would never see from a dossier.

Their connection. Their chemistry.

That sometimes confounding ability to know what the other would do before they did it. The way they could predict needs or moods just at the right time.

It was what made them so strong together as partners. What made them great as friends. And what made them amazing as lovers.

Lucy would tear the world apart if she had to, to save him. Just like he would for her.

Ray would never succeed.

“You know one of your problems?” Tim started, glaring up at Ray who stood above him, smugly, “You never paid attention to the shit that you read. On the squad you always wanted to dive in on the action first.”

“What’s your point?”

“My point is…if you read up on me as much as you said you did, you’d know…that my wife is going to kick your ass before you’d ever be able to take her.”

“Oh yes, the infamous Lucy Chen.” He chuckled, “Survived being buried alive as a rookie cop. But if I recall…you were the one to save her then. You won’t be able to do much saving, strapped to that chair.”

But Tim wasn’t fazed, and he grinned up at Ray, his bloody teeth gleaming under the light, “She’s gonna tear you to pieces, Watkins. Because unlike you, we protect our family. Where’s your family Ray? You did such a bang-up job protecting them. They denounced you even when they thought you were dead.”

He already knew the blow was coming, but he didn’t count on the repeated strikes as Ray pummeled his rage onto his body. His arms were already almost numb from the cuffs and the angle that they were restrained, left shoulder dislocated and throbbing. He welcomed the unconsciousness that crept in as the last strike slammed into his gut. His vision turned hazy as he sunk further into the swirling void, his labored breaths faded into the distance. And as he allowed himself to drift into darkness, his final thoughts were only of Lucy.

“We’ve trying to track down Ray Watkins for quite a long time,” Garza said, hands on his hips as he stood at the white board in front of the team. “He’s successfully flown under the radar for quite a while. A few years after he was declared dead, we received intelligence on someone who was carrying out international hits. We were able to identify it as Watkins, but he’s thwarted us every time.”

“That’s great and all,” Lucy said impatiently, “But how does that help us?”

“Chen,” Grey reprimanded.

“Every second we waste, is one less second that we have to save Tim.” They didn’t have time for this.

“We need the backstory, to help us narrow down his movements,” Nolan tried to help her rationalize.

“We got the fucking backstory from Greer! We know the who! We know the why. And we can guess what he plans to do to Tim. He is here to get us to the where. Give us the damn backstory after we get this asshole and save my husband! Now tell us where to find him!” Lucy was done listening to everyone’s take on this Ray Watkins. It was time for action.   

“I’m going to overlook this Chen because of your personal connection to this case, and because it’s been a long day, but you need to stand down,” Grey said firmly, a warning in his eyes, but Lucy didn’t back down.

“She’s right though. Tim’s already been gone for hours,” Angela chimed in urgently, “We need to start narrowing down Watkins’ movements to see if we can get a possible location.”

Garza sighed, “Alright, we tracked him coming in through LAX two days ago. Yesterday, we identified him in a car with diplomatic plates that belong to the Turkish embassy, but the guy in the car wasn't Turkish. He was Venezuelan. Gustav Martinez, military counterintelligence. Specialty is cracking down on anyone considered an enemy of the state.

“Dissidents,” Nolan clarified and Garza nodded.

“So if Ray met with Gustav, it had to be for a job,” Angela concluded.

“Exactly,” Garza nodded, “Gustav can't operate domestically, so he hires Ray to kidnap or kill anyone on the outs at home.  We narrowed down that most likely candidate is Elena Acosta, a political activist.”

“That’s great, but how does that help us?” Lucy said fighting the urge to snap her fingers.

“Since then, we haven’t seen anything through facial recognition. We’d been tracking Elena’s movements, but she hasn’t been taken yet. Which means, this time Watkins got overconfident, and he’s being fueled by revenge. He hasn’t carried out his job yet and he’s on a time clock. So this job is going to be sloppy and that works in our favor. The program was running for him when I left to get here, and the team is calling me if we get a hit. They’re calling me if we get a hit. Otherwise, we’ve been staying on Elena and working that angle.”

“So you’re saying we just have to wait?!” Lucy exclaimed throwing her hands up.

“I’m sorry, the FBI wants to find Sergeant Bradford, but this is the best we can do right now, until we have more information,” Garza said.

“No they don’t. The FBI,” she spat, “Could give a shit about Sergeant Bradford. All you care about is finding Watkins and Tim can burn for all you care!”

“Officer Chen!” Grey’s voice boomed, “That’s about enough!”

“I can’t just sit here! We need to be kicking down doors!”

“Who’s doors though?” Nolan chimed in calmly, his tone sympathetic, “We’ve got people on tip lines. But otherwise, that’s all we can go off of until we get a hit off facial recognition.”  

“This is completely ridiculous! Tim could be—” Lucy choked on the last word, cutting herself off abruptly as she stormed from the room. Her eyes were wild as she stalked through the bullpen, her expression somewhere between rage and tears.

Lucy bursts into the locker room, intending to make a beeline for the bathroom, but she stops in front of her locker on the way, and leans her head against it, gasping for breath. Turning her back to it, she squeezes her eyes shut, feeling like the world is dropping from underneath her as she slides down to the floor, uncontrollable sobs wracking her body.

Tim.

Her hands clutched at her chest, fisting the worn LAPD on his sweatshirt. She pulled the neckline up to cover her mouth and nose, a futile attempt to stifle the tortured sounds coming from her—broken cries and gasps—as Lucy felt the weight of reality pressing down on her.

Even if they find him…it might be too late.

They still had so much left to do. They’d only had a year. Just one year together. They were supposed to have a lifetime.

A fresh set of tears fell and Lucy pulled her fist into her mouth, biting down on her knuckles hoping the physical pain would outweigh the agony she felt on the inside. They were searching for a ghost, hoping they’d get a hit. Or that someone would give them a tip on a location. And that they’d find him alive.

Because she couldn’t imagine a world without Tim in it.

She wasn’t quite sure how long she had been there, but she managed to get her sobs under control, the remnants of her breakdown showing themselves in the occasional choked hiccup. Her mind was whirling, vacillating between the pieces of information she had discovered from Greer and what she’d learned from Garza. There had to be something that they could use on this guy.

“Lucy! Are you in here?” Angela’s voice sounded through the empty locker room and she quickly wiped her face, and got to her feet as she heard Angela’s footsteps coming towards her.

“We got a hit on facial recognition.” She said urgently when she found Lucy “We didn’t get him, but they also had a search running for guys he’d been with the day before. It put one of them at a storage yard near Delancey. It hasn’t been used in years and it’s under construction. We think that’s where Ray is. Grey may be pissed at your behavior, but you weren’t wrong. They’re mobilizing now, but they’re in tactical planning. We’re going to get a head start. But that means we’re on our own.”

“Let’s go,” Lucy picked up her pace, slinking out of the station to the parking lot.

Chapter Text

Lucy and Angela moved cautiously through the storage yard, tactical vests on and guns drawn, towering rows of old shipping containers looming over them. The occasional clang of metal and rustling of plastic gave signs of upcoming construction.

They huddled behind one of the containers near the perimeter, their faces exhausted but determined. They still had the benefit of darkness in the early morning hour, but they had to move quickly, sunrise would be coming soon.

“Based on the schematics, there’s a main warehouse to the East. There’re some smaller buildings around, but if there’s any that are going to still have electricity…” Angela said, his phone out with a map of the property on the screen.

“That’s gotta be where he is,” Lucy whispered urgently, “And if this is about revenge for Watkins, then Tim’s alive.”

“No way you have thirteen years of being pissed at someone, for it to end quickly. Let’s get closer. If he’s got people, we’ve gotta take ‘em out.”

Lucy nodded in agreement as the two weaved through the containers, examining their surroundings, noting each of the containers they passed and the ones in front of them, the buildings that surrounded them as they approached the warehouse.

The faintest hint of movement caught Lucy’s eye and she froze, tapping Angela, who also stopped. A side door of the warehouse door opened slowly, its rusted hinges screeching as three burly looking men exited the building. They were talking quietly, chuckling, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. The two women crept closer, slipping between the stacks to hear what they were saying and get a better idea of how to approach.

“What’s this guy’s deal? I thought the target would be on the boat by now,” One of the guys said.

“Chill, he said this was a three-part job. He’s going to give the green light when it’s time to go get the wife.” Angela and Lucy exchanged a startled glance.

Lucy was supposed to be next.

“Well, if he doesn’t reign it in, he’s gonna kill him before we can get to her or the last target. This guy knows how to push his buttons.” The third man said, and alarm bells went off in Lucy’s head at that. If things were veering off the original plan, then they only had a short window of time to get in there.

“Alright, we need to move,” Angela whispered, her voice sharp. “Let's take out those three. They aren’t expecting anyone, and they definitely won’t be expecting us. We’ll come at them from opposite directions. We gotta secure them. Quick and quiet. No guns. Got it?"

Lucy gave a firm nod, her jaw set, “Got it. Knock ‘em out, don’t shoot ‘em.” Angela shot her an slightly amused look, silently glad she had reminded her because the way Lucy was gripping her gun, told her that she’d been planning on using it on anyone who stood in her way.

Without another word, the two women moved in perfect sync, slipping into the shadows and getting into position flaking the three men standing guard outside the main entrance to the warehouse.

Angela crept low, gun at the ready, her movements fluid and deliberate, using every available bit of cover as she closed in. Lucy mirrored her actions from the opposite side, each coming back into each other’s line of sight as they edged around the side of the building and held. The men were still oblivious, their focus drifting as they chatted among themselves.

With a signal from Angela, they struck.

Lucy lunged first, slamming the butt of her weapon into the side of the first man’s head. He didn’t even see her coming and crumpled to the ground with a thud. She immediately moved in, ducking a swing from the next guy, and jumping onto his back, locking her arm around his throat and her legs around his waist. She held firm as he flailed and turned, a futile attempt to fling her from his back. He let out a faint gasp before slumping unconscious in her hold.

At the same time, Angela pounced on the final man who barely had any time to react, sweeping his legs out from under him and delivering a quick strike to render him unconscious.

“Go. I’ve got these guys and back up will be here any minute,” Angela said breathlessly, bending down to check for weapons and secure their wrists and ankles with zip ties.

“I’ll give a radio signal if things go sideways,” Lucy whispered, brushing her hands off on her pants and slowly sliding the door open, slipping inside.

Moonlight shined through the dusty broken windows as Lucy crept through the dank warehouse, sticking close to the perimeter. She edged around the equipment, footsteps silent as her eyes scanned her surroundings trying to locate Tim.

Ahead, a faint voice echoed in the space, though she couldn’t quite make out what the person was saying. Her heart pounded in her ears as she got closer, peering around a stack of crates, her hands trembling slightly she took in the sight in front of her.

Ray’s imposing form was standing underneath a flickering overhead light, his back to her. His voice was calm which somehow it made it even worse.

“You know…” Lucy could her the smirk in his voice, “Most others would be begging and screaming by now.”

“Come on, Ray. You know by now I’m not most people,” Tim shot back and Lucy’s heart clenched when she heard his voice. She could practically hear his injuries. The short, labored breaths, somewhat gargled. The choked words. She had to get to him fast.

She craned her neck, trying to see around Ray’s hulking back, but he still blocked her view. But then he moved as he began to speak.

And it took everything in Lucy not to make a sound.

Tim sat tied to a chair, his entire upper body covered in bruises and blood and sweat. The faint groan of his pain reached her ears, tugging at her resolve.

“That’s right. The Reaper. You’ve fallen so far I barely recognize you now. You got soft man. It almost takes the fun out of this. Almost.”

“You always were a mouthy one. You know, things were a lot more peaceful once you died.”

Lucy saw Tim brace himself for Ray to hit him and she had to bite back wail as she realized that this was how things had been going. Ray had been torturing him with his fists, and Tim kept goading him into more to distract him. How he was still conscious, she didn’t know.

She crept in closer, staying behind Ray, preparing to take him down. He was so caught up in his own performance that he didn’t catch her presence.

But Tim did. His eyes moved imperceptibly past Ray, seeing her moving towards him. He didn’t react, letting his eyes drift lazily back to Ray, who had begun chuckling.

“Nice try. But it’s time for me to go pick up that hot wife of yours. Though I gotta say...I guess your father knocking the shit outta you all those years really made you able to take a beating. It’s impressive how long you’ve held on.”

The muscles in Lucy’s face twitched as her hands clenched around her gun. Rage coursed through her veins as she finally stepped up behind him, making the first sound since she arrived in the warehouse.

Ray turned and before he could react Lucy was raising her gun and backhanding him across the face. The force of her blow sent him crashing to the ground where she was immediately on him, pulling her hand back and landing blow after blow across his face.

“How fucking dare you!” was all she could grind out through the red hot fury that emanated through her fists.

Ray was a bloody mess, grunts and groans the only thing that could be heard between her repeated strikes. Lucy felt her knuckles tear open, but she didn’t let up, needed him to feel the exact same pain he inflicted on her husband.

Tim remained in a shocked stupor for a moment as he watched his wife pummel his captor. For a second he wasn’t sure if he had been imagining things. But when she continued to drive her fist into his face without any response from Ray, he realized if he didn’t stop her, she was going to kill him with her bare hands.

“Lucy!” She didn’t hear him, “Lucy, baby, stop! He’s not worth it!”

She finally jolted to a stop, Tim’s voice cutting through her rage and her senses seeping back in. Flipping Ray over, she quickly secured his wrists with zip ties and turned to do the same to his ankles just for good measure.

Not sparing him another glance she spun around, setting her eyes on Tim. Relief and horror spread through her as she took in his appearance, holstering her gun as she rushed to him.

“God! Oh my God, Tim. Baby, are you alright?” she gasped, cupping his face with trembling hands before pressing a firm, desperate kiss to his lips. He winced, his jaw visibly swollen, but he managed a strained smile. It was a close call.

“I'm... better now,” he murmured, his voice rough with pain. Lucy released a choked sound and quickly moved behind him, her eyes falling on the handcuffs digging into his wrists. She fumbled for her key, silently praying it will work, and exhaled shakily when it does.

As soon as the cuffs clicked open, Tim groaned in pain, his arms slumping forward, his left shoulder clearly injured. Lucy didn’t waste a second, dropping to her knees to work on the bindings around his ankles just as Metro burst in.

“Officer Lucy Chen, we're code 4!” she called out, raising her badge, her voice sharp and commanding. She pointed toward the crumpled heap on the ground. “The suspect is down, and we need an RA for Sergeant Bradford!”

Angela and the rest of the team moved into action alongside Metro, spreading out to clear the building while Lucy freed Tim's legs. As she straightened, Angela stepped to Tim's other side, ready to help. Other members of their found family joined them, prepared to aid them if needed.

“I feel like a damn spectacle,” Tim grumbled feeling everyone’s eyes on him, his voice rasping as he coughed wetly. He grimaced as Lucy and Angela helped him to his feet, his face pinched. The two women exchanged a worried glance, the strain in his breathing impossible to miss.

Ray came to as officers prepared to take him in while Tim got his footing. They were just cutting the ties around his ankles when Ray jerked violently, the breath releasing from him with a choked gasp. Tim had mustered the strength to drive his foot hard into his stomach.

 “Tim!” Lucy exclaimed in shock and Tim started down at Ray, disgust clear on his face despite his injuries.

“I told you my wife was gonna kick your ass you son of a bitch.”

The officers yanked Ray up, leading him out of the warehouse as Tim struggled forward, each step an agonizing effort. When he stumbled, Nolan rushed in to help steady him, accidentally jostling his injured arm. The sharp yell that ripped from Tim's throat stopped everyone in their tracks and he nearly collapsed, the pain threatening to overwhelm him.

Lucy’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Please tell me an RA is here! Get a gurney in here now!” she shouted, her eyes locked on Tim as she keeps him upright.

“I'm f-fine. I can—" he started, but Lucy interrupted him, her tone leaving no room for argument.

“No, you can't. And don’t even try to argue. You can barely stand. You're getting on that damn gurney when it gets here,” she snapped fiercely.

Tim clenched his jaw, swallowing back his protests. He exhaled shakily and nodded, accepting her words without a fight, his body trembling as he fought to stay upright. The team exchanged worried looks. He needed to get to a hospital.

Fast.

Lucy stared at Tim as he slept, his hand clutched tightly between hers. She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, cataloging every inch of him. His left eye was swollen shut, his cheek bruised and rounded, his bottom lip busted but now cleaned of the dried blood that was caked around it. His right eye wasn’t nearly as bad but still carried serious bruising. Two of his ribs were cracked and he had some internal bleeding which fortunately was somehow not as severe as originally thought. They had reset his shoulder which was currently in a sling across his chest.

All in all, Tim would be okay. After a few weeks of rest and healing, he would physically be able to return to normal after several weeks of rest and a bit of physical therapy.

Her mind flicked back to the last words out of Watkins’ mouth before she jumped on him.

I guess your father knocking the shit outta you all those years really made you able to take a beating.

Her heart ached for that little boy that lived inside her husband. She wondered how much of his resilience was from being accustomed to someone hitting him rather than his body being in top physical condition.

Hunching forward, she brought their joined hands to her forehead, her elbows resting on the edge of the bed. Her shoulders sagged under the weight of exhaustion, the last dredges of adrenaline that had surged through her hours ago finally left her body, leaving her feeling drained and emotional.

She closed her eyes, swallowing hard to fight the tears that threatened as she replayed the events of the last day and night. She bit her bottom lip to steady it, but it still quivered despite her efforts. Her eyes burned behind her lids and a tear slipped free, trailing down her cheek. She swiped it away quickly with the back of her hand, determined to hold herself together.

But the emotions warring inside her—relief, overwhelm, and something else she wasn’t quite ready to name—were too much to contain. Another tear escaped, followed by another, and her body begins to shake softly with the quiet sobs she can no longer suppress.

“How’s he doing?” Angela’s voice broke through her storm of emotions and Lucy looked up to see her standing at the door, staring at him with a worried look on her face.

She hastily wiped her sleeves across her eyes, “Um…he’s doing ok. He hasn’t woken up yet, but the doctors said that was to be expected. It’ll probably be a little while longer before the sedative wears off.”

“I spoke to Grey. Watkins’ has been handed over to the FBI. On top of the charges for what happened to Tim…he’s not going anywhere. Ever.”

“Good,” she rasped, her voice croaking from lack of use.  

“I brought you some food,” she said holding up a bag, walking further into the room and placing it on the tray.

“I’m not hungry,” Lucy protested, and the look Angela gave her reminded her that she was, in fact, a mother of two.

“I know, but you need to eat something. It’ll help with the adrenaline crash. You haven’t eaten since lunch at the station yesterday. It’s not too much. Just some soup and a piece of bread. You’ll be glad you did.” Angela proceeded to pull out the items and place them in front of Lucy, opening the cover to the soup and holding out the spoon for her to take, “Plus, if Timothy found out that I didn’t take care of you when he couldn’t I’d never hear the end of it. Not to mention my mother. Eat.”

Lucy’s eyes darted between Angela and the spoon for a moment before sighing and placing Tim’s hand down, to take it from her. She picked up the container, the earthy, savory scent of the soup traveled up her nostrils, enticing her to take a sip. The warm familiar taste of chicken noodle soup slipped down her throat, the one from the little shop nearby that she and Tim always purchased from when one of them was sick. It was rich and hearty, like a warm hug and it helped settle her nerves.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, and then her eyes widened in realization, and she sat up straighter, “Shit, Tamara! I’ve been so focused on Tim, I forgot to call her. She must be going out of her mind!”  

“Hey, no it’s okay. We got her,” Angela said reassuringly, “Nolan and Celina were heading back to the station and they’ll update her. Nolan will bring her here.”

Lucy visibly deflated in relief, “Th—”

“And don’t say thank you,” Angela interrupted her, “This is one of those times you lean on your village, yeah?”

Lucy nodded with tired smile, taking another sip of soup and Angela took a breath, “I gotta get home. But keep me posted when he wakes up okay? I’ll stop by after Wesley gets off work.”

“Okay.”

Angela ran a hand down Tim’s uninjured arm and gave Lucy’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before exiting.

 Lucy savored her soup, eating slowly, trying to focus on the flavors, the sounds of the beeping monitors, Tim’s steady breathing. Anything to keep her mind from spiraling too far down the rabbit hole of the events of the past night and morning. His nurse, Maya had come in to check his vitals, but otherwise, the room had remained relatively calm over the last half hour.

She had finally mustered the strength to call Genny, not wanting her to hear the news from anyone else. As expected, Genny was distraught and immediately wanted to rush to the hospital. Lucy, however, gently convinced her to wait until school was over, assuring her it would be easier to come once the boys were in aftercare. “Take your time,” Lucy urged softly. “The boys are taken care of, and you’ll be able to focus when you’re here.” Despite her reluctance, Genny agreed, her voice shaky with worry as she promised to be there as soon as she could.

Lucy was just finishing the last bite of her soup, finally feeling a bit more like herself when Tamara rushed in.

“Oh my god,” she gasped, halting abruptly as her eyes landed on Tim, her face blanching. “Is… is he okay? Are you okay?” Her voice trembled as she turned to Lucy.

Slowly, Tamara stepped forward wrapping Lucy in a tight hug, which she returned without hesitation.

“We’re both okay, Tam,” Lucy murmured softly into her ear, her voice calm but tired.

Tamara pulled back slightly, “That was really scary. I don’t even know what I’d do if…” Her voice broke, and she trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

“I know,” Lucy said gently, her tone steady despite the wave of emotion in her own chest. “But he’s gonna be fine. Pretty soon he’ll be up and about, complaining that we’re not letting him do anything.”

Tamara let out a shaky laugh, the sound tinged with relief and wiped at her eyes. Lucy stood up from her seat, giving her a small smile. “Here, why don’t you sit with him for a few minutes? I haven’t wanted to leave him alone, and I really need to use the bathroom. After that, Nolan’s going to take you home so you can finally get some rest.”

“But—” Tamara began, shaking her head in protest.

“No buts,” Lucy interrupted firmly, her eyes narrowing just enough to show she wouldn’t be swayed. “I know you haven’t slept since all this started, and you still have classes this week. You need to rest, Tam.”

Tamara sighed giving a small nod. “Okay, you’re right. I’m exhausted. But… I just need to see for myself that he’s really okay, you know?” She sniffled, the vulnerability in her voice causing a pang in Lucy’s chest.

“I know,” Lucy said, offering a warm, reassuring smile as she gently rubbed Tamara’s arms. “Just keep an eye on him for me, yeah? I’ll be right back.”

Tamara gave a small, hesitant smile in return before sliding into the chair Lucy had occupied moments earlier.

The truth was, there were few people Lucy trusted enough to take her place, even for a moment. As she walked out of the room, Lucy glanced over her shoulder, her chest tightening as she saw Tamara tentatively reach out to adjust the blanket over Tim, her touch careful and protective.

When Lucy stepped into the hallway, Nolan was waiting, posted up against the wall. “Hey, how’s he doing?” He pushed away to stand in front of her, peeking at Tim and Tamara through the window.

Lucy swallowed hard, nodding her head a bit, “He’s doing okay. He had some internal bleeding and the doctors gave him a sedative while they ran some tests and treated him, plus I think he’s exhausted…so it’ll be a while before he wakes up.”

Nolan nodded, watching her through concerned eyes, “And you? How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” Lucy replied quickly, “Plus, I’m really not the one you should be asking that.”

“I know, but…” Nolan hesitated for a moment, “I saw Watkins when we got there…your hands…”

Lucy looked down where cuts and bruises were evident on her on her knuckles. She quickly crossed her arms to hide them.

“I just…I know you two are married now, so things are different but…I’ve never seen you like that before…” He continued, “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I’m fine, Nolan” Lucy replied firmly, though she felt a sting in her eyes as she tried to maintain her composure, “Thanks for checking on me but, I’m fine. And I’ll be even better as soon as he wakes up.”

Nolan didn’t look like he believed her, but he didn’t question it, just nodded and Lucy gave a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “I’m just going to use the restroom and then do you think you can give Tamara a ride home?”

“Of course, whatever you need.”

Nolan didn’t question her again once she returned from the bathroom to take her place back by Tim’s side. Lucy felt his eyes on her but chose not to acknowledge it. Instead, she focused her attention back on Tamara, who despite her earlier agreement, was reluctant to leave, keeping her hand clutched tightly around Tim’s. Lucy finally convinced her to go get some rest after promising that she’d call when Tim woke up. Wiping her eyes, Tamara hugged Lucy one last time and got up to leave, keeping ahold of Tim’s hand until the last possible second. She slowly trailed behind Nolan as they left the room, her eyes lingering on Tim as she walked out the door.

All was quiet once again and Lucy clasped Tim’s hand in hers once again, Nolan’s words playing on a loop in her mind.

I’ve never seen you like that before.

Shutting her eyes she sucked in a deep breath trying to make sense of what she was feeling. Nolan was right. If she played back the past eighteen hours in her mind, the things she’d said and done…she didn’t recognize herself.

I know you two are married now, so things are different..

Nolan may have recognized that Lucy’s actions were different, but the one thing he didn’t understand was that it had nothing to do with her and Tim being married. Nothing. Lucy tried to think back to how she would've felt if this happened before they started sleeping together, before they'd realized their feelings…back when she was his rookie. She was positive that she wouldn’t have done anything different. She knew that as surely as she knew that Tim would’ve stopped at nothing to find her when Caleb took her.

But it still scared the shit out of her how little regret she had.

The anguish, the rage, the calculated way she took those men out. The way she was preparing to take Mark Greer and go rogue had the FBI not gotten a location. The fact that had it not been for Tim himself, she would have torn Ray Watkins to shreds for the pain he’d inflicted on him.

She had been prepared to kill a man. Not once did it dawn on her to just shoot him. She wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands.

A low groan broke her from her thoughts, and she lifted her head to see Tim grimacing. She held her breath as his eyes opened, the world stilling. For a second, she froze, afraid it was her mind playing tricks on her, but then his gaze—dazed and unfocused—slowly found hers and a small smile tugged at his lips.

“Hi,” he whispered and a sob broke free from Lucy’s chest, tears spilling down her face. She leaned forward, her trembling fingers brushing lightly against his injured cheek.

“Hi,” she whispered tearfully, “Welcome back.”

“Mmmmm….” He murmured, blinking groggily, and Lucy sniffled, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her free hand and then bringing his to her lips.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, hoping that the painkillers were still doing their job.

“Hmmm…I’ve got the good stuff,” he mumbled, smiling up at her, “Sorry, I missed dinner,” he quipped, and Lucy let out a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh.

“I think you’re excused in this case,” she wiped her eyes again, and sobered quickly, “God, I thought I was never gonna see you again.”

“Hey…” he slowly lifted his hand to her cheek, his movements not yet fully coordinated, but he still hit his mark, “I knew you were gonna find me. No matter what it took, remember?”

When I was in that barrel, I knew you’d find me. No matter what it took.

Lucy felt something unknot slightly in her chest, the tension she felt a moment ago easing a bit. Tim, without even meaning to, had managed to reassure her in a way she hadn’t known she needed. Even in his haze, he’d spoken with such ease, such certainty, reminding her in that one sentence that he would’ve done the same—without hesitation, without regret—had their roles been reversed. That he had done the same years ago.

 “I love you so much,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“I love you too.” He whispered back and tugged on her cheek a little, so she’d lean down, planting a gentle kiss against his injured lips, “There. Now I’m all better.” He murmured and Lucy snorted.

“Now I know you got the good stuff.”

Chapter Text

Tim jerked awake sitting up, feeling a slight twinge in his chest, but he wasn’t quite sure if it was because of his healing injuries or his racing mind.

“Another one?” Lucy’s sleepy voice came from beside him as she ran her hand up and down his sweaty back. Tim nodded wordlessly as he tried to catch his breath and rid himself of the image of his 9-year-old self take a backhand to the face after he broke his dad’s coffee mug.  

“Same one?” she asked, gently massaging into his muscles. Tim shrugged slightly, but didn’t respond, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“They’re all pretty much the same at this point. This time it was because of a coffee mug.”

He’d been back home for two weeks and his physical injuries had rapidly improved. And while they both knew that there would be some psychological consequences of what happened to him, neither could have predicted the way they manifested. Night after night, Tim awoke at least once, sometimes as many as three, plagued by nightmares of the horrors he lived through as a child. He had been convinced they’d pass. Lucy wasn’t unaccustomed to him having nightmares, though they had grown less frequent lately, but this…this was unlike anything she’d seen. They were taking a toll on him. Every day he woke up exhausted.

“Babe, I know…” Lucy hesitated for a moment, “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but…you’re going to have to get cleared for duty…”

“I know…” he looked at her curiously, trying to figure out where she was going with the conversation.

She bit her lip, her hand resting gently on his back as she slid closer. “Your nightmares aren’t going away…” she said softly.

“I know…” he sighed, his voice heavy with resignation.

“Maybe…you should consider talking to someone? Maybe if…if things go well with the department therapist…you keep going?”

Tim stared at her for a long moment, watching all her nervous tells as she waited for his response. He didn’t relish the idea of sitting down with a perfect stranger and telling them his deepest secrets, reliving the most horrible moments of his life. But he couldn’t go on like this. He couldn’t keep doing this to Lucy, to himself. Neither of them was sleeping, and she was due back at work next week.

“I’ll…I’ll see how it goes. That’s all I can promise right now,” he said, and Lucy smiled softly.

“That’s all that I ask. I know it’s a big deal for you,” she leaned in to rest her chin on his bicep.

“It is. But…you’re right. And I…I don’t like feeling like this. This out of control. And I hate that that asshole still got the revenge he wanted, even though he’s going away forever,” his voice was rough with anguish and Lucy planted a kiss on his arm.

“But he didn’t, babe. And at some point you weren’t going to be able to continue to keep that stuff buried anymore. It always has its own way of coming up,” she said empathetically, pausing for a moment. “Do you remember when I came back to work after Caleb?”

“Of course I do.” He wasn’t likely to forget that. Ever.

“Well what I never told you is that, I did the mandated therapy and then I stopped. And I tried to tell myself I was dealing with it. That I just needed to give it time and the nightmares would go away. That I did the things I needed to do and I’d be fine.”

“And?” He asked curiously.

“And to convince them that I was fine, Harper and Angela took me speed dating.”

“What!?” he hissed in the darkness, his head reeling back, but Lucy waved him off. “That was what Angela meant the next day when she told me you had a moment the night before?”

“Relax, babe it was forever ago. Also, I can’t believe you still remember what Angela told you the next day,” she gave him an amused look, “But needless to say I was not fine.”

“So what did you do about it?”

“Well, someone reminded me that I could change the perspective of what happened to me,” she smirked, “And I realized I couldn’t keep ignoring it. So after that, I went back to therapy and I really gave it a shot that time. I didn’t go through the motions. And it got heavy at times, but it helped. A lot.”

Tim blinked. He hadn’t realized all of that. He’d known that after they talked in the gym that there’d been a marked difference in her. Day by day she’d slowly gotten her sunshine back, albeit with new eyes, but it was back nonetheless.

“I’ll try,” he said softly, and Lucy smiled, pushing up to kiss him. “I’ll see if I can move my appointment up sooner.”

“Your call babe. Do you want to try and get back to sleep?” Instead of responding, Tim nestled back down under the covers and Lucy settled in curled up beside him. “I wish you were allowed to sleep on your side,” she whispered.

“Why?”

“Because you definitely could use a taste of being the little spoon.”

Tim snorted, “I’m too big to be a little spoon.”

“You’re never too big to be a little spoon babe, I’ll just wrap my arms and legs around you,” Lucy ran her fingers up and down his chest soothingly, feeling his muscles relax even further.

“That’s more like octopus prey,” he mumbled back.

“Just rest, babe,” Lucy murmured softly, her fingers tracing slow, soothing lines along his chest. It had become their unspoken ritual, her gently coaxing him back to sleep after a nightmare, knowing it would take time for him to escape the lingering shadows of his past. He never talked about it, but one night months ago, she caught him quietly feeling the pulse on her wrist, as if grounding himself to her. Ever since, she made a point to stay pressed close, closer than ever, letting him sync to her heartbeat, her breathing. Gradually, Tim’s breaths steadied, his tense body relaxed, and he drifted into slumber.

True to his word, Tim moved up his therapy appointment and started attending the day Lucy  returned to work—and he kept going. Twice a week, for the past three weeks. The new department therapist, Dr. Blair London, was sharp and effective, and Tim could already feel the difference. Some sessions were tougher than others, but it helped knowing he had Lucy to come home to—someone who truly understood what he was going through. Some days, he shared everything; other days, only bits and pieces. But the progress was undeniable. The nightmares were becoming less frequent.

By the third week, Dr. London had cleared him for duty. Now, with a week and a half of recovery left, Tim had two big tasks ahead: making sure everything was perfect for Lucy’s birthday and putting the final details on another surprise she wouldn’t see coming. So when Angela stopped by for lunch the day after he was cleared, it was the perfect opportunity to put his plans in motion.

“So how are you doing? Really?” Angela asked, taking a bite of the sandwich Tim had prepared.

“I’m doing good…better,” she looked at him skeptically, “Really! The first few weeks were tough. Lucy and Tamara watched me like a hawk. Kind of reminded me of when I had back surgery. But…things are better now.” He paused taking a deep breath, preparing for the next admission, “I’m in therapy.”

Angela did a double take, her eyes widening in surprise, “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” Tim nodded, “The whole Ray thing brought up a lot of stuff that I didn’t even realize I hadn’t really dealt with. Lucy and I talked about it…she helped open my eyes a bit. Plus, she started going again after everything…what kind of partner would I be if I didn’t work on myself too?”

She stared at him for a long moment, her sandwich frozen in her hands, “Sometimes, I can’t believe I’m looking at the same guy from a few years ago.”

“Yeah,” Tim laughed, wiping his mouth and taking a sip of water, “Join the club.”

“She’s good for you.”

“She is,” He nodded, “That’s why I need you help.”

A few days later found Tim slipping from bed early on the Saturday morning before his final week of recovery. Lucy was still out like a light. He had worn her out the night before, both a celebration of him being almost back to 100% and wanting to make sure she slept in so he could work on the first surprise of the day.

Tim padded to the kitchen, pulling out the large mixing bowl and then grabbing various ingredients, setting them all out on the counter. A few moments later eggs, milk, and melted butter were folded into the sifted flour and baking powder, creating a smooth, creamy batter.

As he heated up the griddle pan, Kojo sat at his feet hoping for something to drop.

“Hey, this is raw batter boy, you can’t have this. You’ve gotta wait ‘til later for yours, okay?” Tim looked down at Kojo, whose tongue was lolling out to the side and shook his head, “Mom has taught you all the bad habits, huh? Or is it Mrs. Graham?” Kojo’s ears perked up at the name and Tim rolled his eyes.

“I’m going to have to have a word with Mrs. Graham. I knew she’s been spoiling you.” Kojo just stared at him and Tim shook his head returning his attention to the griddle pan and batter.

With a steady hand, he ladled the batter into the skillet, creating perfect circles that sizzled as they hit the pan. As he waited for bubbles to form, he went to the oven to switch on the warmer and then turned on the coffee maker that he’d prepped the night before.

Slowly the kitchen filled with the earthy aroma of melted butter and sweet pancakes along with freshly brewed hazelnut coffee. Tim could only hope that the scents didn’t permeate Lucy’s dreams like they did when he made those chocolate muffins, he needed stealth on his side this morning.

Once the pancakes were finished, he covered the large platter with foil and set it in the oven to keep warm. He sliced some fresh strawberries, placing them in a bowl and onto a tray, adding a small mini pitcher of syrup. He added the vase of fresh flowers that he’d clipped when he took Kojo outside, then he went to the mud room to grab a card and a small box out of his backpack.

Turning back to Kojo he knelt down, card in hand. “Okay boy, this is going to be just like we practiced, alright?” He held the card out and Kojo took it gently between his teeth, “Go wake up mom!”

Kojo took off enthusiastically, trotting down the hall to their bedroom, while Tim put the finishing touches on breakfast.

Lucy felt something nudging her cheek as she slept, “Tim, babe, I’m gonna at least need coffee before we go another round,” she mumbled, snuggling deeper beneath the covers.

She felt a nudge again. And then the distinct lack of Tim’s voice. And the distinct lack of coffee. She cracked an eye open to see something white in front of her face. Cracking open the other eye, she squinted in confusion and then blinked, seeing Kojo sitting patiently next to her with an envelope hanging out his mouth.

“Awww…baby, did daddy put you up to this?” she rubbed his fur, sitting up against the headboard, taking the envelope from him and opened it.

Inside was a card with ‘Happy Birthday to You’ printed in blue and gold lettering, opening it, the first thing she saw was Kojo’s paw print, inked at the bottom.

“Oh my god,” she swooned for a moment, leaning in to give Kojo a hug and a kiss on the head before turning back to the card.

Happy Birthday to my best friend, my partner, the love of my life. You’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and I only hope I can spend today making you feel as special as you deserve.

P.S. Kojo wanted in on the birthday love too.

Love,

Your best boys

Tears welled in her eyes as she ran her hand over Tim’s writing and Kojo’s pawprint. “Happy Birthday, babe.” Lucy looked up to see Tim standing in the doorway to their bedroom holding a tray. She cocked her head to the side and brought the card to her chest, smiling affectionately as he entered the room.

“Tim. That was the sweetest and cutest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him towards her once he set the tray down on the nightstand, giving him a long kiss. “Did you really take a stamp of Kojo’s pawprint and train him to bring me my card?”

“I did,” he grinned, “What else was I gonna do with all the time I had on my hands while you were at work? I couldn’t bake all day.”

“I wouldn’t have complained about that,” she grinned, leaning back into him, “You could’ve learned how to make me rugelach.” She punctuated her sentence with her lips on his, sipping lazily at his mouth as she pulled him down on top of her. Kojo quickly hopped down from the bed and trotted out of the room. His job was done. He only hoped Tim left breakfast in his bowl too.

“Mmmm…” their lips smacked as Tim broke away, propping himself up on his elbows, “As much as I would love to continue this…you need to eat and then you need to get dressed. You have plans today.”

“Oh? We do?” Lucy asked curiously.

“You do. And don’t ask. It’s a surprise.”

“I bet I could…convince you….” She grinned, hooking her legs behind his and flipping him over and flinging his shirt off to let her hair and breasts bounce free.

“Damn Luce…” Tim groaned.

“It’s my birthday…I can do want I want,” She said rising up to her knees and pulling his pajama bottoms down to let his cock spring free, “And what I want…” she lined him up and then sunk down to his lap, “is to fuck my husband.”

“Fuckkk,” he grunted as she began to move, pressing her hands against his chest as she rotated her hips, “Shit you feel fucking good.”

“Yes,” she moaned tossing her head back, grinding against him, feeling her clit drag against his pelvis, her pussy growing wetter with each movement. Tim sat up, bringing his arms around her back and bringing his mouth to her chest.

“That’s it, take what you want,” he growled, taking a nipple into his mouth, feeling Lucy’s breath hitch as he palmed the other, flicking his thumb over her bud. Lucy’s movements quickened in his lap, his cock hitting just the right angle. “Give me one, baby. I feel it.”

He felt the flood of her orgasm over his cock as her pussy fluttered around him, moaning as pleasure washed over her and she worked herself through it.

Not giving her a moment to recover, Tim tossed her back on the bed, grinning as she shrieked in surprise, and sat on his haunches. “You gotta give me another one,” he smirked and yanked her towards him by the thighs, sheathing himself in her wet heat, his grunt tangling with her gasp as her pussy sucked him in.

“Seriously?” Harper rolled her eyes, checking her watch. “He was the one who told us to get here by 10.” She, Angela and Alison had been stuck outside Tim’s house for the past 5 minutes, after ringing the doorbell repeatedly.

“Looks like they’re getting in some good ole fashioned birthday sex,” Alison grinned and Harper scoffed.

“Don’t you have a key, Ange?” Harper asked.

“Not anymore, he made me give it back after I kept letting myself in. But he did tell me that there’s a spare key hidden. He’s not getting away with leaving us standing out here while they’re fucking,” Angela walked over to the front garden bed and digging around a bit before making a sound of triumph as she held up a faux rock container. Tapping in the code, she dumped out Tim’s key.

“Are you sure you want to go in there?” Alison asked skeptically, “I mean, I’ve already witnessed enough and don’t get me wrong, it’s hot but once you hear it, there’s no going back.”

“Oh please, we’ve seen and heard enough at Bailey’s bachelorette. I’m not standing out here anymore when he was the one who cooked up this whole thing,” Angela said, inserting the key in the lock.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Alison raised her eyebrows, lifting her hands in defeat. She gestured to Harper to go ahead of her who shook her head.

“Oh no, you two are the ones with the insane fixation on their sex lives, I’ll let you go first.”

Opening the door, they were immediately assaulted by the sounds of Tim and Lucy, in the midst of an intense round of fucking.

“That’s it, take me deep.”

“I feel you in my guts, baby. Fuck! Yes!”

Kojo who lounged on his dog bed in the corner, merely raised his head for a moment and then settled it back down.

“Well, I’ll say one thing, he’s got some good windows and doors on this house, otherwise there definitely would’ve been a noise complaint filed on this house,” Angela quipped then looked over at Kojo, “This is a common occurrence huh? You poor boy. And no playmate for you? That’s gotta suck.”

“You are insane, I’m going out back. Come get me when it’s time to go,” Harper said and headed towards the back patio, thankful that Tim and Lucy also kept drinks in their outdoor kitchen. Kojo trotted happily behind her.

“YO BRADFORDS! STOP FUCKING SO WE CAN GO!” Angela yelled towards the hall.

“Fuck!”

“Don’t you dare stop, Bradford.”

“Babe, I thought I heard—fuckkk!”

“Shit, shit, shit!”

Angela and Alison exchanged amused glances as a loud groan and a high-pitched shout sounded from down the hallway.

“Huh. That was tame,” Alison sounded surprised.

“Really?” Angela snorted, “Fucking into someone’s guts is tame?”

“Sit on my face, baby, I’m gonna clean you up.” They heard a clear slap and then a thump, followed by Lucy’s moan.

“And that’s more like it!” Alison laughed deciding to head towards the hallway, “Alright we better put an end to this before we’re sitting here all day.” Walking right up to Tim’s bedroom door, she pounded on it, Angela standing behind her.

“HEY! BRADFORDS! WE’D LIKE TO GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD AT SOME POINT!”

“Shit!” They heard Lucy shriek and loud thump, followed by Tim’s, “Ow!”

“Tim!” Lucy hissed, “You didn’t tell me Alison was coming over!”

“I tried! You seduced me! Mrs. It’s my birthday and I can do want I want and I wanna fuck you.”

“Oh my god! Put him away! We need to go out there!”

“Sorry, he’s got a mind of his own when your tits are out!”

“Oh my god! PANTS, Bradford!”

Angela and Alison dissolved into laughter as the door finally swung open to reveal Tim and Lucy, disheveled and beet red. The two women paused, took one look at the couple and completely lost it all over again.

“How the hell did you get in our house? I took your key Lopez,” Tim said frowning as they all walked to the kitchen.

“Yeah, you did, but you forgot that you told me that you also got a hide-a-key for emergencies.” She said matter-of-factly.

“And this was an emergency?” Tim deadpanned.

“I mean you were the one who came up with this idea and told us to be at your house by 10. We were on time. You clearly weren’t,” Angela raised an eyebrow and Tim rolled his eyes.

“It’s not my fault.”

“Oh I heard. You were seduced.”

“Actually, from what I remember it’s totally your fault. You like to deliver multiples. If you would just be a one and done, we probably would’ve been gone already,” Alison chimed in and Tim glared at her, “What? Take it as a compliment! Happy Birthday by the way.” She turned to Lucy and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.  

“Anyway, we need to shower so you guys can go,” Tim started and then hesitated, rethinking his words, “Actually, Lucy, you shower, I’ll give these ladies some coffee and breakfast.”

“Good answer,” Angela smirked, “If you stepped foot in that shower with her, I was going to take these ladies and leave.”

“Who else is here?” Lucy asked looking around.

“Harper,” Alison snorted, “But as soon as she heard the concert you two had going on she went out back.”

“At least one of you has decorum,” Tim shot back.

“Hey, someone had to get you two to come up for air! Just when we thought you were done, you were about to go back for more!” Angela retorted and then turned to Lucy, “Birthday sex is a good way to start the day!”

“Oh my god,” Lucy covered her eyes, mortified, “I’m going to shower!” She walked down the hall just as Harper peeked her head back in.

“Is it safe?” she asked.

“You’re good. Do you want some pancakes?” Tim asked, walking over to the oven and pulling out the tray of remaining pancakes.

“I think we’re owed something for our suffering this morning,” Harper said, taking a seat at the island next to Alison.

“Maybe you. These two were more than happy to take in a show,” Tim pointed to Angela and Alison with the fork as he set the food out on plates. The two women gave him identical smirks, “It’s scary how alike you two are.”

He placed their plates down, handing each detective a fork as he pulled out his phone, “Alright, her bag is packed by the front door, and I’ll order the car now. Just have her back here by 6.”

“Gotta say, Bradford, if this is how you always do things, I get why she married you,” Alison quipped, taking a bite of her pancake.

----

“This is my surprise?” Lucy squealed as the car pulled up in front of the Solstice Spa. “I haven’t been here in ages!”

“You’ve been here before?” Harper asked in surprise as the valet opened the door.

“Yeah,” Lucy said, exiting the SUV, “Once. Tim and I came here one weekend not long after he made Sergeant.”

“Oh my god!” Angela practically yelled as they ascended the steps into the sleek 8-story building.

“What? What happened?!” Lucy asked in alarm, the trio of women turning to Angela as they walked through the doors, immediately greeted by the soothing scent of eucalyptus and the soft hum of ambient music, though right now their energy was anything but.

“I just don’t understand how the hell you two were in denial for so damn long!” She threw her hands up in the air as they got on line to check in, “You do know how that sounds right? He took you for a spa day back when you were just friends?!”

“I seriously can’t believe how in oblivious you two were. Like, these stories? You know you two sound insane, right?” Alison snorted out a laugh and Lucy glared.

“Does it matter? We’re married now.”

“Hell yeah it matters! We’re never letting you two live this down. Your kids will hear how their parents were idiots for years, your grandkids will hear about it. Hell, our kids will hear about it. Let it be a cautionary tale how to not waste time,” Angela shot back.

“We did things at our pace. And that should be the lesson for your kids,” Lucy said pointedly as they stepped up to the desk.

“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it,” Harper added, “But we’ll continue to remind them about situational awareness.”

“We aren’t a crime scene!”

“I’m sure your bedroom can disagree with that statement,” Alison raised an eyebrow, sending the other two detectives into a fit of laughter, while Lucy blushed.

Angela took the lead checking them in, the concierge giving each of them a plastic wristband and directing them to the shoe removal area. Soon they had taken the elevator upstairs to the women’s locker room and changed into their swimsuits, scanning the map by the doors outside to determine where they wanted to go first.

“Before we decide on that…we’re also booked for a 90-minute acupressure therapy session in a few hours. So we just need to make sure we’re ready for that,” Angela told them and Lucy swooned.

“Sunshine, seriously…is Genny like this? Because I really might need to put some effort into her getting on board with me,” Alison nudged her and Lucy laughed.

“I love Genny, but…she definitely prefers to be the one cared for rather than doing all the planning.”

“Damnit.”

The four women began their day on the outdoor level, immersing themselves in the different pools, each offering a unique experience. They moved from the warm, bubbling hydrotherapy pool to the silk bath, where microbubbles soothingly caressed their skin. Eventually, they ascended to the rooftop infinity pool, lounging under the sun with glasses of fruit-infused water in hand, the breathtaking views stretching out ahead of them.

When hunger set in, they retreated to the dining hall, where the menu boasted only the freshest—and, to Angela’s mild dismay, the healthiest—ingredients. Still, there was something for everyone: Lucy chose a poke bowl, Nyla went for an open-faced Mahi Mahi sandwich, while Alison and Angela both landed on the Salmon Teriyaki. Lucy couldn’t help but tease them for once again proving just how alike they were.

After lunch, they drifted into the quiet zones, letting their bodies relax and digest in peaceful stillness before their scheduled acupressure treatment. In a dimly lit room, expert hands moved over them, easing out the knots of stress and tension with deliberate precision. By the time the session ended, any of the lingering buzzing energy had melted away, replaced with calm tranquility. Words became less necessary as they spent the remainder of the day, primarily in reflective silence—unusual for Angela and Alison— transitioning through the various saunas, letting the warmth seep into their bones, rejuvenating them from the inside out.

Their peacefulness was short lived when they returned to the bustling energy of the locker rooms.

“Ok we gotta get a move on. We’re running behind!” Angela told them as they dried off from the showers.

“We have an hour, Angela. We’ll be fine,” Harper reassured her.

“We’re doing something else?” Lucy asked curiously, and Alison sent them a look, shaking her head.

“Tim made dinner reservations. So we have to get you home on time,” Alison told Lucy and a warm, affectionate smile came over her face and she stood there, daydreaming in her underwear, “Uh oh guys, we’ve lost her.”

“Hey! Hey!” Angela snapped her fingers in front of Lucy’s face, “We get it. Your man is amazing, but you need to get a move on so he doesn’t start blowing up my phone.”

“I still can’t believe you never told us about you guys doing paint night!” Harper laughed as they walked up the pathway toward Tim and Lucy’s house as the ride share pulled away.

“I gotta see this masterpiece that he made. I can’t believe Tamara put it in the bathroom of all places,” Alison sputtered out a laugh. “Although, knowing them, it’s so on brand.”

“He was so annoyed. Especially since she made him hang it for her,” Lucy grinned, turning the key in the lock and pushing the front door open.

Angela snorted, “I love that girl.”

“SURPRISE!” The lights flipped on and Lucy reeled back in surprise, seeing all of their friends gathered around their house, Tim front and center, grinning from ear to ear. A simple banner spelling out Happy Birthday in muted gold lettering hung across one wall and gold tone balloons hung in bunches in various corners. Fresh flowers—sunflowers and delphiniums of course— sat in vases on the dining table and other surfaces.

“Oh my god, you guys!” She cocked her head as tears sprang to her eyes, not believing what she was seeing as Tim walked up to her, giving her a welcoming kiss.

“Happy Birthday, Luce,” he said she grinned up at him.

“This is why you sent me to the spa?”

“Something had to distract you. Why not get pampered at the same time?” Tim shrugged, clearly proud of himself.

“This is literally the sweetest, most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. The whole day really. Thank you,” Lucy grasped his shirt, pulling him back down to her mouth and then sliding her arms around his neck.

The two got lost in each other for a moment, Harper rolling her eyes and heading over to grab a drink from the bar.

“We should head outside, guys. They haven’t seen each other for 8 hours, and have clearly gone through withdrawal,” Alison said making her way towards the doors to the backyard.

“The food is set up out there anyway,” Genny told them, looking at her sons, “Come on boys, let’s get something to eat.”

“But we wanna say Happy Birthday to Aunt Lucy!” Tyler protested.

“And you can when they come join us,” Genny nodded guiding them outside.

“Hey!” Angela waved her hands at them from where she stood next to Wesley, “We had enough of getting you two to come up for air this morning! I can’t deal with that again. And there are children present!”

“ANGE!” Lucy and Tim broke apart to yell at her in shock.

“What?” She shrugged, “Half of the people here were at the bachelorette party, they already know how you two get.”

“Oh my god! Not everyone was there!” Lucy said mortified.

“Thank god for that,” Grey muttered and Luna swatted him in the stomach.

“Angela, leave them alone! They’re sweet,” Mama Lopez swatted her as the doorbell rang and Tim’s eyes lit up.

“Who else are you expecting?” Lucy asked with interest as she followed him to the door.  Tim looked down at Lucy with a smile on his face as he turned the knob, placing her in front of him.

“Aunt Amy!” she exclaimed, immediately pulling her in for a hug, “Oh my, come in! I thought you were travelling!”

Aunt Amy accepted the hug with a warm smile, stepping into the foyer while Tim stood off to the side, smiling, “I was, but I got back a few days ago and your man here just happened to get me as I got home and told me about his plans. Sorry I missed the big surprise, but I ended up stuck in traffic.”

Lucy had introduced Tim to her aunt months ago, shortly after they decided to start dating. Having grown close to Genny and his—now their—nephews, she wanted Tim to meet the one person in her family with whom she still had a good relationship. Thankfully, Amy and Tim hit it off right away. Her blunt, no-nonsense yet warm personality was a perfect match for him, and he was thrilled to hear childhood stories about Lucy.

Amy could see how deeply Tim loved Lucy and given the strained relationship Lucy had with her parents, that was more than enough for her. Neither of them sought her aunt’s approval, but she gave it freely. Though they didn’t see her often, they made sure to call when they eloped.

“That’s totally okay! This is such a great surprise!” Lucy’s eyes flicked warmly to Tim as she looped her arm through her aunt’s, “Come out back, I want to introduce you to everyone.”

After Lucy made the introductory rounds, Aunt Amy found herself seated next to Luna, where they quickly bonded over their shared love of travel, swapping stories about their favorite destinations. Meanwhile, Lucy remained on her feet, flitting effortlessly between their friends who were seated in various spots throughout their well landscaped yard. Her energy was infectious as she laughed and chatted, radiating happiness beneath the twinkling fairy lights strung around the yard. Tim engaged in conversation here and there but was primarily focused on playing the perfect host—making sure drinks were refilled, plates were never empty, and, most importantly, that Lucy never had to lift a finger.

As the evening wound down, their friends slowly began to trickle out, Angela, Harper and Genny left first with their families to get the kids to bed. Aunt Amy gave Lucy a knowing smile before giving her a tight hug, whispering, “You got a really good one, sweetie,” as Tim waited to walk her out along with Luna, Grey, Nolan and Bailey

The others—Aaron, Celina, Alison, Tamara and the Grahams lingered a little longer, reluctant to let the night end. Tim quietly handled the cleanup, whisking away empty glasses and tidying up while the others talked.

When the last of their friends left, Tim returned to the patio to see Lucy curled up on the sofa in front of the firepit. He settled down next to her, and she immediately curled into his chest.

“Thank you so much for today. This has been…the best birthday I’ve ever had,” she said gratefully. “Everything was perfect. Even down to the cupcakes.” 

“I’m glad you had a good day. I remembered—you said you hadn’t had a good birthday since you were six because you happened to be away on a family trip that year. I just wanted to give you the day you deserve.”

Lucy looked up at him, her eyes wet, “I really am the luckiest girl in the world.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one.” Tim slanted his lips over hers for a moment, “I have something for you…I planned to give it to you this morning, but…well we were sidetracked.”

He pulled a small box out from beside him, handing it to her. She smiled, accepting the box, sitting up to face him with her legs crossed.

Opening the box, she gasped. Inside lay a delicate golden strand, too large for her wrist, so she could only conclude that it was an anklet. It shimmered subtly in the firelight, with two small circular charms hanging from it with a T and an L engraved on them.

“Oh Tim…it’s beautiful.” She whispered, running her fingers over the piece.

“I figured…” he started, taking it out of the box and opening the clasp while Lucy offered him her right ankle, “That it’s something you could wear at work when you have to take everything else off.”

“That’s so thoughtful.”

“And,” Tim grinned, “you can wear it on Monday when we arrive for our honeymoon. You'll look smokin' hot with nothing on but that.”

Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait—what? But I’m supposed to work next week. And shouldn’t our honeymoon have technically been two weeks ago?”

“You should know better than to doubt me after today,” he teased. “I called as soon as I got home from the hospital, and luckily, I was able to push back the dates without changing anything. And I worked it out with Grey—you’re off until the following Monday. We’ll go back to work together. We leave tomorrow late afternoon and we’ll get back Thursday night.”

“Are you serious?!” she squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. Tim laughed as she leaned in for another kiss, one that barely made it to his lips because they were both grinning too hard.

“Can you please just tell me where we’re going now?” she pleaded. “It’s not like we’re flying private—I’m going to find out as soon as we get to the gate anyway.”

“Well…” Tim drawled, and Lucy gasped.

“Wait. Are we flying private? How the hell did you swing that?!”

“No,” he chuckled, “just messing with you.”

She smacked his arm. “Tim!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. We’re going to… Turks and Caicos.”

Lucy let out another excited squeal, and this time, Tim had to resist the urge to cover his ears.

“Oh my God!” She shoved him playfully. “Gah! If I wasn’t already married to you, I’d so marry you right now!”

Tim knew she had a long list of dream destinations, some more exotic than others, and with their limited time, Turks and Caicos made the most sense.

“You,” Lucy said, giving him a smoldering look, “are about to get so lucky tonight.”

Chapter Text

She rocked in his lap as they lay nestled on the plush outdoor sunbed as the soft light of dawn began to emerge across the horizon. Powdery white sand stretched out around them on the private beach, waves lapping gently at the shore, their rhythmic sounds blending with the soft moans emulating from Lucy and Tim. 

It was something out of her fantasies, Lucy against his chest, Tim’s strong arms holding her to him as they moved together as the sun began its slow ascent, turning the sky from lavender to a brilliant gold and fiery orange.

The world feels still, intimate, the moments of the peaceful morning only belonging to them. No distractions, no noise, just the warmth of each other and the breathtaking view. Their lovemaking was slow, neither chasing a release, though they felt it coming towards them. He swiped her hair to the side, dragging his bottom lip over her shoulder, sucking a gentle kiss against her neck.

They came together with quiet moans that were whisked away by the waves and warm breeze in the midst of the sunrise. Tim tipped Lucy’s head up to draw her in for a languid kiss as he softened inside of her.  

“Mmmm,” Lucy sighed against his mouth as they pulled away, turning to settle back against the sunbed, snuggled into his side, watching the sun take its place in the sky. “This is paradise.”

“I did good, didn’t I?” Tim said smugly, leaning over to grab a towel to clean them up.

“Yeah you did,” she grinned up at him, spreading her legs wider for him, shivering a little as he gently swiped the towel.  “You did really good.”

“I aim to please,” he smirked and Lucy swatted him, both chuckling at their double entendre.

The two-bedroom villa they were staying at was nothing short of breathtaking. When they pulled up to the resort the night before, Lucy had already been in awe of the main hotel, but then they took a golf cart to a secluded part of the resort nestled along the coastline. When she realized that the massive wooden door they walked up to had opened with what she thought was her room key, she became curious. And when the door opened and she realized that it wasn’t a room but an entire house, she almost passed out. Tim grinned as he walked in behind her, always excited when he got to surprise her.

He had lucked out on this one. Between the sale of his childhood home, some pretty savvy investing, and a friend who was a travel agent, Tim had been able to secure them a trip and accommodations that were pure luxury. The villa had floor-to-ceiling windows that offered uninterrupted views of the ocean, and an open-concept design that seamlessly blended the inside with the incredible outdoor landscape. Outside, a crystal-clear infinity pool shimmered under the moonlight, and Tim saw Lucy’s eyes glint with mischief for a moment when she saw it. Beyond the pool, a private stretch of beach belonged exclusively to them, lined with palm trees, cushioned lounge chairs and sunbeds that they were taking full advantage of that morning.

The concierge had informed them that a chef would arrive each morning and evening to prepare a gourmet breakfast and dinner to their liking. Between meals, they had a fully stocked kitchen at their disposal, ensuring that snacks, fresh fruit, chilled wine and spirits were always within reach.

Every detail of the villa was designed for indulgence and relaxation. It was, as Lucy called it, paradise.

“I can’t believe we stayed out here all night,” Tim chuckled.

“You were the one who fell asleep,” Lucy shot back, leaning forward and holding her hair up so Tim could tie the straps on her maxi dress.

“I think it was the sound of the waves.”

“And to think you hate the beach,” she teased and Tim poked her side.

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s the ocean? But we’re in the Caribbean, and the water is crystal clear. Who can hate that?”

“Hey you don’t have to convince me, I’m just surprised is all. But I’m not complaining! It just means that any time I want to go to the beach and really have you enjoy it, we need to go on an island vacation.” She reached over to the table, grabbing her phone and leaned back against Tim’s chest as she held it up, “Smile, babe.”

Tim barely had time to register the camera before Lucy took the photo.

“Luce! You caught me off guard. Are you posting these? Let me see.”

“Nope, it’s gonna be a surprise when I post them later. Trust me, you look hot. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a time when you aren’t hot.”

“Back at you baby,” He grinned, pulling her more snugly against him, their fingers entwined on her stomach.

“We really should go back up to the house, don’t you think?” Lucy murmured, as she played with his fingers, the warm breeze caressing them beneath the shade of the bed.

“Why bother? This is our little beach, we can do what we want.” Tim said softly, dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder.

“Have I mentioned how much I love vacation Tim?”

“Once or twice,” he chuckled.

“One day, we’re going on vacation with our friends, so they can witness this. I don’t know if anyone would believe me otherwise.”

Tim let out an amused sound as he lounged, letting her win the discussion. He couldn’t care less if his friends were surprised by how relaxed he was on vacation. He was happy—happier than he had ever been in his life.

Sometimes, he could hardly believe this was real—that after everything they’d been through, they were here, together, married, and just as in love as they had been from the very beginning, despite all their initial denial. At times it felt like a dream, as if one day he’d wake up and find them back in the bullpen, just T.O. and rookie once again. But even with the challenges they had faced, their life together felt like the most incredible dream come true.

So he was content to soak in every second of their little private slice of paradise, letting the warmth of the morning sun and the steady crash of the waves wash over him. With Lucy curled against him, her steady breaths matching the rhythm of the tide, he let his eyes drift shut, knowing that if this was a dream, it was one he never wanted to wake up from.

Tim and Lucy finally made their way back up to the house, sharing an intimate breakfast that had been left for them by the chef which ended with him drizzling syrup on her chest and taking her on the counter. He’d carried her to their shower where he lapped up the remnants of their breakfast before they washed the stickiness off their bodies.

She’d pushed him down on the bed after they left the shower, climbing on after him, dewy and tousled as she leaned down to take him into her mouth. Her warm eyes dancing with mischief as she looked up at him while taking him deep in her throat. He’d been unable to resist pulling her off and burying himself in her while he stared into those eyes, fucking her slowly at first, letting her feel every inch of his cock as he thrust. But unsurprisingly they reached a point where neither could take it any longer and slow had turned into a passionate frenzy. Their moans gave way to shouts that echoed throughout the house.

They’d drifted back to sleep afterward, though Tim’s rest didn’t last long. As much as he was embracing vacation mode, there was only so much sleep he needed. When he woke again, the villa was quiet, the faint sound of waves lapping against the shore in the distance and Lucy snuggled next to him. He stretched, muscles pleasantly sore from their activities, then lathered himself in sunscreen, making sure to be thorough—he wasn’t about to spend the rest of the trip dealing with sunburn.

With his earbuds in, he queued up the latest mystery novel Lucy had turned him onto, the narrator’s deep voice pulling him back into the world of a military man turned financial analyst caught in a web of corruption and murder. As he stepped out onto the deck, he inhaled the crisp, salty air, letting the warmth of the sun seep into his skin.

For a fleeting moment, he considered sunbathing in the nude—why not fully embrace the freedom of vacation? But vacation Tim wasn’t quite there yet. Maybe tomorrow. Or after a couple of drinks. Smirking to himself, he settled for his swim shorts and stretched out on one of the loungers, flipping onto his stomach to let the sun heat his back first.

Unaccustomed to lying on his stomach for too long, Tim rotated to his back after a short time. With his sunglasses perched on his nose, he relaxed into the lounger, finally allowing himself to sink into the story, losing track of everything else.

Lucy woke slowly, sprawled on the plush bed, covers kicked to the end. The sheets felt soft on her naked form and she stretched with the grace of a cat, reveling in the feeling of them. She had no concept of time, only knowing that the sun was high in the sky and it seemed she had been alone for a while. Slipping from the bed, she pulled on a brightly patterned slip dress and padded out of the room in search of her husband.

Pausing to grab a small bowl of strawberries from the kitchen, she kept up her search heading out to the deck. Her eyes landed on Tim, more relaxed than she’d seen him in a long time. She couldn’t tell if he was sleeping but she could tell that his guard was down. Cop eyes were nowhere in sight.

His body glistened under the afternoon sun, managing to look both impossibly chiseled and effortlessly soft in a way that only Tim Bradford could. Sometimes, Lucy still caught herself staring, utterly in awe of just how damn gorgeous her man was. And all that perfection? It gave her an idea.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she set the bowl down on the outdoor kitchen counter and tiptoed toward him, her footsteps silent against the rich teak decking. He was lost in whatever was playing through his earbuds, completely unaware of her approach.

She was so close now, nearly within reach. Just as she lifted her hand—

In a flash, Tim ripped his earbuds out, turned, and before she could react, he scooped her up with ridiculous ease.

"Tim—!" Her startled gasp morphed into a shriek as he launched them both into the pool.

The water swallowed them whole, her laughter bubbling into a garbled mess beneath the surface.

“You should know better than to try and pull one over on me!” He laughed as they both came up for air.

“Oh you! I thought for sure I was gonna get you that time!” she splashed him and Tim ducked, then popped up and splashed her back.

The rest of the day was spent full of laughter and fun as the couple allowed themselves to simply enjoy the pleasure of being together. They lounged in the pool—Lucy shedding her soaked dress and Tim his trunks to match her nudity—stealing kisses between playful splashes. Neither tried to start anything again, just content to be open and free with one another.

Later, after dinner and a dessert that Lucy ended up licking off Tim, he lay on his stomach on their bed, Lucy’s body stretched out on top of him as they scanned the resort brochure, trying to determine which excursion they wanted to do. Tim hadn’t planned anything beforehand; he would’ve been perfectly happy spending the entire four days at the villa, but he knew Lucy would want to do something.

“Parasailing?” she asked in his ear and felt Tim’s back expand as he snorted out his disdain.

“Not relishing being a hundred feet in the sky tethered by nothing but string. Hard pass.”  

“Horseback riding?”

“I mean I loved it when we did it in Sacramento, but let’s see what else there is first before we settle on that.” Tim swiped this time.

“Oooo what about a catamaran? Or kayaking?” Lucy asked swiping through.

“Why not both? They’re somewhat different activities. One tomorrow, one on our last day?” Tim shrugged, pouring them each another glass of rum.

“I’m going to get you on the water twice? I love vacation Tim,” she grinned, leaning in to accept her drink, but he held onto it.

“I told you, tropical waters I have no problems with. And Vacation Tim loves you too,” he released her drink and they clinked their glasses, taking a sip.

Tuesday…

The sun peeked through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the room as  Lucy slowly woke, her head tucked beneath Tim’s chin, her leg thrown across his, her arm hooked across his chest. Tim’s heartbeat thrummed steadily beneath her cheek, his warmth wrapping around her like a cocoon. One of his arms rested heavily around her waist, the other tucked beneath his pillow. His slow, even breaths stirred the top of her hair, and for a moment, she simply stayed there, soaking in the quiet intimacy of the morning.

It was a little surprising to wake up like this. Usually, she sprawled out in her sleep while Tim curled into her. The thought made her smile—if only people knew what a cuddler Tim Bradford really was.

A faint breeze drifted through the room, and she realized that was probably why she’d ended up clinging to him. Tim always radiated heat like a furnace. She shivered slightly, instinctively pressing closer. The movement sent a slow ripple of awareness through her as her bare breasts brushed against his chest, her nipples grazing his smooth skin. This time, the shiver had nothing to do with the cold.

Tim’s grip automatically tightened on her ass, pulling her more firmly to him in his sleep. Lucy let out a soft moan as his thigh rubbed against her core, feeling her insides flutter. She watched his face, relaxed and youthful, as she contemplated her next move. She’s woken him up with her mouth and hands before, just as he’s woken her up with his, but she’s never woken him up this way. And every nerve ending was telling her to get herself off.

Hooking her foot around his leg a little more firmly, her breath hitched as she straddled his thigh, seeking more friction. Her arousal began to pool between her legs as she rolled her hips on him, feeling his taught muscles growing wetter as she used him. Quiet moans and gasps released from her lips as she stimulated herself, arching her back and dragging her pebbled nipples across his torso, feeling his fingers unconsciously grip her ass as his eyelids began to flutter.

“Luce?” Tim’s sleep filled rasp filled her ear, the sound of his voice only turning her on more and she moaned, rotating against his firm thigh. He blinked himself awake at the noises she was making, his senses quickly catching up and the hand that had been sprawled out to the side quickly joined the other to knead her ass as she moved.

“Fuckkk, look at you.”  The sluggishness in his voice making his growl even hotter, “You’re so damn hot. You decided to wake me up good, hmm?”

“Ah! I couldn’t help myself,” she gasped as Tim pressed his leg into her and grinding his erection against her outer thigh. He reached up to grab her by the neck, yanking her down to him and licking into her mouth. Their kiss was a reflection of her movements, hungry and wet, making her whine.  

“That’s it, use me baby.” He roughly goaded her as she humped him, her hips moving wildly as she raced to her finish. “Come on, soak my leg.”

“Ngggh!” As if on command, Lucy’s orgasm washed over her in a rolling wave that mirrored her hips, spurned on by his filthy words as her juices release over his skin. “Oh!”

Not giving her a moment to recover, Tim flipped her onto the bed, lifted her leg over his shoulder and plunged his aching cock into her tight slick.

“Shit, Luce,” he groaned, pausing for a moment as he bottomed out. “You feel so fucking good. Grip me baby.”  She clenched her pussy around his dick, pulsing as he pulled out slowly. When only his head remained, she contracted again, squeezing the head of his cock, feeling a thrill run through her when he hissed out a curse.

“Yess…” she moaned back, sliding her hands into his hair, pulsing around him as thrust back in. Each stroke felt like he was hitting deeper and deeper as she gripped around him, delicious hot pleasure coiling in her belly as his cock swelled inside her. He had already been so turned on watching her ride his thigh, it wasn’t going to take much more for him to get there.

As he hit a particularly sensitive angle, Lucy dug her fingernails into his back, crying out at the shock of pleasure, her pussy contracting hard around him. Tim let out his own guttural moan, and he shifted to take control of their pace, angling his hips to stimulate her clit with each thrust. Lucy’s breath hitched, her back arching as she felt her womb coiling tighter.

“Fuck. Fuck,” Tim gritted his teeth as he felt something inside him snap sending hot bursts of cum inside her. He fucked her through his orgasm, his thickening cock triggering Lucy’s gush as her pussy emptied him through her own climax.

“Oh God,” Lucy fucked up into him, her movements uncoordinated, knee next to her ear and her arms holding him tightly to her, feeling every inch of his body sliding against hers.

They rode out the tremors, Lucy finally dropping her leg to Tim’s waist as he dropped his head to hers to catch his breath.  He leaned down to capture her mouth, Lucy letting out an exhale against his as her fingers drifted up to tangle gently in his hair.

“Mmmm…good morning,” she mumbled against his lips.

“Good morning indeed,” he grinned, deepening the slightly, letting himself get lost once again for a moment before pulling away. “That was a new wake up call.”

Lucy let out a laugh, pushing against his chest until he rolled off of her, “Is that a complaint?”

“Did any of that seem like I was complaining?” he shot back with a smirk, rolling the rest of the way out of the massive bed to head to the bathroom, “Come on let’s shower so we can go eat. I’m suddenly ravenous.”

“Maybe I’ll give you a starter.” Lucy grinned following him, “I’m one short.”

“I think we’ve become nudists,” Lucy said as she speared her fork into a piece of melon, examining it for a moment before popping it into her mouth. A spread of fruit and two veggie omelets had been laid out for them when they entered the kitchen a half hour later. Thankfully, there was a warming tray for the hot food.

Tim broke his gaze from the ocean view to look at her while he chewed his eggs.  “It’s our honeymoon, I think we’re entitled. I did say you wouldn’t be needing many clothes on this trip.”

“I didn’t think you were serious!” she laughed, swatting him with her napkin.

“Why not?” He grinned, looking boyish with his full cheeks, “I organized it specifically so that people would only come in and out at certain times, so the rest of the time if we want to be naked, we can be naked.”

“I kind of love it. Easy access,” she waggled her eyebrows, popping another piece of fruit into her mouth.

“Exactly.” He tipped his head at her, “Although, we’ll have to put swimsuits on today unfortunately. Can’t kayak naked.”  

“But how fun would that be?” Walking over to the refrigerator, she pulled out two waters, turning to hand one to Tim who was watching the sway of her ass.

“I’m never wearing clothes at home again am I?” she smirked and match her expression because she wasn’t wrong, but he also knew as usual, they were both on the same page.

“Like you haven’t been thinking the same thing.”  

“It’s like we’ve devolved ever since we’ve been on this trip,” she rolled her eyes, but didn’t deny it.

“Enjoy it while you can babe,” Tim punctuated with a slap to her ass as Lucy walked by him to place her dishes in the sink, laughing as she yelped, “Come on, let’s get swimsuits so we don’t get to the excursion looking like heathens.”

Tim and Lucy paddled side by side through the clear blue water, a little way in front of the other couples also on the tour. They set themselves apart a bit, their athleticism, and overall competitiveness causing them to opt into individual kayaks while the others rode in tandem.

They had been instructed to do some test strokes to begin, getting a feeling for the paddles and the kayak. Tim and Lucy quickly caught on much to the annoyance of a few of the others. After ten minutes of practice, they were gliding around in circles easily, trading banter, while the others still struggled to find their rhythm. Tim was quickly growing impatient, as one couple called to one of their guides for the fourth time to get help with their paddling.

“They should cut out while they still can,” He mumbled to her where they floated next to each other. Lucy sucked her teeth at him in reprimand.

“Stop, not everyone can be as skilled as Tim Bradford.”  

 “Come on, you can’t tell me you don’t agree?” He cocked his head to the side, lowering his sunglasses to admire her toned figure in the forest green bikini that only accentuated her golden skin. “You’re just as athletic as I am.”

Lucy laughed, blushing at his public appreciation of her and then got a glint in her eye as their guide began wrangling the others up to start the tour, “Well, care to put all that athleticism to good use and make things interesting?”

Tim raised an eyebrow at her skeptically, “What are you thinking?”

“We race.”

“I’m always down for a victory.” He smirked when she glared, “What are the terms?”

She rolled her eyes as they began to paddle to the front of the group to begin the tour, “Whoever reaches the destination point first wins. Loser has to do whatever the other wants.” She ignored the shocked looks they got from the couples nearby.

“Whatever I want?” Tim asked slyly.

“More like whatever I want,” she replied cockily.

“We’ll see about that. You’re on.” They tapped paddles to seal the deal and dipped into the water, quickly building up pace to fall into the path behind the leader.

A half hour later, they were gliding easily through the shimmering waters ahead of all the other couples who were bringing up the rear. Splashing and arguing seemed to be the soundtrack to their tour. At one point a couple capsized and they all had to stop and wait for the guides to help them back into their kayak.

“That’s nature’s way of humbling you,” Tim said out of the side of his mouth and Lucy splashed him lightly, making him chuckle. “I’m just saying. If they were as united in their paddling as they are in their criticality of each other, they’d be ahead of us.”

“Tim!” Lucy hissed.

“What?” he said innocently, looking around at everyone else. They were far enough away that no one could hear them, “No one can hear us.”

“You’re so bad,” she shook her head, getting back into position and beginning to paddle as the front guide began lead them again.

“I’m about to be so good when I win this,” he shot back, but let her go first, content to admire her from behind for a moment, as her back muscles flexed and glistened in the sun, her paddle slicing smoothly through the water. Sunglasses shielded her eyes from him, but he could still see her smile as she glanced back at him.

He continued to follow just behind, shirtless and tanned, his own sunglasses reflecting their surroundings. Though she was slightly ahead of him, the rhythm of their paddles was nearly in sync, and he occasionally slowed down a bit more just to watch her—she looked so damn good, he thought about letting her win for a moment. But where was the fun in that?

The water is so clear they can see schools of tiny fish darting beneath them and at one point a sea turtle drifts by, and Lucy squeals in excitement, pausing to watch it. Tim took the moment to lift his phone up in the waterproof case that was around his neck and snapped a candid shot of her. Taking advantage of her distraction, he began paddling again, picking up his pace to get close to their guide.

“Hope you don’t mind losing on your honeymoon, babe!” He called back to her as her figure got smaller behind him. He heard a sound of indignation in the distance and quickly turned back to see her chasing after him and he laughed, loving the playful competition that only added to the adventure of their trip.

She quickly caught up to him, laughing as they paddled side by side again, each getting a slight edge on the other minute by minute. Their guide pointed out a cluster of dolphins cresting the surface in the distance, their sleek bodies cutting through the waves like silk and they paused again to watch for a moment.

“They’re so beautiful,” Lucy said with awe in her voice.

“Yeah,” was all Tim could get out as he watched her, imagining the look of wonder in her eyes.

“This trip has been amazing, Tim,” she lifted her glasses to sit on top of her head so he could see her eyes. “Thank you.” Lifting her paddle she reaches into his seat, pulling him closer, wrapping her hand around the strap holding his phone case.

“I’m glad you’re happy.” He smiled at her, allowing himself to be tugged closer, meeting her lips gently and tasting a bit of salt from the water, mingling with her sunscreen and sweat.

"Mmm, ridiculously happy," she murmured against his mouth, her grin widening as her fingers finally slipped from the strap.

Then she moved—quick and deliberate.

Tim barely had time to register the mischievous glint in her eyes before the world tilted.

“Lucy wha—”

Too late.

His balance vanished, arms flailing as the kayak tipped. The cool water rushed up to meet him, swallowing his shout as he plunged beneath the surface. His paddle went flying, and for a moment, all he could do was sputter and kick his way back up.

When he broke through, gasping, his glare locked onto Lucy—who was doubled over in her kayak, laughing so hard it was a wonder she hadn’t tipped herself.

“That’s cheating!” he bellowed, swiping water from his face as she wheezed, clutching her stomach.

“Oops,” she managed between cackles, completely unremorseful.

Tim grumbled under his breath, shaking his head as he grabbed his paddle and flipped his kayak back over. “Oh, you're gonna regret that, Chen!”

The challenge in his voice made Lucy's laughter falter for half a second—just long enough for a slow, wicked grin to stretch across his face.

“It’s Bradford now, baby!” She quickly got herself into gear, spinning her kayak before he could react. Tim scrambled to settle himself back in, but Lucy was already paddling hard, cutting through the water like she did when she was racing to catch him in the very beginning.

"You better hurry, Sergeant," she called over her shoulder, her voice sing-song and smug.

Tim growled, digging into the water with powerful strokes, determined to close the distance. His kayak glided forward, gaining speed, but Lucy had a head start, and she wasn’t slowing down.

By the time he finally reached the cove, breathless and dripping, Lucy was already there, leaning against her paddle. The other couples and their guides were in the distance behind him.

“Nice of you to join me,” she teased, winking.

“How did you even know this was our destination?” he asked, dropping his paddle across his lap.

“I asked the guide one time when you fell behind to stare at me,” she smirked, tipping her head back to let the sun warm her skin.

Tim huffed, still catching his breath, but there was no real frustration behind it and lifted his phone to snap another photo of her. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he sat down beside her. “You fight dirty.”

“I learned from the best,” she shot back, flashing him a victorious grin.

“Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow, a note of mischief in his voice. Lucy barely had time to process the warning before Tim reached out, grabbing the side of her kayak and yanking—sending her toppling into the water with a yelp.

She surfaced with a gasp, blinking the water from her eyes before locking onto his smug expression.

“Who’s fighting dirty now?” she growled, reaching to flip her kayak back over.

“You were the one who always reminded me that turnabout is fair play,” he said pointing at her with his paddle.

She gave him a sly smirk, “Touche. I still won, though. And now you have to do whatever I want.”

He couldn’t fucking wait.

Making it back to their villa by early evening, they encountered the chef and concierge for the first time as their dinner was prepared. Hyper aware of the fact that there were others in the house, they opted to shower separately this time and even put on clothes. If you could call clothes, a maxi dress that left nothing to the imagination and a pair of linen pants that let everyone know what he was packing.

Fortunately for them both, everyone was gone once they reentered the kitchen, the only evidence left that someone had been in there were the various covered platters on the island. Tim pulled the lids off the dishes resting on the warming tray, releasing a wave of fragrant steam, while Lucy picked up the elegant menu card, scanning the selections with growing enthusiasm.

“Okay, we have as a starter Seared Scallops with Pineapple Salsa, then for the mains Blackened Mahi-Mahi with coconut rice and sautéed callaloo, and then dessert is a Rum-Soaked Pineapple Tart. Oh my god, that sounds delicious. I’m starving.”

“I’ll grab the food if you open the wine?” Tim suggested, already reaching for two plates.

Lucy didn’t need to be told twice. She moved toward bar, selecting a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that would pair well with the fish. By the time she stepped outside, Tim had already set their plates on the table, the soft lighting around the deck them setting a warm, intimate atmosphere.

They settled into their seats, soft music playing in the background, the distant sounds of the ocean waves and the rustling of the palm trees filling the comfortable silence as they took their first bites. Lucy let out a quiet moan of appreciation.

“Oh my god, this is amazing.” She pointed her fork at him. “You’ve gotta keep the menu cards and recreate all of these when we get home.”

Tim, mid-chew, smirked. “Already one step ahead of you. They sent me menu options in advance, so I already have ‘em.”

Lucy rolled her eyes but grinned as she reached for her wine. “You’re such a boy scout.”

Tim chuckled, shaking his head as he took another bite, “That’s what one of the women said when I took the energy bars out of my dry bag at the cove.”

“She was highly annoying,” Lucy’s voice was laced with irritation, “When you got out of the kayak, her tongue was fucking wagging.”

“Yeah, well her husband was no better. I was getting ready to break his arm if he put his hands on you,” Tim grumbled, but his eyes lit up shortly after, “Although you put them both in their places. That was fun to watch.”

“I usually don’t go this long without bringing out Officer Chen.”

Tim raised his eyebrows, “Oh it’s Officer Chen is it?”

“At work? Definitely. Could you imagine if I used Bradford there? Everyone would get so confused,” she wiped her mouth, setting her napkin back on her lap.

Tim stood up, picking up the plates to bring them back into the kitchen and grab their main courses. “It’d be fun in the beginning though,” he tossed behind him and she rolled her eyes.

The rest of their main course passed in easy conversation, filled with light chatter about their upcoming days off in LA, plans for tomorrow, and whatever else came to mind. But as the time for dessert arrived, Tim’s patience wore thin. Ever since her victory at the cove, he’d tried—casually at first, then with more persistence—to get her to reveal her winning choice, but she wouldn’t budge. She only gave him a teasing smile and promised to tell him later. Eventually, he gave up asking, but now that night had fallen and the flickering candlelight made her glow in front of him, the suspense was starting to get to him.

“Alright,” he said, sitting back down with their desserts in front of them, “Are you going to finally tell me what you want?” Lucy’s eyes flick up to him from her tart, but she didn’t speak.

She slowly picked up her fork, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she took a small piece, raising it to her mouth. Her expression was breaking his brain. What could she possibly have planned? That smile spoke volumes to him. Mischievous Lucy always made him a little hot. And when she was mischievous when it was just the two of them? Well it made the blood rush to his cock.

“If you don’t wanna tell me that’s fine. Just know I’m about to put you on this table and eat my dessert off of you,” His eyes darkened and he pushed away from the table. His intention clear. Lucy’s smirk deepened as she took another bite, yelping as he yanked her chair closer to him.

“I’d gladly have you eat me—and your dessert—on this table…” she gasped out, biting her lip as Tim’s nose began to nuzzle into her neck, nipping here and there, “But as for my winnings…”

He pulled back to watch her expectantly and Lucy blinked her eyes open, releasing her lip, “I want…to make a movie.”

“A movie.” He said deadpan.

“Yes,” she nodded and he looked at her blankly for a moment and she rolled her eyes. He couldn’t seriously be this clueless now? He was the one with the idea in the first place. “Of us Tim. We filmed ourselves for each other while I was in Sacramento. But we don’t have one of us. I want to film you eating me, I want you to film me sucking you, I want to film us fucking with nothing but the backdrop of the moonlight.”

Yup. Short circuited.

Tim stared at her for a moment, trying to make his brain catch up. His cock definitely heard. It was the first time he considered that perhaps it had fucking ears. Because why did it take his brain this long to connect all the dots?

“Where’s your phone?” his voice sounded husky already and Lucy grinned. Oh they were so doing this. She reached into the pocket of her maxi dress, pulling out her phone and wigging it at Tim a bit.  

He stood and she quickly followed as Tim’s hands fell to her waist, effortlessly lifting her to sit on the table. Taking her phone from her hands, he glanced at the available battery, realizing it was at 100%. Smirking, he navigated to her camera, testing the lighting. He dragged one of the cushioned chairs behind him and bringing his own phone out, he went to the app for the villa, increasing the brightness of the outdoor lighting before setting it aside. He raised the phone up, pressing record.

“Legs up on that table, baby. I want to see you before I have my dessert.” Lucy lifted her legs to place her feet on the table, leaning back on one hand, her dress falling back to her waist. Her already glistening pink folds on display for him and the camera. She dipped a finger into her tart to collect some of the custard, pressing it to the entrance of her mouth, then bringing it slowly between her lips. She sucked hard to clean her finger, then teased it—and him—with her tongue, circling her digit tantalizingly slow.

“God you’re beautiful,” Tim groaned, mesmerized by the picture she made, “Let me see what else you can do with that finger.”

Sucking back in once more, Lucy released it with a pop, dancing her fingers over to the ties at her shoulders. She pulled—first right, then left—and the top to join the skirt at her waist, her fingers skimming the valley between her breasts, passing her navel and over the bunched fabric until she hovered over her pussy. She held and met his eyes first, then looked directly into the camera, the moonlight shining above her making her look almost supernaturally wicked.

“I’m not touching til you do,” the tone in her voice was low and smoky, and his cock throbbed. Tim quickly complied, tugging at the drawstring of his pants, letting them fall to the ground. Lucy let out a little moan at the sight of his toned body. It had been too many hours since they’d seen each other naked. Holding his hand out expectantly, he crooked his fingers, brushing her chin.

“Spit.” Was all he said and watched through the camera as Lucy’s throat muscles worked, collecting her saliva from the back of her throat. Her lips parted, her tongue peeking out as she released a steady stream into his waiting palm. His eyes were riveted to the thin strand that connected his palm to her lip and he swiped his thumb across her chin to break it, dropping his hand to fist his cock.

Stepping back, Tim sat down in the chair behind him, stroking himself with one hand, the phone still in the other, angled for a perfect view from Lucy’s pussy up her body to her gorgeous face.

“Your turn, boot” he commanded and smirked as Lucy’s cunt visibly contracted at his words. She swirled her finger around her clit, a low-pitched moan emanating from her as she worked herself.

Tim couldn’t decide if he wanted to watch through the camera or the real thing, his eyes darting between the two as she began to seep. His cock leaked as he thought about how it would feel to have his fingers inside her…his mouth on her…his dick inside her. She’d be gripping him like a vice or sending a fresh stream of juices onto his tongue.

“Fuck,” he groaned, losing himself in the sight and his thoughts as Lucy’s body began to move in rhythm with her fingers, her head dropping back, chest arching invitingly, moans filling the air. The moonlight beamed onto her amidst the golden light. She was fucking art.

He ran his hand over the head of his cock, thumbing the leaking fluid to lubricate himself further. “Two fingers,” he grunted, squeezing his dick, “Let me hear how wet you are. How much I’m going to get to taste.” 

She raised her head back up, looking into his eyes first, then the camera as she abandoned her clit to sink two fingers into her slit. She propelled herself onto her fingers, pushing against the hand that was holding her upright before settling back down, letting her hand do the work.

She was drenched, her hole squelching and her palm slapping noisily. She was making a delicious mess, her needy whines harmonizing with his groans and Tim felt the base of his spine beginning to tingle as his sac tightened.  

 “Fuck. Fuck. Don’t come yet. Fuck!” Pushing her hips forward and grinding down onto her palm, her pussy gushed around her fingers. Tim grunted, as he followed her instructions, immediately clamping down, squeezing just below the head, then lifting his hand away. He watched Lucy’s cum leak down onto the table, and let out a strangled moan as his cock slapped against his abs, leaving a wet trail of precome on his stomach.

“You gonna come taste me now?” Lucy asked the picture of seduction as she collected some of her fluids onto her fingers, tipping her head back and keeping her eye on the camera as she raised her hand and opened her mouth.

“Fuck,” was all Tim could manage as he watched the her tongue pull the string of nectar from her fingertips and into her waiting mouth. Her fingers followed, releasing a sucking moan around them, and something inside him snapped. He shot out of his seat thrusting the phone against her chest, kneeling down onto the teak decking and yanking her towards him. Lucy gave a delightful yelp of surprise, quickly catching the phone and angling it so she had a close up of Tim’s face on her pussy.

And ohhhhh.

His tongue reached out licking up every inch of cum from her folds, her entrance, her thighs. He lapped her up like a man starved. But it was different this time. Heightened. Because she could see it. The way his wet muscle rippled and rolled, caressing each inch of skin, worshipping her cunt like it was the first time she’d given it to him. And then he pulled back the hood of her clit, letting his tongue glide over and around her stiff bud, and Lucy swore she could see the trail of nerve endings that radiated out to the rest of her body. She was on fucking fire.  

“God, Tim. Right fucking there.” Lucy fought against every instinct to buck against his face, wanting to witness every last second of him pleasuring her. A light sheen of sweat had formed on her brow and she keened, panting with the effort it was taking to stay still as she felt herself careening towards the edge.

Then his eyes looked up at her through the camera, his tongue still on her as he spoke, “Come on boot, give me another one.” And he plunged two fingers into her curling them as he wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked.

Lucy tossed her head back, hips canting up and screaming her climax while the phone clattered to the table next to her. She gushed over Tim’s face as light exploded behind her eyes and he laved at her folds, groaning out aroused and greedy sounds. He worked her through her through her orgasm, but didn’t work her down and Lucy’s hips stuttered against his mouth when he returned to her clit. It was like a hot button and she wasn’t quite sure if he had prolonged her orgasm or sent her into another small one.

Unable to take anymore, she pushed his head away, her body jerking up from oversensitivity, “Holy shit.” Lucy panted out as he finally pulled away, licking his lips and fisting his cock.

She watched him for a few moments as she collected herself, bringing her legs down to the floor. Grabbing the phone, she trained the camera on him as she hopped off the table letting her dress pool on the floor.

“I believe I said I wanted to suck you,” She purred, her voice dripping with seduction, “But first…we’re gonna take this someplace a bit more comfortable. So,” she arched a brow and mimed a little twirl with her finger, “I’m gonna follow you to our room.”

It was Tim’s turn to arch a brow and smirk, “You wanna watch me walk to our room?”

“I’m not the only one in this relationship with a nice ass.” She grinned, “Want me to smack it for the camera?”

Tim rolled his eyes and turned, walking towards his room, his cock bobbing with each step.

Smack!

“Hey! Luce!” he turned to look at her over his shoulder. “I thought you were joking!”

Lucy’s grin was pure mirth, “I couldn’t resist. I wasn’t lying when I said you had a nice ass.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he shook his head but kept walking and Lucy followed him at a safe distance to appreciate the whole package.

When they reached their bedroom—though it was still like being outside—she handed the phone over to Tim, and he scooted back against the headboard, keeping the camera trained on Lucy as she crawled towards him settling between his legs.  

Instead of taking his cock in hand, she dipped her head down, licking the underside from base to tip, moving her body with her tongue and sliding up further so his dick was encased between her breasts.

“Fuck, babe. You are so goddamn hot.” He groaned as she slid back down, dragging her tongue from tip down to base and then sucking his balls into her mouth. Tim’s hips jerked and she swirled them in her mouth a bit before releasing them and repeating the trail of her tongue and breasts. Instead of licking back down, on her descent this time she brought his cock into her mouth, hollowing out her cheeks and relaxing her throat as she took him deep.

Tim let out a steady string of curses, banging his head back against the pillows that were propping him up against the headboard. Lucy bobbed on his cock expertly, sliding him down her throat and stopping when her nose met his groin. She held there, working her tight channel around the head of his cock, feeling him pulse and swell as Tim hissed in pleasure.

Saliva dripped out of the sides of her mouth, as she pulled up, stopping at the tip to lick at his slit and swirl her tongue over his head. Tim let out a strained moan as he caught her gaze through the camera.

“Fuck, Luce, get up here. I wanna be inside you when I come.” He reached for her with his free hand and Lucy slithered her body up his again, tongue, breasts, stomach, pelvis all gliding over his sensitive cock until her pussy was settled against the tip. She sat her hips back, sucking him into her tight, wet core and they both groaned at the sensation as they always did once they were joined. They fit together so fucking good.

“Hold on.” She said, smirking and reaching into the nightstand to pull out her magnetic tripod, pressing the button to flip it open and clipping the phone on it in selfie mode, zooming out so they were framed by the backdrop of the island night. The entire time she was clenching her pussy on his dick, Tim’s hands gripping her hips.

“You thought of everything, huh?” He grunted when she was satisfied and began to move again.

“Of course,” She gasped her tits bouncing as Tim fucked up into her.

“Wanna really give a good show?” He tweaked her nipples as she rode him reveling in the sounds she was making.

Lucy’s eyes rolled back and her head fell back, “Wha—uh—what do you have in mind?”

Effortlessly, he lifted her, turning her on her side so she faced the phone. He settled in behind her, sliding one arm beneath her ribs, clasping a hand around her breast, holding her top leg up, opening her to both him and the camera. He thrust home, bottoming out immediately, both letting out a simultaneous, “Fuckkkk.”

He set a relentless pace, and Lucy hooked her leg back and around his thigh. She was spread open wide for him, and Tim felt his oncoming orgasm as his cock swelled and his balls drew up for what felt like the tenth time that night. Not wanting to come before Lucy, he reached for her hand, laying his fingers over hers and guiding their joined hands to her clit. Together, they rubbed and fluttered their fingers over her nub, Lucy bucking back into him in uncoordinated movements as the onslaught of her own release approached.

Lucy came with a shout and Tim quickly followed, their bodies shuddering as the long ropes of his milky cum painted her walls and her pussy contracted and gushed around him. Tim buried his head in her hair, hugging her to him, their bodies curled in together, spooning through the spasms, chests heaving.

It took a while for them to find equilibrium. The room bathed in nothing but their gasped breaths and the distant sounds of waves. The exhaustion of their day and their lovemaking finally settling in as the last bits of energy was expunged through their loins.

After a few minutes, Lucy reached over, stopping the recording, but returned right to Tim’s arms.

“That better be saved to your vault.” He mumbled into her hair.

“Of course,” Lucy murmured with a soft grin, her fingers trailing over the hand still cupping her breast before intertwining with his. She nestled deeper into his embrace, her body melting against his warmth as her eyes fluttered shut. Wrapped in each other, neither stirred again for the rest of the night.

TBC

Chapter Text

They spent most of the next morning soaking up the sun at the beach, embracing every last moment of their honeymoon. Lucy, determined to make the most of their final full day, had insisted that they spend it by the ocean. “I don't know when I'll get you back in the water again,” she had teased.

The newlyweds brought their breakfast down to the beach, yogurt and fresh fruit for Lucy, while Tim grabbed eggs, bacon and fresh bread. They watched the waves as they ate, Tim giving his initial review on the audiobook she recommended to him and Lucy enthusiastically giving him a recommendation for 3 more that she discovered on ClipTalk.

“ClipTalk? That’s where you’ve been getting these book recs?” He looked at her skeptically, “I better be careful or else you’re going to be sending me one of those ridiculous smut books.”

Lucy choked on her coffee, almost spewing it on him. Tim just raising an eyebrow as he took a sip of his own, “What? You know about smut?”

“Please…I pay attention. Plus, that time you painted me blue and yourself yellow and then wanted us to roll around fucking on that giant ass piece of paper, so we could ‘paint our passion’? We get up to a lot crazy shit, but that one I knew had to come from somewhere. And then my algorithm started picking up on all your stuff and the next thing I knew I was getting smut book recommendations.”

She giggled, “Oh please, you loved that idea. Plus, I ended up painted in your favorite color on me.”

“Favorite color or not, I noticed you didn’t deny where you got it from,” he said pointedly, arching a brow at her. “And I never said I didn’t like it, I just said it was outlandish—even for us. Anyways, I’ll take your recommendations into consideration after I get through this one. We’ll see if it picks up a bit.”

Lucy grinned, stretching her legs out on the couch as she took a slow sip of her coffee. “Well, if it doesn’t, I’m happy to send you a dark mafia smut recommendation. Those have tons of action. And who knows? You might get some ideas.” she said, smirking.

Tim shook his head, fighting a smirk as he returned his attention to his food. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, you humor me in every ridiculous idea I have,” she shot back, her grin widening.

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, but didn’t even try to hide the twitch of his mouth. After a moment of chewing, he suddenly frowned, “Wait. Dark mafia smut? Like gun play? Cuz you’re a freak in the sheets Chen, but even I didn’t think you go quite that far.”

Lucy choked on her coffee for a second time that morning. This time it went down the wrong pipe. Coughing, she slapped at her chest, shooting him a look, “First of all, it’s Bradford. And second, no gun play or crazy stuff like that, but…you’d be surprised by how similar your bedroom personality sometimes can be to the characters.”

“Excuse me? Mrs. Bradford,” Tim wasn’t sure if he should be offended by that comparison and Lucy grinned, her heart fluttering at the use of her married name and a swoop of impish glee at the feathers she had obviously ruffled.

“I don’t mean anything bad, Mr. Bradford. You just have a dominance that comes out. And I love it. The characters are toxic AF, but the dominance can be hot.”

“Oh it is, is it?” he cocked his head, staring at her for a few moments, as if trying to catalog every moment of their sex life of the past year and change. Finally, he seemed to settle on something, but all he said was, “Hmm…I guess you’re right.”

Lucy eyed him curiously, sensing that he was planning something, but didn’t comment.

They finished their breakfast with easy conversation, the soft sound of waves crashing a now consistent soundtrack for them. The morning air was warm but not yet stifling as they downed off their last sips of coffee.

Eventually, Tim set aside their breakfast tray on the side table, and they reclined against the sunbed. Tim stretched out, one arm tucked behind his head as he popped in his earbuds and let his audiobook play. Lucy pulled out her paperback, flipping it open to where she’d left off on the plane. She shifted until she was comfortable, tucking her legs up beneath her as she lost herself in the pages.

For a while, they remained like that—wrapped in a cocoon of quiet contentment, the sun warming their ankles and feet that weren’t covered by the canopy. Every now and then, Lucy would glance over at Tim, catching the faint crease between his brows, the subtle way his lips quirked when something in his book amused him.

At one point, he let out a quiet huff, pulling out an earbud. “Your mafia smut books better have a better plot than this,” he muttered, eyes still trained on the sky.

Lucy laughed, reaching over to nudge his arm. “Oh so you’re gonna read one now?”

Tim merely shook his head, closing his eyes again. “I’m considering it.”

“We’ll see,” she murmured, smiling to herself as she turned another page.

A while later, the weather got warmer and Lucy grew restless, convincing Tim that it was time to take a dip. As they made their way toward the shoreline. Lucy sprang onto his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders while he instinctively secured his hands beneath her thighs.

“You're lucky you’re hot, Mrs. Bradford,” he muttered, but the laughter in his voice betrayed him. She only grinned in response, resting her chin against his temple as he carried her effortlessly into the waves.

“You’re lucky you finally got my name right, Mr. Bradford,” she murmured into his ear, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips warm against his sun-kissed skin.

Tim let out a quiet chuckle, his grip firm around her thighs as he waded deeper into the ocean, the water shifting from pleasantly warm to refreshingly cool. “I’m just honored you took it,” he admitted, his voice softer now, carrying an edge of something more profound beneath the playful banter.

Lucy blinked in surprise. “You didn’t think I would?” she asked, tilting her head.

Tim hesitated for just a moment before answering. “Honestly? I didn’t give it much thought. It didn’t matter to me whether you did, or you didn’t. I just wanted to be married to you,” he said, his words simple but sincere, the weight of them settling between them like an anchor.

Lucy shifted then, maneuvering from his back to his front, her legs wrapping securely around his waist so she could meet his gaze. Her hands found his shoulders, fingertips tracing the damp skin lightly as she studied him, searching his face. “You really mean that,” she murmured, more of a realization than a question.

Tim’s arms instinctively tightened around her, holding her steady in the gentle sway of the water. “Of course I do,” he said, his voice steady. “The name doesn’t change anything. It’s you and me—that’s what matters.”

Her heart swelled, warmth spreading through her chest as she gave him a radiant smile. “I know,” she whispered before leaning in, pressing her lips to his in a soft, slow kiss, the warm breeze ruffling her hair as the ocean lapped around them.

When she finally pulled back, her forehead resting against his, her voice was teasing again, “Still, it’s got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Mrs. Lucy Bradford.”

Tim grinned, his hands gliding up her back, his thumbs brushing over her ribs. “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice thick with affection. “It really does.”

Their shared a heated kiss, unrestrained but unhurried, his tongue sweeping into her mouth to dance with hers. Tim’s fingers crested up her back to tangle in Lucy’s hair pressing her closer, as Lucy’s legs tightened around his waist, seeking more closeness, more of the intoxicating sensation of being completely lost in one another.

“Mmm…we should probably tone it down,” Lucy breathed as she pulled away, her lids fluttering open.

“Now you want to be modest?” he said incredulously. “Didn’t we just have sex on the beach the other morning? And don’t get me started on last night.”

“I know,” she giggled, “But something about being out in the middle of the ocean midday makes me feel like we’re going to be seen.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he snorted, shaking his head.

“I thought that had already been established,” she grinned, smacking one last kiss to his lips.

With a sudden shift of his grip, Tim hoisted her higher before unceremoniously dropping her into the ocean. Lucy came up sputtering, pushing her wet hair out of her face, eyes flashing with mischief.

“Oh, you are so dead for that,” she declared before launching a full assault of splashes in his direction.

Tim dodged most of them, using his height to his advantage, but a few landed squarely across his chest, making him laugh.

“That all you got, babe?” he taunted before retaliating, sending a wave of water crashing over her. Their laughter mixed with the sounds of the island around them, their wet, tanned skin glistening under the sun. It was the perfect beginning to their last day.  

They returned to their villa, the warmth of the sun still lingering on their skin as they washed away the salt and sand in a leisurely shower, deciding to indulge in a lazy afternoon before their excursion. Lucy stepped into the bedroom, securing the last twist of her braid, her fingers deftly weaving through the strands as she stood in front of the massive floor-length mirror that was placed against the wall in front of the bed. One of Tim’s crisp white dress shirts hung open over her shoulders, the oversized fabric draping effortlessly over her hourglass frame. The golden hue of her sun-kissed skin contrasted against the stark white, the trail down the middle teasing the curves of her collarbone, the swell of her breasts, the taut definition of her abs…

She glanced up, catching Tim’s gaze in the reflection of the mirror. His eyes darkened as he watched her, reclining against the headboard, clad only in his robe. She could see the outline of his erection growing as he drank her in, a slow, appreciative smile playing on his lips.

Twisting to face him as she secured the end of her braid, Lucy arched a brow. “What are you smiling at?”

Tim didn’t answer right away, just let his gaze run over her, taking in every detail, feeling a pang in his chest as he did every time he got to admire her. He couldn’t believe this incredible woman was his.

His tongue flicked out to wet his lips before he finally spoke, his voice low and husky as he opened his arms for her. “Come here.”

Lucy didn’t hesitate, the space between them charged with something heady and warm, holding a silent promise of what was to come. She drifted toward him as if drawn by an invisible force, crawling up the foot of the bed, between his spread legs. His hands found her waist, fingers splaying over her bare skin beneath his shirt, heat radiating from his touch. He pulled her in effortlessly, crushing his mouth against hers in a deep kiss, shifting against her to let her feel what she did to him as he licked into her mouth, swallowing her moan.

She nipped at his bottom lip, matching his hunger and intensity, diving back in for more and Tim groaned, sliding his hands down the curve of her back to grab handfuls of her cheeks. He tugged a little, spreading her so she felt the pull and stretch of her hole sending a thrum of arousal through her.

Pulling away, she released a hiss of his name as his fingers pressed into the delicate skin where her cheeks lined her rim. He repeated the motion again, nipping gently at her neck before he loosened his grip on her ass, sliding his hands around to her waist.

Without warning, he flipped her in his lap, grinning slightly to himself at her surprised yelp. His robe had been tussled open by Lucy as they kissed and now she was seated firmly on his pelvis, his erection trapped beneath the seam of her thighs. They glanced up, their reflections perfectly visible in the large mirror across the room. Though the distance blurred the finer details, their figures were unmistakable—every movement mirrored back at them with crisp clarity.  And whatever Tim had planned, there was no mistaking the fact that they were about to watch themselves while it happened.

“I think today it’s time for you to give me what I want,” he spoke into her hair, his voice dripping with heat, “I think I’ve earned it.”

“Oh really?” He could see the exaggerated arch of her brow in the reflection, paired with that wry smile, “And what might you desire, sir?”

Tim tucked his hands between her thighs, parting them suddenly and nudging her to sit a bit higher on him. His erection sprang free, bobbing and hitting her exposed pussy with a light smack making her—and his—breath hitch. He hooked his feet around her ankles spreading her wider and locking her into place. Lucy watched his movements attentively in the mirror, allowing her back to relax against his chest, holding her breath to see what he would do next.

Their sexes were lined up, his cock at attention like a fucking work of art. Every once in a while, Tim would contract his core, making his dick bounce, propelling it back against her clit. His breaths were measured against her temple, as he drank in the fantasy reflected in front of him.  “Look at us…fuck you look so good spread out for me like this.”

“What are you gonna do with me?” the question came out in a woosh as she finally released the breath she’d been holding.

Tim made a slight hum of consideration moving his hands to slide up the edges of the ‘v’ of her thighs, trailing up her stomach to palm her breasts, “I want you to come just from me touching your nipples.”

“Fuck.” Another woosh of breath, the anticipation already making her arousal grow, his words stoking the fire that had already been ignited inside her.

“Of sorts,” he countered plainly, despite the lack of questioning, flicking his thumbs up and down. “I want you to look at us in the mirror. No touching. Feel yourself drip…watch what you do to me. See how fucking gorgeous you are.”

“Oh god,” Lucy moaned as he took each nipple between his thumb and index finger, rolling then tugging, then fluttering his thumbs over them again.

Tim could feel her contracting on the edge of his dick and it was driving him insane. Each pulse released more of her juices as he continued to drive her higher, and his dick leaked at the obscene noises she was making.

Releasing his hold from her pebbled buds, he circled her areolas repeatedly, then palmed them and squeezed firmly, watching them pucker in the mirror, her nipples straining with the blood that had collected beneath them.

“More.” She whined her back arching, “Pinch them. Fucking pull them. Please.”

“That’s it,” he whispered, acquiescing to her request and pinching.

“Fuck!” Her hips squirmed as she desperately sought out friction against her clit only to be locked into place by his feet, feeling the teasing light thwack of his dick against her. So fucking teasing. Tim flicked her nubs with his pointer fingers, come-hithering across the tips, and she keened. It was so much. So fucking much.

Lucy knew her nipples were sensitive, she had dripped all over his face just from tugging at them, but she had done it to herself. She’d never just sat and let Tim have his way with them. It was so different. Intense in a way that she hadn’t felt before.  At times intensity was almost more than she thought she could stand, but then he’d instinctively pull back, letting her body calm, before diving back in for more, making her fly even higher.

“I…I…fuck!” She was so close, and Tim kissed her temple as she thrashed, flexing his leaking dick against her clit again as he tugged and tweaked.

“Open your eyes, baby.” He rasped into her hairline, his breath ragged with passion, “Watch yourself come undone. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

She blinked her eyes open, seeing her flushed body nestled in front of his tanned one, his cock proud and throbbing, his fingers deftly working her chest. She may be biased, but they were beautiful together.

“When I…fuck,” she ground out, feeling the onslaught approaching as he continued to pepper kisses against her head, “When I come, you better put your cock inside me.”

“Oh I plan on it.” He pinched again, harder than before and Lucy felt her orgasm rush through her in insane, rolling waves that felt like everything and nothing she had felt before.

Not giving her a moment to recover, Tim was lifting her hips and impaling her on his cock.

“Fuck!” they called out in unison feeling the pulses of aftershocks in the vice grip she had on him.

He plunged her onto him, hard and fast, knowing his orgasm was fast approaching. Her braid and tits bouncing with each rise and fall.

“God, fucking use me,” Lucy moaned reaching an arm back to hold him close to her. Her free hand snaking down to her clit, rubbing slow circles to counter the pace of their fucking.

“That’s it baby, let me see you,” he gritted against her ear, his voice unsteady as his climax begins to build when he feels her clenching around him.

“Oh god…oh god,” her orgasm rips through her and one of Tim’s hands leaves her ass to palm her face, turning her head towards him to capture her mouth in a sloppy kiss full of tongue, and spit and hunger. She rode the wave through the kiss until the sensations ebbed and moved beautifully with him, seating into his lap on her knees to ride him, grinding her hips forward and back, rotating and rolling.

The vein in his neck bulged as he felt himself hurtling towards the edge, the head of his cock notching against her front wall with each gyration from Lucy.

“Shit, Luce…you’re gonna make me…” His climax surged through him like a hurricane, his legs stuttering on the bed as he shot into Lucy with a groan, triggering her own sudden release that pitched her forward panting and flooding his cock.

They stilled after a few moments, boneless and spent, Lucy on her stomach facing the foot of the bed, Tim slumped against the headboard as they slowly came back to reality.

“That—that was…” Lucy mumbled, unable to think of what to say.

“Yeah,” was all Tim could manage. “Nap?”

That evening, the hues of the setting sun stretched across the sky, melting into soft pinks and deep purples as the catamaran glided smoothly over the water. Lucy and Tim stood near the edge of the deck, barefoot and relaxed, Tim holding her closely to him, her back against his front, head resting against his shoulder. Their fingers were intertwined against Lucy’s stomach leaving nothing but warmth between them.

“This is perfect,” she murmured, gazing at the horizon as the light shimmered across the water, “A perfectly romantic way to end our trip.”

He presses a soft kiss to her hair, his lips turned up in content, “Yeah. I think…for the first time…I don’t know if I wanna go home.”

She laughs in disbelief, craning her neck and giving him a playful nudge. “Seriously, Tim ‘Supercop’ Bradford, wants to stay on vacation at the beach no less?”

“As long as you’re with me,” he admits ducking his head, a shy smile tugging at the corners of mouth.

She turned in his arms to face him, cupping his cheeks, the sky’s colors reflecting in her eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you.” He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

A comfortable silence settles between them as Lucy settled back against him and they swayed slowly to the soft music that played in the background, watching the last sliver of sun dip below the horizon.

When the sky transitioned and stars appeared, Tim and Lucy settled down for dinner. The crew had adjusted the deck lighting, bathing everything in a soft amber hue that amplified the romantic atmosphere.

As the first course was served, Tim lifted his glass of wine, “What should we toast to?”

Lucy contemplated for a moment as she reached for her own glass, “I’d say, just ‘to us,’ but that feels too simple.”

Somehow Tim’s expression softened even further, “Honestly I think that is probably the only toast that fits.” He lifts his glass a little higher, “To us.”

She clinks her glass against his, her smile soft. “To us.” Unable to resist, she leans in to kiss him, soft and slow, wanting to savor every moment they had together.

Tim woke up first the next morning. Their last morning. And for the first time on a vacation ever, he felt the pangs of dread tugging at his insides. He could’ve stayed a few more days. He had never in his life felt that relaxed, that…carefree. And sure, the setting helped, but it was really all because of the amazing woman that was currently sleeping to his right.

They were flying home that day, and for the first time in four days, he actually had to care about the time. He glanced at his watch, then let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. It was almost funny—no, it was downright unbelievable—how much he had changed. If the man he was years ago could see him now, he might just have a heart attack. Married to the very rookie who used to test his patience at every turn. The same rookie who had once driven him crazy was now the center of his world. Still driving him crazy, but for so many different reasons. Life had a hell of a sense of humor.

Reaching over to his nightstand, he picked up his phone to check the time. Shit. It was late. Later than he expected. Though he really shouldn’t have been surprised given the sun was beginning to rise when they finally made it to sleep.

Setting his phone down, he turned back to look at his lovely wife, looking beautifully golden against the white sheets. One of her legs was bent, her other stretched long, emphasizing the deep curve of her lower back and poking her ass out invitingly. It looked deliciously inviting. Round and pert, her legs spread so he could see the glisten of her pussy and the mess they’d made between her thighs.  

He licked his lips thinking about her taste. Their taste, mingled on his tongue and couldn’t resist leaning over to breathe her in. Them in. The tang and musk of their lingering sex made his cock stir, but he wanted a taste first. Plus, he owed her a wake-up call.

Tim ran his nose down her spine, dropping gentle kisses as he trailed and suckling a bit as he reached the dip above the curve of her ass. She tasted like sunshine and ocean and sweat and them, and Tim bit his lip to keep from groaning out loud. He dragged his tongue down over her crack, spreading her cheeks to present her to him.

Leaning in, he licked a long stripe up to her perineum, humming in pleasure as their combined taste burst on his taste buds. His tongue glided through her wet folds, rubbing his face against her as he held his mouth open, coating himself in her juices.

Lucy’s hips shifted back towards him in sleep, unconsciously seeking more from him. “Mmmm…” she hummed, her voice raspy with sleep and her screams from the night before.

“Wake up, baby,” he murmured against her, pressing his thumb into her asshole. He slid knuckle deep, wiggling around as he continued to lap at her pussy, feeling Lucy’s body begin to come alive, consciousness seeping in as her arousal grew.

“Tim?” Lucy asked hazily, her voice laced with confusion, “Wha-ahhhh….” Her voice trailed off with a moan as Tim sucked and slurped at her, his tongue flicking down to her clit. Lucy was an active participant now, her hips grinding back against his face as she bent her leg even more to grant him better access.  

Now that she was awake, Tim shifted his hands to Lucy’s hips, effortlessly flipping her on to her back, his hands firm yet gentle as they guided her. A surprised gasp escaped her before it melted into a breathless giggle, her fingers instinctively clutching at his shoulders. He hooked his arms around her thighs, spreading her wide and immediately latching on to her clit, swirling and suckling.

Lucy’s body curled in on itself, jolting up at the shock of pleasure from his mouth, her nails digging into his shoulders as she heard the sounds emanating from him. “Babe…fuckkk,” she moaned moving her hand to grab a fistful of his hair as he dipped his tongue inside her, rubbing his nose against her clit.

She held him in place, rotating her hips against his mouth as he let his tongue hang out, flattening it as he licked her, his breath coming in pants that matched hers. He slid his hands up her sides until he reached her breasts, feeling her hips jerk as he tweaked his thumbs across her nipples.

“Ah! Shit!” Lucy arched into his hands, her body stiffening as her orgasm washed over her like a crashing wave. Tim eased up but didn’t pull away, letting her come down before diving back in to work her back up. He slowly circled her clit with his tongue, sliding his fingers inside her and gently crooking them towards him. Lucy’s low-pitched moans switched octaves, getting higher and louder as he pleasured her.

Her second climax was jarring, shuddering through her body like lightning as she quickly became over stimulated, clamping her thighs around Tim’s head. He pried her open while withdrawing, his face glistening and smirking.

“Good morning,” he licked his lips, and she laughed flopping back down to the bed and throwing her arm across her face.

“That was some wake-up call,” she chuckled.

“Gotta be your alarm clock babe. We’ve got a plane to catch.” Tim dipped his head sucking a kiss against her navel, watching her pout at the thought of leaving, “Plus I figured it was your turn for a wakeup call after the one you gave me yesterday.”

She arched an eyebrow, giving his hair a gentle tug to urge him closer, feeling his erection sliding against her as he moved up until he settled between her legs. She pulled his head down, capturing his lips in a deep kiss. Their tongues tangled as their mouths moved together in a slow, intoxicating rhythm. Her fingers tightened in his hair, pulling him even closer as a low hum of pleasure escaped his throat when his cock slid against her.

“You know…” she whispered breathlessly, as he broke their kiss to nip down to her neck, “I used your thigh yesterday…it’s only fair that you use mine today.”

“Mmmm…and you know how much I love your damn thighs,” he groaned against her neck, allowing her to push him up when she tucked her knees in between them. Tim always made it a point to appreciate her thighs. How strong they were. How thick and smooth. She had used them to her advantage to take him down a few times when they sparred, and after the second time that her takedown resulted in them fucking in the storage room, they agreed to no longer work out at the station. It was what led them to convert the garage into a gym and had Tim outlining plans with Nolan to build an actual gym in their backyard. He could live between her thighs. But ironically, he’d never used them before.

Now, Lucy presented them to him, crossed at her ankles, toes pointed towards the ceiling, the sheen of the moisture on her pussy glinting off the morning light. Tim groaned, his cock at attention, raising his hands to encircle her ankles. He spread her apart, just enough to slide himself through the gap between her thighs before crossing her ankles again and throwing her legs over his shoulder. Their eyes met and then looked down, seeing the head of his cock resting against her pelvis.

“Fuck, you feel good,” he ground out, feeling his dick throb with arousal. Slowly he began to move, gliding through effortlessly, sliding against her clit with each thrust.

“I love how wet you get for me.” He ran his teeth along her calf, his bottom lip dragging behind them, making him look even hotter than he already did, and Lucy felt a fresh gush of arousal seep out, “How you soak my face when you come. How my dick just slides through these luscious thighs.” He punctuated with a slap to the meat of her right thigh, digging his fingers in.

Lucy’s came in heavy bursts as she watched his face, lost in the pleasure he was taking from her and felt a stroke of pride that she was the one to get him to lose control. She egged him on, “Yes, use me. Use them.”

“Fuck.” He grunted, feeling himself growing harder and harder, his thrusts getting sloppier as he humped her, encircling his arms around her legs to hold her more firmly in place.

“Shit, I’m gonna come,” he ground out through clenched teeth

“Do it, I wanna see it.” She moaned back. “I wanna feel it on me.”

As if on command, his cock spurted. Rope after rope of milky white cum shot out, landing on Lucy’s chin, her chest, her stomach. Tim’s hips jerked and twitched as he emptied himself. He looked down at the masterpiece painted on his wife’s body and spread her legs open, letting them drop to his sides and watched her chest glisten as it heaved.

He was mesmerized by the picture she made, the contrast of her skin against the white sheets and the chalky color of his cum. He dragged his fingers through the creamy fluid, collecting it onto his fingers as he landed on her pussy. Lucy arched her hips as he pushed his fingers inside, joining their fluids.

“Oh god,” Lucy hissed as his thumb joined his curling fingers, circling over her clit and she let out a guttural shout as she tumbled over the edge. Her eyes squeezed shut as light burst behind them. She had already been on the brink and fell easily, her stomach swooping as if she was on a rollercoaster.

“Shit, Luce. That’s it.” Tim was riveted as Lucy’s orgasm took over, gushing around him and the bed, squeezing his fingers like a vice, her body dipping and shuddering as she rode it out.

Tim sat back on his haunches, sliding his fingers from her as Lucy blinked herself into the present. He brought his dights to her mouth, rubbing her bottom lip until she opened to him, sucking their combined essence off.

“Mmm…” she sighed as she released them with a pop, “That never gets old.”

“No it does not.” He said in emphatic agreement and Lucy let out a little snort.

“I know we need to shower, but I can’t move,” she flopped her arms limply onto the bed, looking boneless and sated. Tim leaned over to the nightstand to grab his phone, his soft cock hovering over her while he moved. Lucy darted her tongue out to give him a little lick, making Tim look down.

“I thought you couldn’t move.” He smirked and Lucy arched her brow at him.

“My body. My tongue doesn’t count.” She grinned as he settled his body over hers, dropping a kiss on her lips.

“It does with the way you use it,” he shot back, his eyes flicking up to check his phone, “Shit!” Tim tossed the device, jumping up and lifting Lucy into his arms.

“What?! What is everything okay?” she shrieked, her hands coming up to rest on his shoulders.

“We’re gonna miss our flight if we don’t get a move on!”

Chapter Text

It was weird wearing clothes.

Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her jeans and shirt, feeling like she was suffocating under layers of fabric. It was as if she’d wrapped herself in a parka, despite the warm breeze drifting through the outdoor seating area. Angela had wasted no time setting up a lunch for her, Nyla, and Alison as soon as the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon.

Even with the fresh air, Lucy couldn’t shake the unease creeping over her. Monday marked their return to work—and with it, the dreaded uniform. If she was already struggling with casual clothes, how was she supposed to handle the suffocating layers of a wool uniform, the weight of her duty belt pressing down on her? The thought alone made her stomach twist.

She hadn’t been joking when she told Tim that she thought they were nudists now. She engulfed herself in Tim’s oversized sweats for the flight home rather than her own clothes, relishing the comfort of something loose and unrestrictive. But as soon as they stepped through the door of the house, she shed them without a second thought. After a quick shower to wash away the travel grime, they had collapsed into bed, too exhausted to do anything but drift off, the weight of their travels finally catching up with them.

Flashback…

When Lucy woke that morning she was anticipating the distant murmur of ocean waves, only to be met with the stark silence of their house and the faint hum of traffic in the distance, leaving her mildly disappointed. Wanting to remain in the bubble of their honeymoon a little longer, she slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to disturb Tim’s peaceful sleep. Padding into the kitchen, she opened the refrigerator, the woosh of the cold air pebbling her nipples. She scanned its contents before reaching for the eggs, some spinach and peppers and placing them on the counter.

Lucy tied on her matcha-green apron, its sturdy canvas material scratching against her naked skin, the brass hardware warming beneath the sunlight. Grabbing a cutting board, she set to work, chopping the peppers, their sweet, crisp scent filling the air. Cracking the eggs into a bowl, she whisked them together, the rhythmic beating of the fork against the glass breaking through the morning quiet. She heated the pan on the stove, dropping in a touch of butter and watching it slowly melt before adding the veggies, the soft sizzle breaking the morning silence. Grabbing the spatula, she stirred them gently, the peppers turning vibrant as they softened. Once they were nearly tender, she tossed in the spinach, watching it wilt almost instantly in the hot pan.

“Something smells delicious,” Tim’s voice came from behind her as he slid his arms around her waist beneath the apron, his chiseled and smooth body sliding against her backside.

“Mmm…good morning. Just some omelets,” she said huskily over her shoulder, pouring the eggs into the pan. “It’s been a while since I got to make you breakfast.”

“Well it looks good.” He said swaying them slightly, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No!” She bumped him away with her butt. “Go grab yourself a cup of coffee and then go to the dining room. I’ve got it.”

“Did you just shoo me with your ass?” Tim asked as he turned around to follow her orders, grabbing the mugs from beside the coffee maker.

“You bet your sweet ass I did.” She smirked, pinching his naked ass cheek before he could get too far from her, laughing as he jumped and glared. “Go. Pour a cup of coffee and read the paper or whatever while I finish up here.” She instructed, turning back to the pan, preparing to flip the egg mixture.

A few minutes later she was entering the dining room. Tim watched her approach, realizing that there was still a plate left in the kitchen and moved to help when she stopped him.

“Ah ah ah,” she chastised him, placing a plated omelet and bowl of fruit down on the table in front of him and gently pushing him back down into his chair. “I told you I’ve got this.” Instead of sitting down in the chair next to him, Lucy straddled Tim’s lap, picking up his coffee mug and bringing it to his lips.

A glint came to his eye as he took a sip, his cock stirring against her ass as the blood quickly began rushing to it. His gaze tracked Lucy’s motions as she took a sip from his coffee and set the mug down. “So you had plans for this breakfast,” he observed, shifting in the seat a bit.

“I sure did,” she replied, sounding proud of herself as she used the fork to cut a piece of the omelet that had clearly been prepared with two people in mind. She held it up to him and Tim obediently took a bite, humming at the taste while he chewed. Lucy did the same for herself, narrating between bites.

“Had we not gotten so distracted on our last morning, this is what I had planned.” She smiled softly.

“Oh?”

“Well…not exactly this.” Lucy propped herself up on her toes taking him in hand. Tim’s breath hitched, but she didn’t give him a moment to catch up and slid down onto his pulsing cock.

“Shit! Luce!” Tim’s hands dug harder into her hips and he gritted his teeth at the sudden shock of pleasure. She clenched around him, gripping him with a steady rhythm. She didn’t bounce or rock, she just let her muscles do the work.

“This,” she emphasized with a squeeze of his cock, his rough gasp sending a thrill through her, “this is what I planned.” She reached back over to the table, cutting another piece of omelet, taking a bite before returning to feed him another piece.

“I love the way you thin—uh!” Tim grunted as she made a flurry of quick hard contractions around him. “Fuck, I’ve never quite felt anything like this.”

“I—” she gasped out, squeezing him again, her breasts jutting towards his face, “I’ve been practicing.”

“Nggh! I noticed,” she gripped him again and his voice cracked, “You’ve always been so fucking tight, but lately—fuck—it’s like you’re sucking me with your pussy.”  

“Yessss,” she hissed out as Tim snaked his hands between them, pressing his thumb against her clit. She speared another piece of omelet, holding it up for him to take.

“You’re really going to feed me—ah—through this? Fuck.”

“That was—part of the whole plan!” Lucy gasped feeling her control slipping away as the tingles began to build as Tim’s cock began to swell. She refocused, pouring all her energy into gripping him.

“Ohhhh fuckk,” Tim threw his head back as her pussy was flooded with his hot semen, his cock pulsing out his release, triggering Lucy’s as his thumb continue to rub her clit.

Present…

“Heyyyy, Honeymooner!”

Alison’s voice jolted Lucy out of her daydream, and she blinked, still not fully back to reality. Then, realizing who was standing in front of her, her face broke into a smile.

“Hey, guys!” She stood up to greet them with hugs.

“Are you okay?” Angela asked, peering at her curiously as they sat down. “You look flushed.”

“I’m good! I’m fine,” Lucy said quickly, though none of them looked convinced.

“You were out of breath… are you sure you’re okay?” Nyla raised a skeptical eyebrow, her gaze sharp. Lucy hesitated, trying to figure out what to say.

Alison narrowed her eyes at her, examining her expression—then promptly burst into laughter.

“Oh wow, I know what that was!” she cackled. “She was thinkin’ about her boy toy. Wow, Chen, do you need to leave?”

“It’s Bradford,” Lucy corrected automatically, and the trio grinned at her.

“And no, I don’t need to go home,” she added quickly. “I’m fine. I was just… thinking about the omelet I made this morning. And besides, Tim is going next door for lunch and to pick up Kojo.”

“Mmmhmm…” Angela side-eyed her.

“Are you Bradford all the time now?” she teased. “I just gotta know what to expect at work. It could get confusing.”

“No,” Lucy shook her head, chuckling. “No, I’ll still go by Chen at work. It would get confusing, to your point. And also, it’s probably not something we should overtly advertise.”

Just then, their server approached with a friendly smile, holding up his notepad, ready to take their drink orders. While the rest of the women ordered cocktails, Lucy opted for an iced tea, wanting to detox a bit from all the alcohol they had on vacation ahead of returning to work. The trio exchanged glances when they heard her order.

“Soooo,” Alison started, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Tell us! How was the honeymoon?”

“Yeah, we figured since you didn’t call us about a dead body, it had to be good,” Angela quipped, smirking.

Lucy giggled, twitching in her seat as she picked absently at her shirt, adjusting her bra strap. Just thinking about it made her stomach flutter.

“It was amazing,” she gushed, her face lighting up. “He got us this villa on a secluded part of the resort, and we had our own private pool and a small beach. And he had someone come and prepare breakfast before we even got up in the morning, and dinner each night. It was… really something special.”

Lucy pulled out her phone, scrolling quickly before holding it up. “Here, look.”

She played the video tour she had taken of the villa, the screen filling with shots of the breathtaking house and surrounding outdoor space and pool, down to their private setup on the beach.

“Oh my god,” Nyla murmured, eyes wide.

“Damn,” Alison whistled. “Bradford did that?”

Angela just shook her head, grinning. “I can’t wait to tell Nolan that once again…Bradford showed him up. He keeps setting the bar set the bar way too high.”

Lucy laughed, warmth spreading through her chest as she watched their reactions. “Yeah, he really did. But, in all fairness to Nolan, Bailey booked their honeymoon, remember?”

“Eh details. What I wanna know is…did you two ever leave the villa?” Alison waved her off, opting to ask the question that everyone was curious about.

“Yes!” Lucy said emphatically, though she paused for a moment while their server set their drinks down, then took their order. Handing their menus back, they turned their attention back to Lucy, who began swiping through her phone, “So we went kayaking one day. And then on our last night we had a sunset dinner on a catamaran. Look!” Lucy swiped through her camera roll, pulling up the first set of pictures, tilting the phone so they could all see.

The first photo was of her and Tim in his kayak, Lucy in front of him, legs dangling in the water as she sat astride the kayak, surrounded by crystal-blue waters. Both were grinning in sunglasses, Tim in a backwards cap, and Lucy with her hair piled on top of her head looking carefree, fit and tan. The next picture showed them docked on a tiny, secluded beach, their paddles resting in the sand as they posed with their arms around each other, their faces beaming.

“That looks…incredibly peaceful,” Nyla said, eyeing the glassy turquoise water. “I could certainly use a trip like that.” She shared a commiserating look with Angela.

“Ha!” Lucy chuckled, swiping to a video. “That entire excursion was one big bet amidst a bunch of other couples who kept arguing. Tim and I raced to the cove and left everyone else behind.”

Nyla snorted shaking her head. “Of course you did. You two can never do anything without making it a competition.”

Angela waggled her eyebrows, “Okay but what was the wager?”

“And most importantly, who won?” Alison added.

Lucy laughed, flushing a bit as she flashed back to collecting her ‘winnings,’ “The winner had to do whatever the other person wanted.”

“In bed?” Angela asked teasingly.

“Wherever,” was all Lucy said.

“So…who won?” Clearly that was all Alison cared about and the others chuckled but were clearly waiting for an answer.

“I did, of course,” Lucy smirked proudly, taking a sip of her iced tea. The table fell into silence, waiting, but she didn’t elaborate.

“Oh come on!” Alison said loudly, throwing her hands up, drawing the eyes of the table next to them briefly, “You gotta tell us! That’s the best part.”

Lucy twitched, adjusting her shirt, then her pants, “Let’s just say…we finally made a home movie.”

“Get ittttt!” Alison cheered.

Nyla looked at Lucy in slight surprise, “You got Tim Bradford to make a sex tape?”

“Oh come on,” Alison cocked her head, “do you remember the bachelorette? Bradford was the one who told me to send a video to Charlie that time. It’s on brand for him. But what I wanna know is…are we talking like softcore or we’ll be scarred for life?”

“Ummm…” Lucy bit her lip, fidgeting again, “do you remember the case with Jake and Sava? That we filmed for that documentary?” The trio nodded and she took a breath, pausing for dramatic effect, hoping that they’d catch on. Angela’s eyes widened.

“Holy shit, like their tape?” Lucy shrugged

“You watched it?!” Alison asked, looking at Angela in shock.

“No, but I heard about it. You know how cops love to gossip. I couldn’t watch that. As curious as I might be, I don’t wanna actually watch it. It was a good thing they were together by that time too, because the stories that would’ve flown around…” Angela explained.

“Yeah well…it was fun. And super-hot. And highly recommended. But that is in our vault. For our viewing pleasure only. This,” Lucy added, changing the subject and swiping again, “was our last night. And it was…well I guess you could say magical.”

The next set of photos captured their sunset dinner on a catamaran. The first was a breathtaking shot of the sky painted in shades of orange, pink, and gold, the sun dipping low over the horizon. Then came a picture of the two of them at their table, dressed up for the evening—Lucy in a breezy white dress, Tim in a linen button-down, his hand resting on her knee under the candlelit table. Another showed their champagne glasses mid-toast, the flickering light reflecting off the glasses as they clinked together.

Angela let out a low whistle. “Okay, that’s romantic as hell.”

“Yeah,” Lucy murmured, smiling at the memory. “It really was.”

She hesitated before swiping one more time, revealing a final candid photo—Tim, caught mid-laugh, head tilted back slightly, the golden light casting a soft glow over his face. Her heart squeezed just looking at it.

Alison nudged her playfully. “Girl, you’re gone.”

Lucy just grinned, “Duh.”

“I can’t say enough how good you’ve been for him,” Angela said with a glint of tears in her eyes as she stared at the photo. “I’m not lying when I say in the fifteen years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him like that.”

Lucy ducked her head, shifting in her seat, placing the phone down between them, “Yeah well…it goes both ways.”

“Ok enough of the mush! Let’s see what else you got!” Alison stopped them, grabbing the phone from Lucy’s hand before she could protest and swiped again, “Oh! Oh, girl.” She held up the phone so the other two could see.

Tim and Lucy were clearly at the beach, their bodies effortlessly molded to each other on the sunbed. She sat between his legs, her back pressed against his chest, Tim’s head dipped low, his lips planted on the curve of her shoulder. The passion in his kiss was clear. It wasn’t a chaste brushing, but deliberate and suckling.

Lucy's head was thrown back against him, wild chestnut hair flowing freely in untamed waves that had been pushed to the side, exposing the delicate curve of her throat. Her expression was pure temptation—lips parted, eyes heavy-lidded, lost somewhere between pleasure and surrender.

But what really gave them pause was Tim’s hands cupping her naked breasts in his hands. They had clearly been in motion at the time she took the photo, and their bodies were obviously devoid of clothing from at least the waist up. What was hard to tell was whether they were in the middle of something more.

“Lucy…” the trio looked up at her, though Angela spoke first.

“Give me that!” Lucy snatched her phone back, setting it back into her purse.

“Girl that is art.” Alison gushed, “I’m not even being funny right now—although yes hot—but that photo is gorgeous. I’d say get it framed, but if you two are actually fucking in that picture then it’d be weird.”

Nyla nodded in agreement, “When you two have babies, it should definitely be a part of your maternity shoot.”

“Yeah, you have real life evidence of how little Chenford junior was created,” Angela quipped, Nyla and Alison dissolving into laughter with her and Lucy shot them a look, fidgeting in her seat.

“Girl, you have been fidgeting since before we sat down. Are you okay?” Nyla asked, making Lucy freeze as she adjusted her clothes yet again, looking like a deer in headlights.

“I’m fine. It’s just… hot out.”

“Try again.” Angela was unimpressed. “It is actually one of the more pleasant days we’ve had in a while. The last time I was as uncomfortable as you look was when I—holy shit, are you pregnant?!”

All eyes shot to Lucy.

“Oh my god, would you all stop? I’m not pregnant! My IUD is highly effective. And you know how often we get physicals.” She looked at them pointedly.

“Then why are you fidgeting so much? Are you about to get your period or something? No offense, but you look so uncomfortable,” Nyla asked, narrowing her eyes.

Lucy hesitated, trying to find the right words. She could not believe she was about to say this out loud. But then she gave up.

“It’s the clothes!” she blurted, throwing her hands in the air. “We’ve been naked for a week! It was so wonderful, and now… god, I’m going to be in agony at work.”

Angela choked on her drink. Nyla blinked at her.

“Wait. So the whole time you were away, you were naked?” Nyla asked slowly.

“Pretty much. Not on our excursions of course. And if we went into the ocean I put on a swimsuit. But in the house….” She shook her head sighing, “I guess I just got used to not wearing anything. And now…clothes suck.”

“Wow,” was all Angela could manage,

“Don’t tell me your surprised, Lopez,” Alison smirked, “They left us outside their house while they fucked, they fucked on a pole at your party and they made a kinky ass sex tape. I’d say it’s on brand for them to be nudists too.”

Lucy groaned, covering her face. “I hate all of you.”

The last day before they were due back at work was full of housekeeping. Laundry, cleaning, taking Kojo to the groomer, reviewing the week’s calendar and of course, stocking up on groceries. Tim opened the trunk of Lucy’s car—they had long since agreed that it was easier to use her car for grocery runs—lifting several canvas bags out, loading as many on his arms as he could. His objective was always to make as few trips as possible.

Tapping the close button, he silently grumbled to himself, annoyed by the fact that they couldn’t park in the garage anymore. Before they’d been able to leave the trunk open and head in through the side door, but since the space had been converted into their gym he had to park in the driveway. Tim made a mental note to check in with Nolan on building their gym in the backyard.

He shifted the weight of the bags in his hands, ensuring his keys were in hand, heading towards the door.

“Oh good! You were grocery shopping! I don’t have to worry,” Tim swiveled to see Angela walking up his driveway.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t you just have lunch with Lucy yesterday?” he asked, resuming his path.

“And? I can’t come see my BFF too and hear him tell me about how amazing his honeymoon was so he could hopefully talk my husband into planning something?”

“I see,” he said twisting the key in the lock, his forearms bulging with the weight of the bags, “I should’ve known you’d have an ulterior motive.”

“Hey, if someone’s trip is so good that wearing clothes at home becomes a challenge, I say that’s a damn good trip,” she smirked, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’re wearing joggers instead of jeans, Bradford.”

Tim rolled his eyes, pushing the door open and shouldering through, “Does Lucy know you’re here? You might want to wait here. You never know what you might see.”

“Hey, Ange! What are you doing here?” Lucy came out from the kitchen—she at least had a dress on—greeting her with a hug while Tim retreated into the kitchen to set the groceries down.

“Well I came by to catch up with Timothy here since he couldn’t bother to send me a text.” She narrowed her eyes at him accusingly.

“What are you talking about?” Tim looked at her in confusion, pausing at the front door.  

“Seriously? Your only bestie and you couldn’t bother messaging me to tell me all about your amazing honeymoon?” Angela placed her hands on her hips. “What, were you going to wait for us to be at work to tell me?”

“You had lunch with Lucy! Didn’t she give you all the details!”

“Please,” she scoffed, sitting at the counter, “I’m a detective. Don’t you know I need all sides of the story?”

“You are insane.”

“Go get your groceries, Bradford, and then come tell your BFF all about how you and your wife suddenly hate clothes,” she shooed him towards the door and Tim shot Lucy an exasperated look while she tried to contain her laughter.

“Whatever,” he said, shaking his head as he exited, shutting the door behind him and Lucy turned back to Angela, beginning to empty the bags, placing various items on the counter.

“You guys can head out back while I put the groceries away.”

“I don’t mind staying in here while you guys put them away. Do you need me to help?” she asked, rising from her seat as Tim entered the kitchen, with the final batch of groceries.

“Umm…” Lucy started watching his muscles flex as he put the groceries down, seeing the pack of whole pickles sticking out—not pre-sliced like she liked—and could already feel the sassy comment bubbling up. She stopped herself, quickly shaking her head, “No…nope… you guys go outside. I’ll put these away myself.”

Angela narrowed her eyes at Lucy, her eyes flicking between her blush and the smirk on Tim’s face. “Wait…do you two have some weird kinky shit that you do with groceries?”

Tim’s smirk deepened as Lucy shot a heated glare at him, “No.”

“It does, doesn’t it? Good grief is nothing off limits! How do you turn grocery shopping into a weird sex kink?” Angela’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you take, Jackson. My son, your godson, grocery shopping? What the fuck, Tim!?”

“Oh my god! We’re not wild animals, Ange!” Tim dropped the apples he was holding onto the counter. “You act like we go at it in the damn bread aisle.”

“Yeah! We didn’t do anything until he napped!” Lucy added and Angela threw her hands up in the air.

“And I thought it was bad when Nolan and Bailey just made out while Jack napped. No, his godparents had to one up them like they always do and fuck!”

“Oh please, what do you and Wesley do when Jack naps?” Tim threw back at her and Angela paused.

“That’s true,” she admitted, pausing again before narrowing her eyes. “But I still don’t see what that has to do with putting away groceries.”

Lucy glanced at Tim, who let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. “Come on, let’s go outside and let Lucy finish up here.”

Angela wasn’t letting him off that easy. “You’re not escaping this, Timothy,” she called after him, following him through the back doors. As soon as they stepped outside, Kojo trotted up, tail wagging excitedly. Angela crouched down to ruffle his fur. “Hey, boy!” she cooed before lowering her voice mischievously. “Can you tell me why your parents are so kinky about everything, huh?”

“We are not kinky about everything,” Tim said, grabbing a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge and two tumblers. He dropped onto the outdoor couch, stretching his legs out as he poured them both a drink. Angela plopped down beside him, kicking her feet up on the table and taking the glass he handed her.

“Mmhmm. Sure,” she teased, swirling the water in her tumbler before taking a sip. “You still aren’t getting out of telling me about groceries. Why was Lucy so adamant about us going outside?”

Tim rolled his head to look at her for a moment, before turning back to sip his drink and glare over at Kojo lounging in the cushioned chair across from them. Sighing he relented, “We have this…thing where I inevitably buy something that makes her mouth off and…”

Angela nodded, “And you shut her up with your dick. Got it. Ew.”

“First of all, you asked.” He said pointing at her with his drink, “And second, you didn’t have to be so crude about it.”

“I just find it incredible that you two can make something as simple as grocery shopping, kinky. Although I should have known, you made kayaking kinky.”

Tim choked on his drink, “She told you about that?”

“Well that was Alison’s fault,” he shot her a look and she leaned forward to place her glass on the coffee table, “Don’t worry, it’s not like she showed us anything. Although comparing it to the Jake and Sava video gave us enough insight.”

He choked on air this time and immediately began smacking his chest to dislodge the bubble in his esophagus, but Angela ignored him and pressed on, “But in all seriousness, I really just wanted to come and see for myself how you were…how your trip was. Lucy showed us pictures and…I’d never seen you look so happy. I guess I just wanted to see it for myself.”  

Tim’s expression softened as his coughs died out and he saw the genuine smile tugging at Angela’s lips—a rare sight. “I am happy. And that trip was. It was a nice culmination to everything we’ve been through over the past weeks and months. And…usually when I go anywhere, after a few days I’m just so ready to go home, you know?” Angela nodded, “This time…I woke up and was dreading coming home. And that’s all because of Lucy. Being with her…sure the sex is insane…but she’s my best friend and she gets me in a way that no one else does—no offense.”

“None taken.” She smirked, “To be honest, I knew I fell to number two early in her rookie year.”

He looked at her in surprise, “Really? I mean…looking back I know when things started to shift for me. But I always thought you didn’t see it ‘til after she became P2.”

She shot him a look, “Dude seriously? I know you better than you know yourself sometimes. Of course I saw it. After she made P2 just made it okay for me to pester you about it. But no…seeing how she helped break down your walls brick by brick…by the time she became P2 you were the Tim I remembered pre-Isabel. And now? Now you’re a Tim I’ve never seen before. It’s kind of awesome.”

“Yeah well…” he shrugged, “Back at you, you know…mom. We wouldn’t have been having this conversation all those years ago.”

Angela snorted, “No you would’ve just handed me a beer and told me to shut up.”

“Yup and now I can’t even do that cuz I have to be worried about your damn tit milk.”

“Don’t ever refer to it as that again. Jack kept saying ‘it’ for weeks after he was with you two. Mami caught on because Wesley couldn’t stop laughing and I had to stop her from coming over here and smacking you.”

“Good kid,” Tim snorted and Angela whacked him across the chest, making him lift his leg, flinching as she joined him in laughter.

“So, are you two gonna take the kids when I show Wesley Lucy’s posts from your trip and guilt him into letting you plan ours?” She nudged him with a smirk.

Tim scoffed. “Why am I always the one planning your life? Wesley’s a grown man—and loaded. He can handle it.” Then he shot her a pointed look. “And are you sure you want us watching your kids? You seem to have a lot of opinions about our so-called ‘kinky’ lifestyle.”

“Shut up,” she huffed, giving him another shove.

“Why are you always pushing me? You’re worse than Genny.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

Tim sighed, rolling his eyes. “Fine. I’ll help. And we’ll watch the kids.” Then he smirked. “But don’t come crying to me when Emmy starts talking about boobs.”

Chapter Text

Tim strode toward Grey’s office on his first morning back, feeling antsy. His body was restless, his skin hypersensitive to his clothing—and he wasn’t even in uniform yet. Grey had told him to check in first thing, but he was already dreading putting it on. Lucy had been right. They’d been naked for too long.

He’d left her curled up in bed, sleeping peacefully, her hair a tousled mess on the pillow, and had gone through his entire morning routine in the nude—delaying the inevitable. He stretched it out as long as he could, savoring the last remnants of their honeymoon bliss, before finally pulling on his usual jeans and henley at the last possible moment. The thought of her knowing smirk made him chuckle. He could already hear her teasing him when he finally admitted she’d been right. Four uninterrupted days of nothing but sun, sand, and his smoking-hot wife had done a number on him.

At least his nightmares had finally let up. The weight he carried—the stress, the vigilance, the ghosts of things he couldn't change—had loosened its grip in the easy rhythm of their getaway. But now, standing in the station, he felt the old pressures creeping back in, pressing against the edges of his mind. He resisted the urge to roll his shoulders, to shake it off, to chase that feeling of freedom for just a little longer. Instead, he took a breath, squared his stance, and forced his head back into the game. He’d been gone long enough. It was time to get back to work.

As Tim approached Grey’s office, he saw Lieutenant Pine sitting in one of the chairs across from him and any lingering thoughts of frivolity immediately dissipated. He knocked on the edge of the door before popping his head in.

“Morning…you wanted to see me before shift?” He asked imploringly, and both leaders stood.

Grey stepped around his desk, a welcoming smile on his face as he extended his hand. “Let me be the first to say, welcome back.”

“Thank you, sir.” Tim shook his hand, returning the smile with appreciation.

Lieutenant Pine stepped forward next, shaking his hand with a smirk. “I gotta say, I know you were recovering, but six weeks looks good on you. What’d you do, spend it at the beach?”

“In a way, ma’am. Spent some time in Turks and Caicos last week.”

“Ah, that’s right. Honeymoon, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling refreshed. Mad Dog has really stepped up in your absence. That’s actually why I wanted to talk to you this morning. He’s been planning a raid today, and while I know you’re back, I also know you went through something traumatic. I need my entire team in top form—”

“Ma’am, I was cleared for duty,” Tim cut in firmly.

Pine nodded, unfazed. “I know. But this is my team, and when something like this happens, I’m the one who determines if someone is ready to return to their post. Doesn’t mean you aren’t fit to lead—it just means I need to be sure you’re ready before throwing you to the wolves.”

Tim swallowed the frustration rising in his chest and nodded. “Understood, ma’am. So where does that leave me?”

“You’re running point on surveillance. Grey is pulling Thorsen as your number two.”

Tim blinked. “Are you serious? Ma’am, that’s like assigning me to be the damn waterboy. I might as well be benched.”

Pine’s expression hardened. “My team, Bradford. My call. I assess fit for duty—understood?”

“Understood.” His response was clipped, his jaw tight. There was plenty more he wanted to say, but it wouldn’t change a thing. Pine made the decisions. And he had no choice but to fall in line.

“Go put your stuff away, then find Thorsen and have him fold in with you guys,” Grey told him, a note of sympathy in his voice. He’d known Tim for a long time and this was not the way Bradford liked to come back from being injured.

“Thank you, sir. Ma’am.” He nodded at them both and left Grey’s office, heading towards the locker rooms. It was still early enough that the hallway was empty, and he saw Mad Dog standing with Blair London, his therapist. It struck him as a bit odd that she’d be seen on the station floor, generally she sat a few floors up. And seeing her with Mad Dog in what looked like a bit of a heated exchange made him pause. They immediately stopped talking when they saw him.

“Morning,” Tim greeted them.

“Bradford,” Mad Dog said tersely, “Welcome back.”

“Thanks. Good to be back.”

“You squared away for this morning? I know you aren’t leading this one, but we need you out there man.” Tim couldn’t tell if he was being serious or condescending, but he didn’t like the feeling he was getting.

“Yeah, I’m just putting my stuff away and then Thorsen and I will be around to get the details.” Mad Dog nodded, passing him by as he walked off and Tim turned to Blair once he was out of earshot.

“It’s interesting seeing you on this floor…

“What?” She looked like she had just snapped out of thought, “Oh no I was actually heading to another floor to drop off some paperwork. I just wasn’t paying attention and got on the wrong elevator.”

Tim eyed her for a moment, his mind flashing back to when he first encountered Blair and Mad Dog. If he put two and two together, something was off. “Is…everything okay with Mad Dog?” he asked carefully.

Blair shot him a look, “Can't discuss a patient. Technically, we shouldn't have told you he's a patient. How are you doing? Sounded like you were getting sidelined today. How did that make you feel?”

“Last I checked, not in your office, so if you’ll excuse me.” There was no way he’d be addressing any of this right now. They could unpack it in a session.

“Of course.” She nodded, “Sorry. Still internalizing the rules of engagement.”

“Sure. See you Wednesday.” He said waving her off as he retreated into the locker room.

“Hey you,” Lucy grinned as she saw Tim coming down the hallway after roll call, her face immediately grew concerned when she saw his stormy expression, “Uh oh. What’s wrong?”

“I’m running surveillance on Metro’s op. Thorsen’s assisting me.” He said, his voice low as she pulled him back into the roll call room once it emptied.

“Okay—what?” That gave her pause. Aaron wisely remained silent, excusing himself with a gesture towards the locker rooms indicating that he’d go change out, Tim nodding in acknowledgement.

At minimum she thought he’d be leaning on the liaison portion of his role and patrolling for the day, not…supporting Metro?

“Yeah. Apparently even though I’ve been cleared for duty, Pine won’t clear me to lead the team until she’s seen for herself that I’m fit.” Tim scoffed and Lucy placed a hand on his arm, rubbing soothingly, feeling the tension in his muscles slowly ease as she tried to think of what to say.

“Well—I’m not saying you’re not ready to lead—but maybe easing back into things isn’t the worst idea? Six weeks is a long time, and they haven’t exactly been easy for you,” she pointed out.

Tim stared at her for a long moment, his instincts clashing with the rational thoughts tugging at his mind. Lucy remained quiet, her gaze steady and gentle, her hand still resting on his arm. She knew he’d come to his own decision, whatever it might be.

He blinked slowly, his body sagging with the weight of his realization and she knew what he’d landed on. “You’re right.” He nodded.

Lucy smiled softly, “You’ll be back to leading the team and driving me crazy in those cargo pants in no time.”

Tim’s face broke into a smirk, “I though it was no pants that got you going these days.”

“That too,” she snickered. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how uncomfortable you are in those jeans.”

“You may have been right about the clothes thing,” he sighed in defeat, and she gave a playful little laugh.

“Twice in a manner of moments? What else can I be right about hmm?” Tim rolled his eyes, though his lips turned up. He spotted Aaron heading back towards them in plain clothes out of the corner of his eye and knew his time was up.

“I’ve gotta head out. Be safe today.” He squeezed the hand that was still resting on his arm.

“Back at you babe.”

Lucy blew a stray strand of hair from her face as she and the others escorted the apprehended suspects through the bustling hospital corridors. Grey was running point, directing the organized chaos, while she and Celina handed off their suspects to awaiting officers for transport and processing.

Swiping her arm across her forehead, she took a moment to breathe as she surveyed the scene. The waiting area was even more crowded than before, filled with a mix of officers, hospital staff, and anxious civilians. The low murmur of conversations buzzed around her, but Lucy barely registered it as her gaze swept over the room, taking in the faces.

An unease settled washed over her as she recognized some of those faces. Worn and hardened by the things they’d seen and the stress of the job.

Metro.

Tim.

Where was Tim?

Her pulse sped up, dread settling into her gut. She scanned the room again, faster this time, eyes darting between the groups of officers. He should be here. He had to be here.

Something was wrong.

She locked eyes with Sergeant Grey, but the look on his face did nothing to ease her worry. If anything, the tension in his eyes only made her panic spike higher.

Everything else—the fact that she was on duty, that she was still supposed to be Celina’s T.O.—faded into the background as she rushed over to him.

“Is he okay? Where is he?”

Grey held up his hands, a steady gesture meant to calm her, but it did little to slow the pounding of her heart. “He’s fine,” he assured her. “There was an explosion during the Metro op. Tim and Thorsen weren’t caught in it, but when they were trying to get the team out, part of the ceiling collapsed on them. They escorted Mad Dog in, and there’s more to it that he’ll read you in on, but he’s getting checked out now. The nurses can tell you what room he’s in.”

Lucy barely heard the last part. All she could focus on was the way her stomach twisted at the thought of debris crashing down on him, of what could have happened.

She needed to see him. Now.

Tim wasn’t in the room that the nurses had given her.

He wasn’t in the room next door. Where the fuck was he?

Lucy stopped for a moment, closing her eyes and taking a breath to try and calm herself. If he wasn’t in a room that likely meant that they cleared him.

Or it was more serious, and he needed surgery.

No—Lucy shook her head trying to rid herself of those thoughts—it couldn’t be that. He would’ve made sure the hospital called her for that. The obvious realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She’d been so focused on physically finding him, that she didn’t even think to call.

Pulling out her phone, she saw two messages from Tim and breathed a sigh of relief.

I’m ok. Getting checked out as precaution.

And another one following 10 minutes later.

All clear. Going to see Mad Dog.

She swiped to his contact, her thumb trembling slightly. It had only been six weeks since the whole Ray situation. She needed to see him with her own eyes.

“Lucy!” His voice broke through her spiral and she immediately swiveled to see Tim briskly walking towards her. She quickly pocketed her phone rushing towards him, flinging her arms around his neck. He melted into her embrace, his body folding effortlessly against hers as she held him close.

“I was so worried,” She murmured into his ear, “Are you alright? What happened?”

Tim pulled back from her slowly, though he kept his hands on her waist, his eyes darting around the area. Cop eyes, Lucy thought with a frown.

“I’m almost certain it was a trap,” He said quickly, his voice low. “They knew we were coming and left an IED in the building.”

“Oh my god.” She drew back to eye him critically, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah—I mean, I’m a little banged up, but the doc cleared me. Trust me, I’m good.”

She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure she believed him, but Tim’s expression was earnest and open. There was something else that was bothering him that he wasn’t saying. “Was anyone else hurt?”

“Um…Nash is bad. He’s in surgery. And Garcia’s leg got all torn up. Mad Dog got lucky with mostly superficial wounds. I was just coming back from seeing him…” He trailed off, frowning, lost in his thoughts. Lucy searched his face, waiting for him to continue saying whatever else was on his mind.

“Tim…is there something else?” she probed and his eyes shot to hers.

“I can’t talk about it here. There’s too much—can I ride with you back to the station? I sent Aaron back with the van. I can’t tell you anything yet. But at home—after shift—I’ll promise I will.”

“Of course,” Lucy’s concern didn’t dissipate, but they still had a few hours left in their shift. Whatever was going on…would have to wait until later.

Tim made it home before Lucy, and dinner was already cooking when she walked in the door. Dropping her bag on the foyer bench, she kicked her boots off, letting out a tired groan as peeled off her jeans and shirt tossing them aside with her bag. Grabbing Tim’s LAPD sweatshirt from the hook she pulled it over her, letting its warmth and Tim’s comforting scent engulf her.

The smells of boiling pasta and fresh tomato sauce hit her senses as she padded barefoot into the kitchen. Tim was still in his clothes from the day and he seemed to be going through the motions as he prepared dinner, driven by the need to preoccupy himself.

“Hi,” she greeted him, sidling up to him and craning her neck to receive the kiss he had ready for her.

“Hi,” he said when they parted, “Dinner is basically done. I just need to add the pasta.”

Tim pulled out a string of linguine with the tongs dangling the bite into his mouth to test. Nodding in satisfaction, he pulled the strainer basket from the pot and placed it at an angle to drain back in, shutting off the burner. Adding the pasta to the sauce, he stirred coating each piece before plating. Lucy, in turn, poured them some iced tea she had made the other day. Something told her she wanted a clear head for this conversation.

The air was heavy though the silence between them was easy, and Lucy was ready to burst with questions by the time they sat down at the dining table. It turned out, Tim wasn’t stalling because he got right into it, “I think there’s a mole inside the LAPD.”

Lucy’s eyes shot to his, “Are you serious? Because of today?”

“Yeah,” he said simply, finally taking a bite of his dinner, “This mission was last minute from what I observed. It was close to the vest. And other than Metro and the two observation units, only the judge who assigned the warrant was in the loop.”

“Tim… that’s…”

“I know. And the way the IED went off. Lucy…it was like they knew the plan. Like they knew exactly when and where we’d be coming. Even down to what door we’d use.”

“Wow.” She exhaled, “Does Grey know?”

Tim nodded, “Yeah, I told him as soon as I got to the hospital. He wants to keep things as quiet as possible. Strictly need to know.”

“What’s the plan?”

Tim blew out a slow breath, “So far? I’ve gotta dig into every detail of the op. And Mad Dog…”

Lucy frowned, “Do you think he had something to do with it?”

“We can’t rule it out. He was…weird…during this op. Went out of his way to put me in my place when I had some legitimate tactical questions. And the planning…even without the leak it was sloppy.” Tim shook his head, “Maybe Mad Dog’s poor judgment was just bad timing.”

“You don’t believe in coincidences, Tim,” she leveled him with a look and he met her eyes.

“I know.” His voice was pained—troubled. Metro was his house. If there was a leak within that team she knew he would feel responsible for missing it.

“You haven’t missed anything Tim. Honestly…it seems like you’re the only one with their eyes open.  Don’t beat yourself up for someone else’s choices.”

Lucy let her fork fall to the place, reaching across the corner of the table, palm up, waiting. Tim slipped his hand into hers, savoring the quiet reassurance of her gentle squeeze, “The most important thing is that we’ll figure this out.”

Tim smiled gratefully at her just as his phone vibrated on the credenza. Exchanging a glance with Lucy, he got up to pick it up, both knowing it was someone important because they muted all app notifications when they had dinner. Picking it up he saw a message from Mad Dog.

“It’s Mad Dog.” Tim said, looking back up at Lucy in confusion, “He says he needs to talk.”

“Go,” she waves him off, “Maybe he’ll give you some answers.” Tim nodded absentmindedly, pocketing his phone.

“I’ll be back soon,” he leaned down to peck Lucy on the lips before grabbing his rushing out the door.

He called Grey first despite everything within him screaming to call Lucy.

He had to follow protocol to the letter.

But he called Lucy next. He couldn’t move until he heard her voice.

“Hey, what’s up?” she greeted him, a hint of concern threading through her voice.

“Lucy…” his voice shook.

“Are you alright? What happened?” the urgency ratcheted up in her tone and he could hear her moving quickly through the house, gathering whatever she needed to leave the house and meet him.

“No,” he choked out, biting his lip hard. It was as if hearing her voice opened the floodgates and it was taking every ounce of strength to hold it together. He sucked in a heavy breath, “Mad Dog…It’s bad, Luce.”                             

“Are you still at the hospital?”

“Yeah…I—I’m not sure if I’m coming home tonight.”

There was a pause on Lucy’s end as his words sank in, and he heard the door shutting to her car, the engine switching on and the short click as the phone switched to Car Play, “Is Sergeant Grey with you?”

Tim shook his head then realized she couldn’t see him and swallowed hard, “Not yet. He’ll  be here any minute.”

“I’m already on my way. 10 minutes. And Tim?”

“Yeah?” he asked shakily.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”                                                      

Chaos had erupted below him as he rushed down the stairs to meet the hospital staff and security that raced outside to try and help. With each step he took, his mind flashed back to Mad Dog pitching over the edge…

The glass breaking and crunch of metal as he landed on the roof of the ambulance below.

His broken body.

The blood.  

The screaming.

It played on a loop in his mind until he was once again faced with the reality of what he’d witnessed as he reached the front entrance to St. Stephens. By the time he stepped outside, lights were flashing from the surrounding shops, presumably sent by Sergeant Grey to secure the scene. It felt like a new patrol car pulled up every minute. Tim stayed rooted in his place, his eyes drifting between Mad Dog and the roof where it all happened. Madness swirling around him.

She knows all my secrets.

There was only one ‘she’ that Tim could think of as he rolled around Mad Dog’s words in his head. Only one ‘she’ that had been a habitual presence today of all days.

Blair London.

He felt sick to his stomach thinking about the fact the department therapist—his therapist—was somehow embroiled in whatever Mad Dog was involved in. What did it all mean?

“Hey. What happened?” Grey’s voice pulled him from his thoughts and Tim turned to see him approaching.

“Tim!” Lucy’s voice rang out urgently as she hurried towards him, her footsteps quick. As soon as she reached him, she slid her arms around his waist, pulling him close. A hand came up to his cheek, her touch gentle, her worried eyes searching his, needing to see for herself that he was okay.

“Are you alright? What happened?”

Tim let out a heavy exhale, the weight of the last moments pressing down on him. Despite Lucy’s hands on him, he shoved his own into his pockets, instinctively wary of who might be watching. He tried to keep his voice low, restrained, his eyes darting around the scene before landing back on her, “I’m…okay,” he assured her, though the tension in his posture and the look in his eye told Lucy that he was definitely not okay.

She waited patiently with Sergeant Grey while Tim took another breath, preparing to bring them up to speed. “But…Mad Dog was in a bad way when I got here.” Lucy’s grip on him tightened.

Tim pressed on, directing the next statement to Grey, “He texted me not long after Lucy and I got home, wanting to talk. I met him up on the roof…he was amped up on guilt…confessed to being dirty. Said he flipped because she knew his secrets.” He let out another sigh, his voice turning rough, “Then he jumped.” He gestured to the ambulance where Mad Dog’s body still was and Lucy’s gaze followed his hand.

A sharp gasp tore from her lips, her arms reflexively tightening around him, her hand rubbing soothing circles on his torso. Her eyes had only been for Tim when she arrived at the scene, but now…now she saw the slipper encased foot hanging off the side of the vehicle roof, unmoving.

Shit.

Tim saw this?

No one said anything for a few seconds, letting his words sink in.  

Then Grey frowned, “Who's she?”

Tim didn’t waste a moment, “Blair London.” Again, Lucy’s grasp tightened on him. Just when she didn’t think it could get any worse.

“He used her name?” Grey asked skeptically.

“No, it's clear who he was talking about.” Tim said with conviction. He was certain, that much was clear to Lucy. And when Tim spoke with his gut, she immediately listened. Tim wasn’t a ‘gut’ cop. He followed the evidence. Let it lead him to the truth. If he was leading with his gut—if he was trusting his gut—then they needed to listen to it.

“Clear to you maybe,” Grey’s voice was low, but laced with warning and hesitation at Tim’s accusation, “but you got to be very careful making accusations before you have proof.”

Before they could continue, Detective Pearson interrupted them, cocky and already brimming with suspicion as any detective would. Lucy’s hackles rose up when he immediately turned his suspicions onto Tim, not overtly accusing him of anything, but the route of his future questioning was clear.

Tim pulled his hands from his pockets, letting Grey handle most of the conversation, instead focusing his attention on holding Lucy. She was vibrating with anger at the implications from Pearson, and if he didn’t ground her now, he wasn’t quite sure what she’d do.

Grey turned back to them as Pearson walked away, swagger in his steps, “I'd watch my back with him. If he thinks he can make a career move climbing over you, he will.”

Tim nodded, but it was Lucy who spoke up, “Are you serious? He’s going to use Tim just to try and get ahead?”

“Unfortunately,” Grey looked worried as he answered her. “it’s possible. He’s been looking for a big time win and this would be just the thing to clinch it for him.”

“That’s—he should not be the one running this,” Lucy cut herself off, knowing that throwing a fit in the middle of a crime scene was not what Tim needed right now.

Lucy watched Tim through the observation window as he sat in interrogation, her chest tight with frustration and worry. She pitched a fit when Grey reminded her that she couldn’t be in the room with him, only relenting when he allowed her to stay and watch from here. Rationally, she understood protocol, but it didn’t quiet the ache in her chest as she took in Tim’s jittery movements. His leg bounced relentlessly, his fingers twitching where they rested on the tabletop. Every instinct screamed for her to be beside him.

The door opened in a rush, Angela breezing in, shutting the door behind her. Lucy called her as soon as they arrived at the station and Angela wasted no time, dropping everything to get in early after alerting Wesley to what was going on. Angela crossed her arms, frowning as she looked at her best friend through the window.

“I’m benched too. Grey told me Pearson is leading this.” She said in a huff, “They won’t even let me see him. How’s he doing?”

Lucy’s shook her head, pinching her lips as her eyes welled, “He’s trying to hold it together. God, Ange…the scene. And this Pearson guy is…”

“Yeah Nyla and I can’t stand him. He’s an asshole to put it nicely.” She glanced at Lucy, “Is Nolan on his way?”

“Yeah,” Lucy nodded, “He—”

She didn’t get a chance to finish when Nolan entered the room in front of them, clueless and oblivious to Tim’s anxiousness—or perhaps just trying to be the one to maintain some level of calm amidst the craziness.

It didn’t matter though, Tim’s energy was enough for both of them because he immediately pushed out of his chair, getting in Nolan’s face to bring him up to speed.

“He's gonna try to hang this around my neck. Department needs a scapegoat for what went down yesterday, and now their primary candidate is dead. At best, I'll be sidelined, which is why I need you to take over the investigation.”

Angela looked at Lucy, “Is he serious?”

Lucy’s posture was rigid as she raised her thumb to her mouth, biting at the skin around her nail. “Grey told him to watch his back. That Pearson might try to use this to climb the ladder.”

“I fucking hate that guy.” Lucy nodded in agreement. She hadn’t encountered Pearson too often, most of her cases going to Harper and Lopez, but the few times she had, he seemed…smarmy.

They turned back in time to hear Tim continue, “…rookie police psychiatrist. I've been seeing her. So has Aaron. I believe she had leverage on Mad Dog, and that's why he betrayed the Metro op, and that's why he jumped.”

“Who’s he talking about?” Angela asked her eyes wide and concerned. “His therapist is behind this?” she hissed.

Lucy shrugged heavily, “He saw Dr. London with Mad Dog earlier and then again at the hospital. Later, when he met up with Mad Dog, he said something like ‘she knows all my secrets’ right before he jumped. Tim is adamant that she’s caught up in this somehow. It’s his gut. And you know he rarely goes with his gut, but this time, between that and what he saw yesterday, he’s convinced. And so am I.”

“God, this is a mess.” Angela sighed.

“Yeah…” Lucy huffed out a humorless laugh, “And I can’t even do anything to help him. I have to just hope that Nolan and Celina find something on Blair.”

Angela placed a reassuring hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “He’s gonna need you for more than just your investigative skills, Lucy. You aren’t Officer Chen and Sergeant Bradford right now.” She gave her a pointed look, “You’re Lucy and Tim Bradford. And you two have to trust that Nolan and Juarez will come through.”

“You’re right,” Lucy closed her eyes for a moment, blinking them open to watch as the two men spoke in low tones through the window, “And Tim has placed an incredible amount of trust in Nolan…more than he would have in the past. I know that speaks volumes for Nolan. He’ll come through for him.”

Angela squeezed her shoulder and Lucy placed her hand over hears, a silent show of gratitude. At the same time, Sergeant Grey and Detective Pearson entered the room in front of them. Tim remained seated, silent as Nolan introduced himself and Pearson wasted no time dropping the hammer.

“Well, then before we get started, I want to be up-front about this. I've been on the case for three hours, and I'm already deeply troubled by what I've discovered. I want to hear what you have to say, but no matter how you answer these questions, you're on leave, effective immediately.”

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” Both Lucy and Angela practically yelled in unison from the observation room, their voices fortunately muted by the glass.

Lucy’s hands curled into fists at her sides as she began to pace, “I can’t believe they actually did it. What could possibly warrant that?! What on earth did they find?” Her voice rose with each question, fear and frustration bubbling up. “Tim’s one of the best leaders Mid Wilshire has!”

Angela wasn’t listening, too busy yanking out her phone, muttering a string of curses as she fumbled to unlock it, “Goddamnit, I need a fucking landline so I can stab the damn buttons!” She finally managed to get to her contacts curing the fact that it wasn’t a land line so she could stab the buttons, tapping once and pressing the phone to her ear tightly, her expression fuming.

Lucy exhaled sharply, her mind racing. This wasn’t just bad. This was insane. Tim wasn’t just a good cop, he was a great leader. One that the people of Mid Wilshire trusted with their lives. And now, they’re making him a scapegoat for something he wasn’t even a part of until yesterday?

“If you’re filing charges against him, you need to give me a heads up.” Angela demanded, her voice sharp with irritation as she lowered her phone from her ear, placing it on speaker.

“If I were filing charges, the last thing I would do is compromise the case with any hint of impropriety.” Came Wesley’s measured response on the other end.

“I’m standing by him 1000%.” Angela shot back, her tone leaving no room for argument, placing a firm hand on Lucy’s shoulder. Lucy swallowed hard, biting back tears, at her unwavering support. She’d never been more grateful that Angela was his best friend than in that moment.

“I know. Look, I haven’t even made it into the office. Can we talk later?”

“He’s family!” Angela’s voice, though strong, wavered under the weight of her emotions.

“I know. I’ll call you later, okay?”

Angela ended the call, stabbing the end button with force, gripping the device so tightly her knuckles turned white. For a moment it looked like she might actually throw it across the room.

She blew out a breath bowing her head, “I love my husband. I really do. But when he goes into lawyer mode, I want to throttle him sometimes.”

Lucy gave her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes as Pearson bombarded Tim with questions, digging into his past, bringing up Isabel, his anger issues that surfaced when she left, Lucy’s kidnapping, marrying his former rookie, the attack on Mid Wilshire, shooting Rosalind, his own kidnapping and return only to be sidelined with Metro. Every question was a calculated attempt to paint Tim as unstable and unfit to lead, framing him as a man so who had been so worn down by trauma and adversity, that he’d be vulnerable to corruption.

“You know that I think? I think Mad Dog got close to something. And when you realized that he was on the verge of figuring it out, you took matters into your own hands to shut him up.”

“This is complete bullshit!” Lucy seethed, barely restraining herself from storming into the room and decking Pearson. “And throwing me in the mix? Is he for fucking real?” she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady her breathing as rage coursed through her veins.

Lost in their frustration, they almost missed Tim being dismissed. He pushed out of his seat, tension coiled tightly in his attempt to maintain his composure as he exited, leaving the other three men behind.

Lucy and Angela hurried to catch up with him, falling into step beside Tim as he reached the elevators and pressed the ‘down’ button. Lucy looped her hand around his bicep, the only PDA they allowed themselves at work. They didn’t speak, just a silent exchange, her eyes filled with worry, his heavy with exhaustion. Angela stood on Tim’s opposite side, a steady pillar of support.

As the elevator slid open, Tim and Lucy stepped inside.  Angela held the doors for a beat, her expression serious but a thread of humor in her voice, “Just say the word, and I'll have you guys on a private plane to a non-extradition country.”

Lucy couldn’t help but snort out a laugh, the first genuine one in what felt like days. Tim smiled gratefully but shook his head.

“It's not gonna come to that. There is zero evidence of wrongdoing because there wasn't any.” He said adamantly, “I had to put different forces into play this time. Nolan and Juarez will figure this out.”

“Different’s not me,” Angela shot back.

“I know. But they aren’t as close as you. I can’t have you putting yourself at risk for me again. They’ll read you in when they can.”

“You guys be careful.” That was the last thing she said, before stepping back and letting the doors close.

Lucy turned, immediately pulling him into her embrace, and Tim sagged into her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, burying his head against her neck.

“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

“No,” he sighed, “But this is getting me close.” She held him tighter, squeezing him comfortingly before they pulled away as the elevator reached the first floor.

She slid her hand into his, threading their fingers together and tugging, “Come on…there’s no way you’re driving home right now. I’ll have Angela or Nolan bring your truck home later.”

The car ride home was silent. Tim just sitting in the passenger seat, head tilted back, eyes closed. She knew he was drained. Exhausted. Though his body seemed to be vibrating with tension.

Her worry skyrocketed when they arrived back home and he didn’t even bother greeting Kojo, just went right to the living room and plopped down on the sofa with a heavy sigh. Leaning his head against the back and closing his eyes again. Lucy looked down at Kojo, who looked back up at her, and could swear she saw concern in his eyes. Crouching down, she gave him a cuddle, pausing to whisper in his ear.

“Daddy’s hurting. We’ve gotta help him feel better okay? I’ll let you out now, and then we’ve gotta sit with him.”  

She opened the door to the backyard, letting Kojo outside, then returned to the kitchen, quickly throwing together two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and some steaming chamomile tea. Comforting and soothing was what he needed right now. Letting Kojo back inside, she grabbed the tray with the food on it, Kojo trotting after her and hopping up onto the couch next to Tim. He plopped his head on top of Tim’s thigh, nudging his snout underneath Tim’s hand until it was resting on top of his head, huffing out a breath when he was satisfied.

Lucy curled up next to Tim, running her fingers through his hair, smoothing her finger down the frown that seemed permanently etched on his brow for the past 24 hours.

“You need to eat something babe.” She said softly, watching his frown deepen for a moment as he absorbed her words as if she were speaking another language.

“I’m not really hungry.” He protested, lifting his head to meet her eyes.

“I know, but you need something in your system. Especially if you get cleared, sooner rather than later. You’re going to want to be ready to head right back in.” she said gently, “It’s just sandwiches, and some tea nothing too big.”  

He sighed, dropping his head back again and Lucy pulled her lip in between her teeth, contemplating his expression. She’d seen him in various states over the years…angry, determined, scared, calculating, happy, sad, confused…she’d seen it all, but she’d never seen…defeat. Resignation.

We fight until the bell rings.

Lucy remembered when Tim had encouraged her to keep persevering when it seemed like all was lost. That the checklist she had to complete was virtually impossible…he was the one to made sure she stuck it out.

Now it looked like Tim Bradford didn’t have any fight left in him.

“What’s going on in that head of yours babe?” She asked quietly.

Tim was silent for a long time. So long that at one point Lucy thought he might have fallen asleep. But then his hand began to move, fingers running gently over Kojo’s fur in slow, rhythmic strokes. The motion matched the soft glide of Lucy’s hand through his hair, their movements in sync, grounding him.

“I just…I feel like I can't catch a damn break.” His voice was rough when he finally spoke, and when he opened his eyes, they shimmered with unshed tears. Lucy didn’t stop her gentle touch, letting him lead the moment.

“Four years ago…that could've been me….if you hadn't come into my life when you did, Lucy…it would've be been me. It was right there. I was there.” His voice wavered, raw with emotion.  “And--I'm not exaggerating when I say you are my light. You taught me to be strong. For me. For us. And I'm a work in progress still. But these hits…they keep coming. I just…I don't know how much more I can take.”

She pulled him into her roughly, hugging him tightly as he ended his monologue with an anguished cry. Kojo remained at his side, nudging his body closer to try and provide some additional comfort. Tim’s shoulders shook with the weight of his suffering, years of pain and struggle pressing down on him all at once.

“I’m here,” Lucy whispered into his hair, her voice steady, despite the lump in her throat, “I’m not going anywhere. Ever. We’re gonna through this.”

He clenched his fists against her back, holding on like she was the only thing that mattered. “I just…” his voice cracked, “I just need a break, Luce. This rollercoaster of highs and lows…I just…I need a second to breathe.”

“I know, babe.” She nodded, pressing a kiss to the side of his head, “We’ll figure this out.”

He lingered in her embrace for a few moments longer, steadying himself before pulling back resting his forehead against hers. “Thank you.” He whispered.

“You don’t need to thank me, Tim. We’re partners in every way.” Lucy reminded him, “And I know you feel betrayed. One of the few people that you allowed yourself to be vulnerable with is using that knowledge against you and the department—the team who was supposed to have your back has actually subsequently painted a target on it. It’s okay to feel how you feel. Please don’t forget that.”

Tim’ s eyes glinted with gratitude, though his smile was tinged with irony, “You wanna hear the fucked up part?”

“Sure.”

“She was a good therapist,” he released in a breath, as if it pained him to admit.

“I know. I could tell.” She smiled gently and Tim nodded.

“She opened the door on some things that even you and I haven’t talked about yet. Things I didn’t even realize were there.”

It was true. Tim had been making so much progress over the past few weeks. Unpacking demons that Lucy suspected had been buried since he was a kid. Shoved into a box marked ‘Do not open.’ Some days he came home looking wrecked, but at the same time he seemed…freer. Lucy never pressed, but little by little he cracked the lid on the box with her. She only hoped that this didn’t make him slam it shut again.

But now wasn’t the time to broach the subject. Not when the wound was so fresh, their current crisis imminent. The only thing she could do what be the unwavering support that he’d always been for her. And maybe…remind him how grateful she was to have him in her life.

“Can I share something vulnerable with you?” Lucy asked quietly, leaning back to sit crisscrossed to his side. Tim turned, dislodging Kojo from his side for a moment as he gave Lucy his full attention.

“Of course,” he said plainly, placing his hands on her folded knees.  

“When Grey told me what happened at the warehouse…and when I finally saw you…I was relieved that Pine had put you on surveillance. Because that could’ve been you in that building.” Her eyes welled, “And I know that we’re dealing with so much shit right now. But I know we’ll get through it. But if you were in that building…there’s a chance that we wouldn’t even be sitting here.  

She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if—” She stopped, shaking her head as if trying to physically rid herself of the thought.

A heavy silence stretched between them before she exhaled shakily. “I just needed you to know that you matter. To me. To Genny. To Angela. Jack. Tyler. Our family. You matter. And you’re so loved. Please don’t ever forget that.” She sniffed, cupping his face in her hands, “And if you feel like you’re starting to…you tell me so I can remind you, okay?”

By the end, Tim’s eyes were shining, his chest tight with emotion. He didn’t have any words. He could only nod, mirroring Lucy’s movements and placing his hands on her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs.

She pulled him toward her, uncurling her legs so he could rest between them. Together, they moved so he was lying on top of her, both comforted by the other’s embrace. He let out a slow, shuddering breath against her chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt.

Lucy pressed a kiss to his temple, her hands running soothingly over his head, down his back. “I’ve got you,” she murmured, her voice a quiet promise.

Tim swallowed hard, his arms tightening around her. He wasn’t sure how to respond, how to put into words what this moment meant—what she meant. But as her fingers traced gentle circles against his skin, easing the tension in his body, he realized he didn’t have to. She already knew. She always knew.

And everything would be okay.

Chapter Text

Tim and Lucy nestled in their large bathtub filled with steaming water, slightly cloudy from the salts, the air thick with the scent of chamomile. Tim was reclined against Lucy, his head resting against her chest, eyes half-lidded in contentment. His injured arm was relaxed against his own chest, Lucy’s arms draping around his shoulders, fingers tracing gentle, absentminded patterns on his skin. His own free hand trailed patters on her thigh beneath the water. Soft candlelight flickered against the bathroom walls, casting shadows across the room and a golden hue over their damp skin.

Lucy pressed a slow, soft kiss to his temple, and Tim exhaled and sinking deeper into her embrace. “Mmmm…take me back to the island.” He sighed and Lucy brushed another kiss against his temple.

“No arguments here.” She murmured.

Things around them were—for lack of a better word—a disaster. Tim’s suspicions and subsequent scapegoating had exposed major corruption within the LAPD, sending shockwaves through the department with consequences they had barely begun to uncover.  that had reverberating effects that they hadn’t even yet scratched the surface of. The complexities of the scandal that went beyond even their wildest nightmares. Things were in shambles.

“You know...” Tim’s voice interrupted her thoughts, his hand still tracing patterns on her thigh, “I’ve been so caught up with everything…and you’ve been so incredible helping me navigate all this…I just…I haven’t asked…” He tilted his head back to look at her, face flushed from the hot water. “You’ve been through so much with the department. Since day one of your rookie year to now. Way more than most cops experience on the job. And now this. How are you feeling?”

Lucy’s hands stilled, her fingers momentarily gripping his shoulders as she cocked her head, considering his question. Wisps of damp hair had slipped loose from her messy bun that was piled high on her head, their ends curling slightly where they skimmed the water. She exhaled softly, lips parting as she prepared to answer, only to hesitate, searching for the right words.

“I…” she finally spoke quietly. “Is it wrong that at this point, the fact that there was corruption doesn’t faze me? I think…I already knew going into this job that I’d witness at least some version of it. Maybe through rumors. That some other cops would be the ones dealing with the fallout, but it’d be another precinct. A few people, you know?” She let out a dry chuckle, “I never expected that it would be so…so personal.”

Tim’s jaw tightened and he swallowed hard. “I’m sorry,” Tim said roughly, trying not to betray his emotions. The fact of the matter was, had he not been so fucked up in the first place, he wouldn’t have needed therapy. And then they never would’ve crossed paths with Blair London.

“No.” Lucy shook her head fiercely, her wet arms wrapping around him before he could pull away, “No, you do not apologize for this. You didn’t make her do those things. I hate that she betrayed you. I hate that she betrayed the department. But…” she let out a slow breath, her fingers pressing gently against his chest, “She helped you, Tim. She was a good therapist. At least in the beginning. And for that…I’ll always be a little grateful to her.”

Tim smiled slightly, because of course she’d still find some space for appreciation, despite the wreckage Dr. London had left behind in service of Monica. His fingers closed over hers, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. “But?”

Lucy’s expression hardened, her breath hitching before she spoke again. “I’m pissed. I’m just so damn mad that they’ve destroyed an already fragile reputation for the LAPD. Not just Dr. London. Not just Monica and whatever criminals they were rolling up to. But our own. Officers in our house. The people who swore the same oath we did. And now, we’re the ones left to pick up the pieces because they couldn’t uphold the badge.”

Her grip on him tightened, her voice rising in her fury, “And I’m pissed for you. That your vulnerabilities are no longer protected. That you were the only one who saw something was wrong, and you had to carry the weight of the scandal in the very beginning because no one else would. And the worst part?” She shook her head, “Not even a day back and you had yet another burden to carry even though it shouldn’t have been yours in the first place. But you do it because it’s who you are and you can’t even go to the very person that you should be able to because it’s her fault that we’re even in this mess and that just makes me so fucking MAD!”

The last word came out choked and rushed, almost a sob, her chest heaving with emotion.  Tim quickly twisted his body in the water, his skin slick against hers as he pulled her in, his good arm wrapping tightly around her. Water sloshed against the sides of the tub as Lucy’s shoulders shook with her sobs and Tim tried his best to comfort her. He didn’t say much, just let her get out everything she had bottled up while she helped him wade through his emotions. After a few moments, Lucy sniffled, leaning back against the tub, sighing heavily.

“Wow…I don’t think I even realized that I’d been holding onto that.”

“It’s been a rough few days,” Tim smiled grimly, “And you’ve been holding it together so I could fall apart, but there was no way all of this wasn’t affecting you too. So…I think it’s my turn to be whatever you need.”

“You already are,” she whispered, “Thank you.”

Tim kissed her temple soothingly, tugging on her arm a bit, “Come on. We should get out of here before we shrivel up.” Bracing himself on his good arm, he carefully pushed up from the water, mindful of his injured arm. As he stepped onto the stone mat, he offered his hand to Lucy a slightly disappointed look on his face.

“Stop it,” she softly chided slipping her hand into his as she rose, water streaming down her glistening skin. “You’ll be back to normal in no time and we can take another bath so you can carry me out then.”

Tim blinked in shock, “How did you--?”

“Come on,” Lucy rolled her eyes playfully, “I know you, babe. Anytime you get out of the tub first you have this innate caveman desire to pick me up.”

“That’s—” He paused, his mind playing out all the times they’ve taken baths before. Lucy stared back at him, grabbing the towel from him and wrapping it around herself before Tim could even form a rebuttal. The raised eyebrow and smirk tugging at her lips, told him she knew she was right.  

Tim huffed, shaking his head as he grabbed his own towel. “Alright, fine. Maybe I do. But…in my defense I like taking care of you.”

Lucy’s expression softened and she stepped closer, taking Tim’s towel from his hands, wrapping it around his waist. “I know. And I love that about you. I like taking care of you too.” As if to prove her point she secured it beneath his belly button.

Tim cupped her cheek, his thumb wiping away the last remnants of her tears and the bathwater. “I meant what I said you know. You’ve been my rock for so long. Let me be yours. Whatever you need…I’m here.”

She nodded, swallowing the lump that reformed in her throat. “I know,” she whispered.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they entered their bedroom and dried off, the weight of their emotions still lingering in the air but no longer as heavy. Tim reached for his clothes first, carefully slipping his shirt over his injured arm before letting out a small grunt of frustration. Lucy immediately stepped in, wordlessly helping him maneuver into it.

“I’m not sure I’m happy that you’ve gotten good at putting clothes on me,” he grumbled, watching her hands work.

Lucy raised a challenging brow, “Well I’m not sure I’m happy that the only reason I’ve gotten good at it, is because you keep putting yourself in harms way.”

“Fair enough,” his lips quirked up in amusement, “But in all fairness, it’s not like I asked to get hurt.”

“You’re ridiculous,” She chuckled, stepping back to finish pulling on her sleep shorts.

Kojo had retired to his bed when they retreated into the bathroom but perked up as soon as they slipped beneath the covers, hopping up and settling himself across their feet. Lucy snuggled into Tim’s side, her head on his chest, soothed by the steady sounds of his heartbeat. His hand skimmed lazily along the soft slip of skin between her sleep shorts and tank top.

Kojo let out a soft huffed sigh in contentment, stretching before settling in again, his warmth a comforting presence at their feet. Lucy shifted slightly, pressing closer, humming in contentment, and Tim responded instinctively, his arm tightening around her. He was trying to relax, but his mind was whirling again, playing out the events of the last few days. Trying to figure out where things went from here.

He’d need to connect with Sergeant Grey and figure out what came next. He was the one to uncover the conspiracy that ended the careers of many of his peers. He was going to be expected to be a leader now and that reality had him contemplating his responsibilities, both professional and personal. The weight of it all settled on his chest, but instead of shoving it down, he let himself feel it. That weight was what made him find the courage to say his next words.

“I um…” Tim started then faltered. Lucy turned, resting her chin on his chest, giving him her full attention. He took a breath and pressed on, “I’ve been thinking…about what happened over the past few days—few weeks. And I…I think—I want to find a new therapist.”

Lucy blinked in surprise, “You do?”

“Yeah,” Tim shrugged, fingers resuming their trail on her back, “I mean…it was helping. I don’t want to go back to before. And as much as I love you…as supportive as you are…it’s not fair to you—or me—that I don’t at least try. Because if I don’t…my shit will inevitably land on you. And that’s not fair to either of us.”

“Tim that’s…” Lucy trailed off, searching for the right words.

“Not what you were expecting?” He grinned, raising his eyebrow.

“Not in the slightest,” she admitted with a small sheepish smile. Then her expression turned serious, her fingers curling against his shirt. “But I’m so proud of you, babe. You could’ve easily let everything tarnish your view of the profession.”

“Yeah well…” he smiled softly, “you said it yourself…she wasn’t all bad til everything went to shit.” He hesitated, then added, “But maybe…maybe you can help me find someone this time around? Someone not connected to the department at all.”

Lucy exhaled, warmth filling her chest, “Of course I will. I can…I can ask my therapist for some recommendations if you like. I’ll definitely be seeing her this week.”

“Thanks,” he nodded in appreciation, the tension in his chest easing a bit.

Lucy pressed a gentle kiss to his chest, her voice a quiet reverence in the dim light. “I mean it, Tim. I’m so proud of you. For choosing to fight for yourself. For your future.”

“Our future,” he corrected, and Lucy nodded.

“Yes, our future, but you’re putting yourself first to secure that future. And that’s…that’s everything.”

Tim and Lucy walked up the stone pathway to the Grey’s front door a few days later, curiosity buzzing between them. They’d spent their two days off catching up on Top Chef and then with Tamara and Genny, both of whom what plenty to say about Tim’s seemingly endless ability to get himself hurt. Fortunately, this time around, the injuries were mostly superficial, and the sling was more of a precaution to prevent his shoulder from getting worse.

Then last night Grey had called Tim asking if he and Lucy were available for brunch the next morning. The invitation had been unexpected, but they’d readily agreed, assuming the Grey’s were hosting one of their now regular get-togethers. But as they pulled up early that afternoon, the absence of the others’ cars outside made them exchange a glance.

“Are we the first one’s here or something?” Lucy asked curiously.

Tim shrugged, ringing the bell, “You’re guess is as good as mine. I didn’t really ask question.” Before Lucy could respond, the door swung open and Luna greeted them cheerfully.

“Hey you two! Glad you could make it! Come on in!”

“Hey Luna,” Tim replied, stepping over the threshold with Lucy, allowing her to greet Luna with a hug before leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Wade’s just out back.” Luna pointed to the doors out to their patio, “He got this new griddle that he’s been dying to test breakfast out on. I’ve got the frittata ready, but he’s making bacon and sausage out there. Might even have some hash browns on there too.”

“Clearly, that’s my cue.” Tim smirked, holding out a bottle of brut. “Is there anything I can bring outside?”

Luna smirked gesturing towards the bottle, “Actually you can take that and head right outside. There’s already a pitcher of some orange juice and some glasses for us. Lucy, if you can help me bring a few things from the kitchen? We should be ready to eat soon.”

Lucy and Tim both nodded, parting ways to their assigned tasks.

Tim stepped through the sliding doors, finding Grey at the griddle, a spatula in hand, flipping golden-brown hash browns alongside sizzling bacon with a grin on his face like he’d discovered his favorite toy.

“So you got yourself a Blackstone, huh? Couldn’t resist getting upstaged by Silvers,” Tim commented, setting the bottle on the nearby table.

Grey shot him a grin. “There was no way I was letting him have the better grilling gadgets. But he got the 28 inch. This right here is a 36 inch fuel efficient griddle with a hood, might I add.” Grey boasted puffing his chest with pride, “Their top of the line. No way Silvers can top, that.”

Tim fought to contain his laughter at how petty his boss was being, “Am I to foresee a Mid Wilshire BBQ in the near future, just to stick it to him?”

“I don’t know what your talking about,” Grey said innocently, “The Mid Wilshire BBQ comes around every year.”

Tim just grinned, heading back over to the table to grab the sparkling wine, setting to work on opening the bottle as Grey set the finished bacon and sausages aside to drain.

“So how have you and Lucy been? You two have had a hell of a year. A ton of change…a ton of…”

“You can say trauma,” Tim interjected plainly, “This year has been chocked full of it. Might as well call it what it is.”

“Yeah well…” Grey cleared his throat, “I’ve—we’ve—been worried about you two. Not your marriage—from what I can tell what you two have rivals my own marriage. But…as your friends—family, I’d like to think—we just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“We are…” Tim nodded and Grey looked at him skeptically, “Honestly. I’m not going to tell you things have been easy by any means. But…we’re getting through it.”

“Good…” Grey sharply slid the spatula underneath the hashbrowns, lifting and depositing them onto the platter next to him. “I know you two have a slew of people looking in on you, between your sister and Tamara…the Grahams and Angela’s mother.” Grey’s brow furrowed and he clapped a hand on Tim’s shoulder, his expression serious, “But…you know if you need anything—either of you—you can come to us, right? On the job, off the job, doesn’t matter.”

Grey gave him a pointed look, and emotion swelled in Tim’s chest. He had known Grey for fifteen years, his mentor from the moment he set foot in Mid-Wilshire, the one who had guided him through the ranks and, in time, had done the same for Lucy. After Jackson’s death, Grey had become even more protective of their tight-knit group, but especially of Tim and Lucy, often blurring the line between boss, mentor, and something closer to a father figure. This was one of those times.

“We know.” Tim swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled appreciatively, “We will. Thanks, Grey.”

Meanwhile, inside, Lucy followed Luna into the kitchen, the warmth of the sun filtering through the windows.

“Are we the only ones coming?” Lucy asked, watching as Luna uncovered the frittata, revealing the vibrant colors of asparagus and spinach peeking out of the bright yellow eggs.

Luna nodded handing Lucy the full coffee pot and gesturing to the empty carafe for Lucy to fill, as she turned back to pop the last few berries on to the top of the fruit salad. “Mmm…yes. For a couple of reasons. The first one being…we just wanted to see how you two were. No pressure of the walls of the station. Especially given everything that’s gone on for the past few days. He’ll never say it, but…Wade was really worried about Tim. About both of you. This…this one was definitely a lot. And on top of everything else you guys have gone through this year. We just wanted to check in. Really check in, and make sure you were alright.”

Lucy smiled, feeling a wave of affection for the paternal energy the Grey’s brought to their little found family. In many ways she felt more cared for by the Wade and Luna Grey in the few short years that she’d known them, than she ever did by her own parents. She definitely knew the same rang true for Tim.

“Thanks Luna. We’re doing okay. This hit was…hard. And this year was…a lot. But…we’re getting through it,” she said gratefully.

“If you two need anything…you don’t hesitate, okay? I should’ve said something sooner—” Luna started, guilt clearly evident in her tone.

Lucy stopped her, “No…no…we just appreciate that you two look out for us. Especially with everything that’s going on. It can’t be easy for you either.”

“It’s not,” Luna says matter of factly, tucking a serving spoon into the fruit salad and placing her hands on Lucy’s shoulders, “But…we’ve had years of practice. And it helps that my husband isn’t out on the streets every day. The type of danger you both are in on a daily basis…it can be hard on any relationship. We know you have a good support system but…we just wanted to make sure you knew that you could lean on us.”

“We know.” Lucy sends her a grateful smile, “We do. And if we ever feel like we’re in over our heads…we’ll take you up on that.”

“Good.” Luna smiles dropping her hands and turning to pick up the frittata. “Now, grab the coffee, and this fruit salad if you’re feeling adventurous and lets see if my husband managed not to burn breakfast. Lucy chuckled, picking up the two items and followed Luna out the door to the patio.

Soon after, the two couples were seated around the Greys’ teak patio dining table, their plates filled with selections from the delicious spread. Tim had taken the time to pour each of them a mimosa and a steaming cup of coffee, ensuring everyone was settled before joining the conversation. Laughter rang through the yard, mingling with the gentle clink of silverware against plates and the soft thud of glasses being set back down on the table. The atmosphere was easy, comforting—familial.

As the laughter gradually faded after Tim and Lucy regaled them with the story of their honeymoon kayak race, excluding the terms of course, though the older couple exchanged knowing glances as they glossed over those details.

 The last few chuckles tapered off into quiet smiles and Grey saw his opening, setting down his coffee mug with a soft thud, his more serious expression shifting the mood at the table. He exchanged a brief glance with his wife before turning his attention back to the couple across from him.

“There’s something else I wanted to talk with you about,” he started, eyes darting between Lucy and Tim.

“I knew there had to be a reason you didn’t invite everyone else today,” Lucy grinned.

“Yeah um,” Grey frowned, “Listen with the fallout of everything with the department, we are going to be seriously shorthanded for a while. Honestly, there’s no telling how long it’s going to take to rebuild and restaff.”

The younger couple nodded and Grey took another breath, “That being said…I’ve been promoted to Lieutenant, effective immediately.”

Tim and Lucy’s eyes lit up, “Are you serious? That’s great news! And long overdue if you ask me.” Tim said enthusiastically.

“Congratulations, sir. We’re so happy for you.” Lucy said sincerely, but Grey waved off their praise.

“It’s not the way I would have liked to get this position, but that’s not the reason I wanted to speak with you both. First…Tim, I know you’re Metro now, but I might need you to step up on patrol for a while. It’ll be leading more roll calls, stepping in more and more if I’m called in for other things with the brass. I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be. But, I—”

“Sir, it’s fine,” Tim interrupted, exchanging a glance with Lucy, “Actually, I uh…I was going to talk to you about this when I got back to work, but…I’ve been thinking, especially in light of recent events and…I think I’d like to come back to patrol…permanently.”

Grey furrowed his brow, “You don’t want to go back to Metro? You loved it over there.”

“I did,” Tim agreed, taking Lucy’s hand that rested on top of the table, “Metro was a perfect bridge to the tactical work that I love, but…the risks are too high. Granted…patrol is unpredictable too, but considering what we want for the future…it’s the right decision. Plus I’d rather Pine know now while she’s in rebuild mode.”

“Fair enough,” Grey nodded.

“Does that mean you’re planning on adding to the little feet we’ve got in our little crew?” Luna asked, pursing her lips in interest.

“Not yet,” Lucy huffed out a laugh, “No, I’d like to figure out exactly what’s next for me before we have kids.”

“Well that is a perfect segue into what I wanted to discuss next,” Grey chimed in, “We’re going to have two new rookies starting when Nolan returns from his leave, and you are the only available T.O., Tim. I’m going to need to assign one of them to you.”

“Of course, sir. Whatever you need. Though you’re ruining my ability to tell this one that she’s my last and best.” Tim lifted their joined hands, earning a playful jab in the side from her free one.

“As long as you never forget I’m your best, it’s forgiven.” Lucy quipped, smirking as Tim kissed her knuckle.

“Alright, alright, we get it.” Grey said with an exaggerated eye roll. “Now my last request—and thank you Tim—is actually for you, Lucy.”

“Me?” Lucy blinked in surprise.

“Yes,” Grey nodded, “I used my new rank, pull some strings, and got you an interim promotion to P3. You’d be my other training officer on the roster”

Lucy’s eyes widened. “Wow, I—can you do that?”

“Of course I can do it.” Grey confirmed. “You’d take on Celina until Nolan comes back and then transition to one of the new rookies when they start. It’d be temporary, just until Nolan is done training Celina, but it gives you a chance to further explore your options. Plus, it only strengthens your position for whatever comes next, whether that’s detective or something else.”

Lucy glanced at Tim, who looked just as intrigued, “I-I'm honored you asked, but can we do that?” She gestured between Tim and herself.

“In light of recent events, both of your unblemished records, and the fact that you’ve maintained one of the strongest partnerships both pre- and post-relationship, the captain and IA have signed off. Since this is a temporary solution in light of the bigger departmental issues, and that neither of you will be officially working together, it’s been approved.”

“Oh—wow. Really?” Lucy breathed, momentarily stunned by the effort Grey had put into making this happen.

“Yes,” Grey gave a small, knowing smile. “You both will report directly to me.”

“Well alright then.” Tim said grinning, “Good choice.”

“Thank you so much, sir. I won’t let you down.” Lucy said, her voice filled with gratitude.

“I know you won't.” Grey said, his voice full of confidence.

“Well, I think a toast is in order then!” Luna said, holding up her glass, the other following suit. “To Mid Wilshire’s newest Training Officer.”

“I’ll certainly drink to that,” Tim added, leaning forward to clink glasses with everyone. “Congratulations, babe.”

Lucy’s blushed deepened as she clinked her glass, “Thanks you guys.”

Chapter Text

“So did you read the new rookie files?” Lucy asked eagerly, bouncing slightly on her toes as Tim poured himself a cup of coffee in the break room.

She had been acting as Celina’s T.O. for the past few weeks and it was a good crash course in learning the ins and outs of being a training officer as well as beginning to hone her own style.

But today was her first day with her own rookie. She’d arrived earlier and separately from Tim just to get a head start.

“Nah, not yet,” Tim said, handing her a coffee just the way she liked it. “All I know is their names are Ridley and Penn. Going to go give ‘em a taste of Bradford…see how they react. That’ll tell me a lot about what I’ll need to know when training them.”  He took a sip of his own. “I like forming an unbiased first impression. I’ll read up after that.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “So what you’re really saying is…go scare the shit out of them and then decide which one is worth your time?”

Tim shrugged, “It’s the most effective way to see how you’ve gotta mold ‘em. If you’d rather go in blind and trust the paperwork, be my guest. But just so you know…if you want any pointers, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Where was this offer when I had Celina?” Lucy asked incredulously.

“I didn’t want to say anything while you were training Juarez because…” Tim sighed, rolling his eyes as he reluctantly continued, “As much as it pains me to say it…Nolan’s actually doing a decent job with her. She’s nearing the end of her training. She doesn’t need nearly as much guidance as the early days. But a fresh rookie? Totally different ballgame. So…I offer my expertise should you want it.”

“Well, thank you. And I’ll be sure to tell Nolan you think he’s a good T.O.” Lucy smirked.

Tim groaned. “Great.”

“But just so you know,” she continued with a mischievous smile, “I'm very familiar with your bag of tricks. I'll be using a more modern approach to train my rookie.”

“What? Cut the crust off his sandwiches, making them feel supported?” He set his mug in the sink with a dramatic sigh. “That’s more suited for our kids. Not our rookies.”

She handed him her empty mug, unfazed, “My job is to set my rookie up for success, not push them to failure.”

“Care to put your money where your mouth is?” He leaned against the counter, eyes glinting. He let the pause hang for a moment, then added with a grin, “Mmm…Or other things…”

Lucy narrowed her eyes. “A bet? On what? Who trains a better rookie? Please. That's so—” She turned to leave the break room.

He watched her go, fighting a smile. He knew his wife. She couldn’t resist a bet. She’d be turning back around in approximately three…two…

“What exactly would the terms of the bet be?” Lucy spun back around, hands on her hips.

Hook, line, sinker.

Tim was already prepared. “Whose rookie's best-trained after a month. Most successes, fewest infractions, each day's reports independently verified.” He tilted his head sympathetically. “But hey, I understand if you want no part of it. I mean, I'm a veteran, you're a rookie TO. It's not really a fair contest.”

“You didn’t say what the winner gets.” She crossed her arms, unimpressed.

He leaned in, eyes darkening with a little heat. “I was thinking…same terms as the honeymoon.” Tim suggested.

“Oh, were doing that again?” she murmured seductively, stepping closer to him. “Then let’s raise the stakes.

“What do you have in mind?” He raised a brow.

“The loser,” she dropped her voice to a near whisper, standing close enough for him to feel her breath, “Spends a week pleasuring the winner. However—and whenever—the winner wants. Catch is…there’s no reciprocation and no release for the loser. Just…full-time service.”

Tim’s mouth twitched into a smirk, feeling confident in his ability to win this bet. “You sure about this?”

“Oh I’m sure.” She said, her eyes locked on his. “In fact, I’m counting on it. Because when I win…I plan to make the most of every second of my winnings.”

Tim let out a low groan, barely resisting the urge to close the gap and kiss her right then.

Of course, someone interrupted them. Loudly.

“Good morning lovebirds! Did you get in so early that you think you’re still at home?” Angela strolled in, Harper right behind her. Tim groaned lifting his head, closing his eyes in exasperation but took his time stepping back from Lucy.

“Did you need something, Ange?” He said sourly.

Angela smirked, “This is where the coffee lives, isn’t it? You know, weren’t you two the ones to message the group chat and tell us that you’re keeping your marriage under wraps because of your rookies?”

“Yeah, you might wanna work on not looking like you’re about to go at it on the counter if you want to keep your rookies in the dark.” Nyla added, handing Angela a mug to fill. “Gotta say though, I’m surprised, you’re usually really good at maintaining professional boundaries on shift.”

“Seriously, what did you not get any this morning?”  Angela asked, “We know all about your affinity for morning exercise.”

Lucy coughed. “Okay! Tim and I were just discussing something. And now we are moving on. Professional hats on.”

“Yeah and you’d do well to remember that.” Tim added.

“So would you, Timothy.” Angela shot back and he rolled his eyes.

“Anyway,” Nyla interrupted, not wanting the two best friends to get started on one of their bantering sessions. “How does it feel to officially be taking on your own rookie, Lucy?”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Lucy replied with a smile, “You know training Celina while Nolan was out, was good practice.”

“Well if you need another perspective, you know you can always come to one of us.” Nyla offered, gesturing between Angela and her.

“Thanks, I might take you up on that.” Lucy said appreciatively.

“So…tell me…” Angela directed towards Tim, mischief in her voice, “You gonna let her call you boot now that she’s a T.O.”

Tim thanked the universe for finishing his coffee because he would’ve choked on it.  “She’s a rookie T.O. so…”

Lucy’s giggles quickly died out giving way to an exasperated, “Tim!”  that was paired with a swat to his chest.

“Just sayin’” He smirked shrugging unapologetically.

“Alright, well if you want to have any chance to get your ‘unbiased first impression’ of the newbies, you better get a move on.” Lucy poked him gently in the chest and Tim grabbed her finger.

“You sure you wanna start our bet off with paperwork?” He quirked an eyebrow.

“I think you have your ways, I have mine.” She leans in flirtatiously, “May the best T.O. win.”

“I don’t even want to know what this bet entails,” Nyla said, her face warring between disgust and amusement as the four friends left the break room. Tim broke off from them, heading towards the locker rooms to ‘greet’ the new rookies. Lucy watched him walk away, appreciating the view.

“You really don’t.” Lucy said absentmindedly, then caught herself, “I better go get their profiles from Grey.”

“Mhmm…” Nyla side eyed her.

“You do that,” Angela smirked as Lucy walked away, then turned to her partner and friend. “You wanna watch them meet their rookies for the first time?”

“Oh you know it. We should also get the pool started because there is no way these two are going to be able to hide their relationship.”

Lucy balanced the tray carefully as she stepped out onto the patio. Small bowls filled with brightly colored toppings—chopped onion, pico de gallo, cilantro, sliced limes and a few other ingredients—created an enticing spread on the table as she set them down. Tim stood at the grill, finishing off the proteins: shrimp for Lucy, steak for himself.  A stack of tortillas rested nearby beneath a towel, waiting for their turn on the fire. Soft music drifted through the outdoor speakers, a slow, sultry beat that perfectly set the mood for the evening.

Ducking into the outdoor refrigerator, Lucy grabbed two beers, using the opener to pry off the tops. Making her way over to Tim, she placed one onto the counter, taking a swig from her own before setting it down. She slid her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath his shirt as he plated the meat and fish before turning to the tortillas. He hummed in contentment as she scratched her fingers across his abs, while he flipped the tortillas.

“You gonna be a barnacle all night?” He asked, a smirk in his voice, “Not that I’m complaining.”

“It’s not everyday that your husband volunteers to run head on into a damn nuke.” Lucy says against his back. “Do that again and a nuke will be the least of your problems.”

She felt the vibrations of his chuckle against her cheek as he runs a free hand along her forearm. “I promise I will not make a habit of it.”

“Better not,” she mumbled, reaching over to grab her beer and taking another sip.

“These are almost done,” he said quietly, lacing their fingers together and raising their joined hands to press a kiss against her knuckles. They’d had an unspoken agreement not to delve into their rookies until they’d both settled for the evening. It was new territory for them, training rookies together and Lucy’s first time training a newbie. This kind of transition warranted a conversation that was focused, not fleeting jibes throughout the day in service of their bet…as fun as those were.

He plated up the last of the tortillas, covering them with a towel he’d warmed in a dish before picking up both platters of food. Lucy released him from her hold, grabbing their drinks and heading to the table.

“So…” Tim started, sliding a couple tortillas onto each plate and adding some the grilled meat and shrimp. “I heard your guy puked all over a crime scene.”

He smirked as Lucy’s jaw dropped as she dropped some pico de gallo onto the shrimp. “Are you kidding me? Well at least he didn't light his duty manual on fire and throw it out the window. Shoot out the tires?”

Tim held up his hands in mock defense. “He's a little rough around the edges, but it's day one. I'll get him under control.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow, “Likewise.” She took a bite of her taco, chewing thoughtfully. “In all seriousness though…I have a new appreciation for what you go through as a training officer. I mean…having to help someone navigate their own personal issues while trying to ensure you’re teaching them…and then correcting their mistakes, while still having each other’s backs…”

Tim frowned as he chewed, not liking what he was hearing. “Did something else happen?”

“No,” she shook her head. “No nothing like that. I just…after everything happened, I had to address it. And so he’s telling me this story about a girlfriend who OD’d when he was in high school and he had to give her mouth to mouth, but there was vomit in her mouth—” She cut herself off and Tim set his own food down for a moment.

“As much as I’m going to craft my own style to train Ridley, I—I’m not going to lie I was frustrated today. That shouldn’t’ve happened. He’s gotta check his personal life at the door.” Lucy looked up as she took a bite at the end of her sentence to see Tim smirking at her.

“What?” She asked through a mouthful, but Tim didn’t say anything, just continued to smirk. “What?”

“Oh nothing,” he sing-songed, sighing contentedly as he picked up his taco again. “I just love knowing that I was right.”

“What are you talking about?” She swallowed harshly, washing her food down with a sip of her beer.

“The fact that personal talk has no place in the shop.” He grinned. “I knew there would be a day where you finally admitted it.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say that. All I mean is that there’s a time and a place. And if he can’t compartmentalize, it’s a problem. You and I both know that we talk personal life in the shop all the time. Even back when I was a rookie. We’ve been talking about our personal lives since early on.”

Tim couldn’t really argue with that one. The truth of the matter was, his personal life was thrust in Lucy’s face since day one and she took it all in stride. They both figured out how to strike a balance of when to talk personal and when to snap into focus. Now they did it so effortlessly and without needing to comment, that Angela started making fun of them for having telepathy.

“Touche,” he replied, sipping his own drink and wiping his mouth.  

“How’s Texas doing?” Lucy asked him.

“You mean aside from the insane comment and having the audacity to hit on my wife?” He shot back.

Lucy giggled, “He doesn’t know that Tim.”

“It was still highly inappropriate. You could’ve been his T.O. He needs to learn to show some respect.”

“Ok no arguments there. But otherwise, how’d he do?”

Tim shrugged, “He’s cocky as hell. Too cocky. Doesn’t think before he acts. I need to reel him back in. I wasn’t lying when I said I’d rather get the virgin. Scare tactics work on him. Texas…he’s gotta unlearn a lot.”

“But…?” Lucy probed, hearing that there was more beneath the surface.

“He’s…not as bad as I thought he was going to be.” Tim said reluctantly, “Not as good of a start as my last rookie though.”

A few days later…

The sun streamed through the openings of the tree-lined path winding through the park, the air still crisp from the early morning. Older couples passed by on their morning walk—eager to get ahead of the heat of the day, dogs tugged their owners towards other dogs as they passed, and the occasional cyclist zipped by.

Miles, Seth and Celina jogged side by side, their feet crunching the gravel in sync, their breath coming in bursts between their chatter. Other joggers sent annoyed glances towards them, envious of their ability to talk through their run.

“Dude I still can’t believe you’re living with Smitty,” Seth said between pants, chuckling as they slowed to take a quick water break at a shaded bench.

“Hey, I’m not living with Smitty. I’m living near Smitty.” Miles corrected, lifting his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow, exposing his chiseled abs that Seth couldn’t help but envy every time he saw them. “And it’s not like I had a choice. I don’t know what I’d even do if Tim bounced me…I underestimated how expensive things are here. And the last thing I was going to do was go back to Texas.”

“Yeah well, hopefully it’s only a matter of time before you find a more permanent solution.” Celina said, placing one foot on the bench, and lunging into a stretch. “I mean, you can always crash on our couch from time to time if Sangri-La gets to be too much. I gotta check with Tamara, but I’m sure it’ll be fine as long as I’m home or don’t have a guest.”

“I appreciate that,” Miles said gratefully.

Seth looked over curiously as he took a long sip from his hydro pack. “You said guest…are you seeing someone? I was under the impression that dating is a challenge during your rookie year.”

“It is…” Celina said, grabbing her own water bottle from her belt and taking a sip. She started walking again and the others fell into step, flanking her on either side. “Best advice I can give you if you are thinking about relationships during your rookie year is…keep it casual. Rookies don’t get vacation. And we’re the first to be called in for overtime. The money’s nice. But it doesn’t leave much room for a fulfilling relationship.”

“That’s…slightly depressing.” Seth looked a little deflated, “They definitely don’t tell you about that in the academy.”

“It’s only a little over a year in the grand scheme of things,” Celina attempted to reassure them. “We’re young, this is the time to focus on our careers. Once we make it through probation we can start thinking about ‘the one.’ And hey, if you meet someone who sticks around through your rookie year? That’s probably someone worth holding on to. But I learned early on that most people don’t know how to be in a relationship with a cop.”

Miles raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Is that particular advice unique to Mid Wilshire? I don’t recall relationship advice being a part of the academy curriculum.”

Celina shrugged, “That was given freely during my first few months. I don’t know what other stations do, but the little crew at Mid Wilshire is good for some unsolicited advice.”

“What’s up with that anyway?” Seth probed, “They’re kind cliquey, right? Chen, Bradford, Nolan, Harper, Lopez…always grouped up. It’s like high school all over again.”

“They’ve been through a lot together.” Celina explained, securing her water bottle back onto her belt “Nolan and Chen were rookies together. Lopez and Bradford were too. Then Bradford, Harper and Lopez were T.O.’s together, so it was only natural that they got close.”

She deliberately left out who Nolan and Lucy had as training officers. It good would come from letting that slip and she did not want to be on the receiving end of Tim or Lucy’s wrath if she accidentally revealed their relationship.  

“Well you still never answered the question though…” Miles asked, looping them back around to the original question and throwing her a teasing glance. “Do you have someone…casual?”

“Why?” Celina smirked, “Interested?”

“No, not at all,” Miles chuckled nervously, his southern accent softening the blow. “Though I’d sure count myself lucky if you ever did decide to give me the time of day…”

Celina grinned at his natural charm, sitting back in her seat. “Don’t worry…I’m not interested either. It’s all good.  Let’s just say I’ve got…options.”

“Well…what about the others?” Seth asked, switching gears and Celina groaned internally. Keeping Tim and Lucy’s relationship a secret was going to drive her insane and it’s only been a few days.

“They’re not rookies,” he continued. “I mean…I know Officer Nolan’s married since he’s been looking for his wife’s ex-husband, which is honestly confusing. And Detective Harper is married to the community activist guy, right? Which…based on her demeanor…”

Celina just laughed, shaking her head, grateful for the breeze picking up behind them that would hopefully propel them to the end of their run much quicker. “Let’s finish this run before you start speculating about precinct relationship gossip. You’re going to trip over a conspiracy theory that’s most likely not going to end well.”

They jogged for a few minutes, the silence stretching between the three of them. Seth was focused on just making it through their run, his breathing heavy and a bit unsteady. Celina was at ease, enjoying the calm the sounds of the early morning, taking in their surroundings as the city slowly began to come to life. But Miles remained more pensive.

Only Seth knew he had a girlfriend back home—his high school sweetheart, the girl who stood by him though the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The girl who always saw the good in him, even when he couldn’t see it himself. He loved her. God, he loved her. He’d moved out to Los Angeles for a fresh start. To become someone worthy of the life they’d imagined together before he blew it all away with one reckless decision. A new man. A better man.

But Celina’s words left him feeling…unsettled. They’d talked nightly since he moved away. But as he changed…questions began brewing in his mind that he was nowhere near ready to answer. Doubts had started to creep in that he hurried to bury deep enough to forget. He already felt himself changing, pushed by Tim’s relentless, but fair teaching. He was moving forward, but Camilla…was still Camilla. Steady. Sure. Loyal. Kind. But she didn’t have the same desire to do something more. He’d been in more danger in the week he’d been a cop in LA than the entire two years as a cop back in Texas. He wasn’t going to be the same Miles when she moved here. What would that mean for them?

“So…Now that you guys have been rookies for a few days…” Celina’s voice broke gently into his thoughts. “How are things going?”

Miles blinked, the question catching him off guard. He glanced over at her, then forward again, focusing on the path ahead and letting Seth answer first.

“Man,” Seth panted, pulling his shirt away from his body. “It’s…harder than I could’ve imagined. Officer Chen is…well, she doesn’t come at you as hard as Sergeant Bradford, so I thought I had it easy. But…she’s tough. She expects you to know the answers, doesn’t always spell it out. Makes you think for yourself, which is great, but at the same time…just when I think I’m doing something right, she makes me think about what I did wrong. I never know if I’m on the right track. And it’s terrifying.”

Celina chuckled as they slowed their pace to a walk, reaching the end of their run. She knew exactly why Lucy’s teaching style is the way it is. It has everything to do with who she is. And it has everything to do with who her training officer was. “She trained me for a few weeks while Nolan was out. I was obviously farther along than my training than you, but it was a great experience. And everything you said is true. You’ll learn a lot from her.”

 “I’m realizing that.” Seth nodded, then turned to look at Miles, “What about you? We haven’t really compared notes much yet.”

Miles sighed as he stretched. “Sergeant Bradford is everything that they warned us about at the academy. A hardass, no doubt. Tough as nails and won’t let up for a second. The man acts like he was born wearin’ the badge and ain’t taken it off since.”

“But?” Celina sensed something more to what he was saying.

“But…” Miles hesitated a moment, “When he found me in my car…he knew stuff. Stuff about my past. Things that got me here. Sacred the livin’ daylights outta me that he was gonna wash me out. He’s intense.”

“He is. But at least he gave you a chance.” Celina said diplomatically, sitting on top of a picnic table.

“Listen,” She continued, “I only rode with Sergeant Bradford a couple of times and the first time, I was terrified. It was during a heatwave and I couldn’t reach my mother, but Sergeant Grey had me running point and coordinating with other stations so didn’t think I could leave. Bradford reminded me that one of the most important things was to check the vulnerable and then with me to check on my mother. Even set up a generator for her and learned the names of her pet birds.”

Celina grinned internally, Tim was gonna kill her, but she was keeping his secret so he’d have to suck it up. After all, Alison was one of her “casual someone’s” which meant she knew way more about Tim and Lucy than even they knew.

“Excuse me?” Seth choked on his water, “Sergeant Tim Bradford learned bird names? He seems more like a dog guy. Or maybe a wolf.”

Celina snorted. “Look he may be a hardass or whatever. But Bradford is an exceptional cop who has the respect of every cop at Mid Wilshire. There’s a reason he continues to be tapped to train cops. Chen might not have been there as long, but she is just as respected. You two should consider yourselves lucky and soak up every bit of what they teach you.”

“You sound like you wish one of them trained you.” Seth observed.

“Oh no,” she chuckled, “They’re great cops, but you are right as hell when you say Bradford’s intense. Chen can be just as intense, you just haven’t seen it yet. Nolan is more of a coach. I’ll stick with him thank you very much. I’m just saying…you’re gonna learn. And it’ll be worth it if you make it.”

“You know you really need to work on your pep talks.” Miles said with a grimace, “I’m not sure if they’re comforting.”

Chapter Text

"Ali?" Tim was puzzled seeing their friend in the station that morning as he headed towards the roll call room.

"Surprise, Bradford." She grinned, spinning around. "Happy to see me?"

Tim rolled his eyes. "I'll let Lucy be the one to answer that."

Alison's jaw dropped, and she clutched her chest. "Ugh! You wound me! Where is your better half anyway?"

Tim glared at her, "You were in the group chat. Watch your words."

"Please," She rolled her eyes. "I'd be saying that regardless of the circumstances."

"You. Are. A. Menace."

Alison smiled sweetly as they walked through the door. "And don't you forget it, handsome."

"Ali!" Lucy's voice rang sweetly behind them, both in surprise and happiness. She held two travel cups of coffee, which she handed to Tim so that Alison could hug her. "What are you doing here?"

Alison didn't get a chance to answer because Lieutenant Grey stepped into the room, his voice booming off the glass walls. "Alright, settle down! Settle down!" Nyla and Angela followed close behind.

"This will be quick," Grey said, cutting straight to it as usual. "We have a new detective joining the ranks."

Alison moved to stand beside him. "This is Detective Alison Ponds. Some of you might remember her from the rolling meth lab case."

A few hoots and hollers came from their fellow officers, including Lucy. Tim rolled his eyes as Alison smirked at them, her hands innocently crossed behind her back. "She's joining us from North Hollywood and will be shadowing Harper and Lopez for a few weeks to get onboarded and learn how we do things here."

Grey turned slightly, giving Alison a nod to speak if she wanted to, but Tim cut in first.

"You sure you wanna do that, sir? I know for a fact Ponds is a menace."

Lucy smacked him on the arm, then winced and hissed when her fingers hit the edge of his vest, sending a sharp zing up her hand.

"Only when it comes to you, Bradford." Alison shot back. Angela, Lucy, and Nyla all laughed.

"Oh, I like her," Miles murmured to Seth out of the side of his mouth.

Grey rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'children.'  Then, louder, "Regardless of Sergeant Bradford's personal feelings," he said pointedly, "I expect you all to make her feel welcome. Dismissed."

"Go set up the shop, boot," Tim instructed, and Miles nodded, hurrying out.

Seth hesitated, and Lucy looked at him questioningly, slightly annoyed. She was getting tired of his attitude and excuses. "What is it, Ridley?" she asked shortly. The team lingered, watching the exchange.

"Ma'am…can I…talk to you before we head out on patrol?"

Lucy sighed, already drained by whatever Seth wanted to talk about. The fact of the matter was that he was on the thinnest ice. It was barely a week in, and already, he'd puked on a crime scene, been late to roll call, and lost a suspect.

"Go set up the shop while I finish up here. We can talk then, " she said dismissively, and Seth nodded, giving everyone a tight smile before leaving the room.

"You remember what I told you, right Chen?" Grey asked seriously, and Lucy's mind flashed back to his office.

If you ever start to think he might be a liability…I need you to let me know right away.

"Yes, sir." She replied quickly.

"Now," Grey's tone hardened, and he folded his arms, turning his stern gaze on Lucy and Tim. "It's come to my attention that you two are betting on your rookies."

Lucy and Tim froze like deer in headlights, scrambling to explain at once. "Sir, I—"

"To be clear, we didn't put any money on it," Tim said matter of factly.

Grey leveled him with a look that made him feel like he was 10 years old again, and Tim deflated. "Which is not the point."

"I know competition is a motivator for you two to deliver your best work—or to scratch some weird itch that I want to know nothing about…" He started.

"Wait till you hear the terms." Angela quipped, and Tim shot her a glare.

"Oh, do tell," Alison said, crossing her arms and wiggling her eyebrows.

Grey glared at the two detectives, who quickly sobered before returning to his T.O.s. "I do not care about the terms. Especially not about you two. Look, we all know the City of Los Angeles has invested a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money in each of these rookies. Things are not the same as they used to be, and you both know it. We are under a microscope now. So, this ends today."

"Yes, sir." The two replied in unison.

"Now, go," Grey dismissed them, waving them off and muttering under his breath as he gathered his folder from the podium.

"And you had the nerve to call me the menace, Bradford?" Alison said mockingly, "What did I even sign up for?"

"Please, you were just itching to get over here. You know you missed all of us since Foster left you high and dry for deep cover," Tim shot back.

"Don't listen to him." Lucy rolled her eyes, moving past Tim to hug her. "We're so excited you're here!" 

"So what's this bet you've got going on, hmm?" Alison raised a brow when Lucy pulled back. "If it's you two, I can only imagine its gotta be…interesting." Everyone could hear the underlying 'kinky.'

"Oh, it is." Angela chimed in. "You know it is. Nyla and I witnessed the aftermath of the terms. Let's just say I still don't understand how their boots are clueless."

Tim rolled his eyes at their friends who lived to give them shit. "Because we, unlike you, know how to keep it professional around each other. And now…we need to go swap our boots."

He turned to walk towards the bay, Lucy shooting them an apologetic look as she followed. "Ali! If you have time, let's grab lunch at the food trucks today!"

She waved back, "Absolutely. Be safe out there, you two!" Turning back to the other two detectives, she said, "They do know how much of a crock of shit that is?"

"We just ignore it—or give them shit—at the end of the day, they're always in denial about something. Come on, let's get you set up," Harper said dryly, and the trio walked back to the detective's area.

Lucy hurried to catch up with Tim, who paused his stride to wait for her. "Hey, you know, um…" She looked around to see if anyone was within earshot. "Grey said that the competition ended but didn't say what time. And with the rookie swap, this gives us the perfect opportunity to…check each other's methods."

Tim eyed her curiously. She had that flirtatious glint in her eye that she always got when she tried to goad him into something that she knew wouldn't really take much goading.

"So you're saying we have a little wiggle room? One last shift to declare a winner?"

"I'm not saying anything..." She smirked. "But I will be…loudly…after I win."

"Hmm…we'll see about that." Tim retorted.

Lucy merely hummed and raised an eyebrow, walking ahead of him into the bay.

"Man, did you see that?" Miles directed towards Seth as they picked up the war bags. "The way that new detective came back at Bradford? If that was me, I would be back in Texas faster than a jackrabbit on a date with a coyote."

"Well, it definitely seemed like they knew each other outside the job," Seth replied, slinging the war bags over his head and picking up the two shotguns.

"You think something's going on between them?" Miles lowered his voice, glancing around. He didn't need anyone to hear that he was gossiping about his T.O.'s love life, not when he'd only known the man a week.

Seth shrugged, "I don't know. I caught him acting the same way with Detective Lopez, so they could just be tight? I mean, do you really see that guy dating anyone?"

"I don't know, man." Miles laughed under his breath, "I swear I caught a glimpse of a normal man when he led roll call the other day. Never thought I'd hear 'kiss some babies' come outta that man's mouth."

"Yeah," Seth laughed nervously, shutting the trunk of the shop.

"Are you all right?" Miles looked at him in concern. You look like you're about to lose your biscuits, and I don't think Office Chen would take it too kindly if you puked again."

"I-I'm fine. I've just got to clear up a few things with my T.O. It's not exactly a conversation I'm looking forward to."

"Well, Officer Chen seems like a reasonable lady…I don't think—"

"You don't seem to think too often, do you boot?" Tim's voice boomed from the bay entrance, and the two rookies whirled to see their training officers in identical wide stances, hands crossed over their duty belts.

"Sir…I…" Miles fumbled for something to say, but Tim didn't give him a chance.

"In this house and on these streets, Officer Chen is a person to you. She is a cop. She is your Superior Officer. The streets may see a difference. We do not. And she deserves the same amount of respect as anyone else. The same kind of respect you will deserve her and on those streets once you've earned it, am I right?" He asked pointedly, the underlying message clear to Miles.

"You're right, sir." He nodded. Messaged received. "I apologize, ma'am. It won't happen again. You are clearly more than—"

Lucy interrupted him, "Layin' it on a little thick there, cowboy. I'm not your T.O. Just focus on your job."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Let's roll, boot."

Tim glanced over at Lucy, who was eyeing him with an amused stare, though he could see the underlying heat beneath it. She did love it when he channeled his feminist side. It wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it was always a nice reminder of the type of good man he was. And somehow, he always managed to have her back but not make it seem like he didn't believe she could defend herself.

At the end of the day, it was Tim's rookie. And the best way to correct behavior….to teach him…was to let him make his own mistakes and lead by example. 

With a roll of his eyes, Tim entered the driver's side, and Miles quickly jogged around to the passenger side.

Seth turned to Lucy, who was watching him, expressionless, waiting for him to speak.

"I-uh…I came in before roll call to top the shop off with some gas. I put some air in the tires. I was going to grab you a coffee, but I figured it would be cold by now."

Lucy barely flinched. "You know that doesn't wipe the slate clean from your previous mistakes, right?"

"Yes, ma'am…I know."

"You said you wanted to talk…so…talk."

"Yes…um…the reason I came in late the other day…and uh…why I took my eye off the ball with the suspect….is…" Seth took a breath, "Four years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. And it was aggressive, and my odds weren't very good. But…I did beat it. But a week ago I went in to get some routine bloodwork done and my results came back as irregular."

"I'm sorry. That sounds incredibly stressful."

Somehow, her rookie's recent blunders over the past few days made it easier to say what needed to be said at this moment. Because as much empathy as she has. There was a major miss here on his part. Something that he completely missed in his own spiral.

"Seth, you know, I'm…I'm the one that's responsible for your safety on the job. Anything that affects you on the street…I need to know about it. You—you really should have told me."

"I know, I know." He looked down, shaking his head at himself before looking back up at her. "It's just... people treat you differently when they know that you're sick."

"Yeah," Lucy softened, but Seth didn't let himself off the hook.

"But there are no excuses," he said firmly. You're right. And I should have told you."

Lucy looked around, releasing a long breath. "Well, when do you get the results back?

Seth sighed, "Soon, I hope. But…it feels like forever."

Lucy hummed in sympathy. "Mm. Yeah, there's nothing we can do about that now, right?" She let out a little smirk, indicating the somber moment had come and gone. "What do you say we focus on other people's problems for today?"

"I'd love that." Seth grinned, heading towards their shop.

Lucy let out a soft groan of relief as she walked into the house. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag in the mudroom before fully entering and tossing her keys in the ceramic bowl on the console table. The house was quiet, but she knew Tim was home, so he must've been out back.

She had stayed late to grab a bite at the food trucks and catch up with Alison since they missed each other during lunch. Meanwhile, Tim had put Miles through the paces in the gym, assessing his fitness levels. She had actually felt a pang of sympathy for his rookie when Tim laid out his plans for the evening, remembering all too well what that kind of evening looked like. Her first time in the gym with Tim during her rookie year had been brutal. And, of course, Tim did every rep and drill right alongside her to push her that much harder.

Miles looked like he could handle himself. He was plenty fit. And young. From what she could tell, the football years had done wonders for his physique, so it didn't seem like he would have any issues with whatever workout Tim had in store for him. But one could never be too sure. She'd seen some of the fittest officer’s crumble under Tim's workouts.

Stepping out onto the patio into the warm night, she saw him. Head tilted back towards the stars—or lack thereof, damn light pollution—as he reclined on one of the seats of the jacuzzi connected to their pool.

Walking over, she gathered her skirt up to her thighs and lowered herself onto the edge of the jacuzzi, legs dipping into the heated water on either side of him. She ran her fingers through Tim’s damp hair, tracing his sculpted jawline. Tilting his head back, she leaned in, brushing her mouth over his in a soft greeting.

"Hi," she mumbled against his lips.

Tim let out a low, contented hum. "I didn't expect you here so soon."

Lucy smirked, raising a brow, raking her nails down his neck towards his shoulders. "Were you expecting somebody else?"

Two could play that game, and he met her smirk with one of his own. "Yeah. My former rookie. Smokin' hot. I was planning on fucking her before my wife got home."

"Hmm…" She kneaded his muscles at his shoulders, bending to whisper into his ear. "Too bad you'll have to settle for little ole me."

He groaned, letting his head fall back into her lap as she bent over to scratch her nails along his abs, his face nestled between her breasts.

"I see you were prepared," she said, observing that he was naked beneath the water and raked her fingers back up over his nipples, feeling Tim's tongue snake out between her cleavage, and Lucy let out a light moan. "You should be more careful…you never know who might come in."

"I always hope for someone hot." The water sloshed as he twisted around to face her. His smirk so lecherous that she actually blushed, even after all these years. "Seems to me you'll do."

"What are you doing?" She asked as Tim hooked his arms underneath her thighs and hiked her skirt up towards her waist. 

He paused, looking up to meet her eyes. "What does it look like? I'm having a taste before the wife gets home."

"Better make it quick, then," Lucy smirked back at him, her voice a deep, sultry rasp that always went straight to his cock. Crooking his fingers around the thin straps of her underwear, he tugged sharply, grinning as the fabric easily gave way.

"Don't worry." Tim grinned, tossing the destroyed fabric aside and tugging her hips closer. "I can't stay in here much longer, anyway."

"Fuck," she breathed, her hand tangling in his hair as he nuzzled his face into her folds, nose nudging her before liking a stripe up her lips to her clit. Then he sucked.

Lucy threw her head back as the obscene sounds and sensations dialed up her pleasure, the warm night air transporting her back to the deck in Turks and Caicos, where Tim had devoured her on the dining table. He ate her like a man starved, taking his comment on making it quick to heart.

Her moans carried through into the distance as Tim lapped at her, his tongue fluttering over swelling nub, making her buck against his face. Her muscles tensed as she tried to wrap her legs around his shoulders, but Tim held her firm, eliciting her whine of frustration.

"Shhhh…" he pulled away, "Someone will hear you."

She yanked his head back against her. "Maybe I want them to," she all but growled, hissing when he wrapped his lips around her clit. "Fuck. Suck me harder, babe."

Tim obeyed, his sucks and slurps growing louder to tangle with her moans. Lucy's arms shook as she fell back against the stone, succumbing to the sensations he was evoking. Her toes flexed and curled with every zing of arousal that coursed throughout her body, hips moving on their own accord as Tim slipped two digits inside and laved his tongue over her.

Her body was humming as her pleasure continued to rise, and Lucy felt her release rapidly approaching as her clit throbbed in his mouth.

"Come on baby, flood my face so my wife can lick it off me. She likes that," he grunted around her before latching on again, tongue fluttering as he sucked, fingers twisting and curling, coaxing her orgasm towards him.

His words—perpetuating this little impromptu roleplay—ignited her, and Lucy climaxed with a stuttered shout. Doing exactly as he asked, her juices flowed out and onto his waiting tongue, Tim grunting as her tangy essence burst in his mouth.

Unhooking his hands from her thighs, he slid them down her tanned skin as she recovered. The water gurgled around him, and only now did he realize how much time he'd spent in the steaming water. Pulling back, he scooted to the side of Lucy as she righted herself, catching her breath.

Tim pushed himself up and out of the jacuzzi, droplets falling down his sculpted body, and Lucy gazed up at him in appreciation. Water traced the ridges of his abs, which glistened under the soft lighting of their backyard. Steam curled around him as the cool air hit his skin, but he wasted no time reaching for a nearby towel.

Lucy stood, intending to return to the house—to their bedroom—her skirt falling back to her feet. But Tim had other plans and yanked her back to him by her hips, the fabric gathering in his hands as he leaned down to kiss her. Hot. Hungry. The kind of kiss that always left her breathless and heaving.

She chased after his mouth when he pulled away, but he stopped her with a slap on the ass that made her yelp.

"Oh no, you don't," He grits out. "We're not wasting any time. And I'm not nearly done with you yet."  He reached down, hoisting her effortlessly into his arms, skirt bunching at the waist. She moved easily with him, wrapping her legs around him, trapping his cock between them as her slick mingled with the droplets still on his skin.

She was raking her nails all over him, nipping little love bites onto his neck as she ground on him, working them both up even more. Tim's fingers dipped between her ass cheeks, tapping at her hole as his pinky dragged against her pussy, and he reveled in mingled sounds.

He walked them over to a lounger, faltering in his descent when Lucy nipped at his—their—favorite spot on his jugular. He dropped to the seat, but his ungracefulness only served to grind them harder against each other, and he hissed as her arousal slid over him.

Tim wrenched his neck away from her, yanking the front of Lucy's tank top down, exposing her breasts to him—thank goodness for built-in bras; it was like she planned this. Her nipples pebbled in the cool air, and he took one into his mouth, sucking and rolling, Lucy throwing her head back, holding his head to her chest. He took the erect nub between his teeth, tugging the way that always drove her crazy, just on this side of painful, before soothing it with his tongue.

"Shit," she moaned huskily, "Fuck. Bite me again. I bet your wife doesn't like it like that." He grunted and obeyed, turning his attention to her other nipple.

"Ride me, baby," Tim said, releasing her breast and tapping her ass.  Lucy immediately lifted her hips, letting him line up at her entrance before sinking back down to his lap, groaning as his tip nudged at her cervix. She began to move, her pussy squelching around him as her arousal dripped down to his lap. He groaned at the sensation, reveling in her wet warmth. Each time they came together, it felt like a whole new experience and he marveled at it.

Tim planted his feet on either side of the lounger and met her thrust for thrust, skin slapping loudly in the night. Their cries were the only thing that drowned out the sounds of their bodies.

"Fuck, I'm close," she moaned.

"Me too," he said as he gripped her ass with one hand and dipped a finger between her cheeks, slipping a finger into her hole. He pumped in time with their hips, feeling his orgasm building at the base of his spine as her pussy fluttered around him. His cock swelled, and her moans grew louder as she felt him hitting every sensitive nerve inside her.

"Fuck. Fuck. I feel you. Come with me, baby," Lucy moaned.

"Fuck, yes, that's it," he grunted, and Lucy cried out her release, Tim slipping his finger from her ass. He clamped his hands down onto her hips, holding her in place as her pussy contracted around his cock, triggering his eruption inside her.

Lucy collapsed onto his chest, moaning contently as Tim softened inside her while they returned to themselves, running his hands up and down her back soothingly. Once they quieted after a few moments, she lifted her head, raising a brow as she looked at him.

"Gonna fuck you before my wife gets home? Where'd that come from?" She said mockingly.

"Don't look at me like that," Tim defended playfully, "You started it with that whole 'were you expecting somebody else.' I just went with it. And you seemed into it, so I just kept going."

She snorted out a little laugh. "It was kind of fun, I'm not gonna lie."

"You bet your ass it was." He grinned, tapping her ass. "Come on, we should go get cleaned up."

A while later, they lay tangled together in bed, freshly showered. Lucy reclined against Tim's chest, and her damp hair in a braid was thrown over her shoulder to rest against her breasts. A bowl of green grapes rested on her stomach as they each snacked on the refreshing fruit.

Lucy plucked one, raising it up and behind her head to feed it to Tim. Her fingers brushed his lips as he took it from her, and she smiled, her eyes half-lidded and her body slack with relaxation in his arms.

"So, I didn't ask…how was dinner?" Tim asked, taking his turn to grab a grape and running it over Lucy's lips. She sucked it in, biting down with a satisfying juicy crunch.

"It was good," she replied as she chewed. "Nice to catch up. It felt like it had been a while since we caught up after we got back from the honeymoon. How was the gym?"

He groaned, letting his head fall back against the headboard. "The kid is in great fucking shape. Good endurance. Fast time. Strong as hell. I regretted it as soon as we started. Hence the jacuzzi."

"I mean, I'm not surprised," Lucy smirked. "I'm guessing you pushed yourself to one-up him?"

"Nah," Tim shook his head, "I'm not that bad anymore. I did make sure we were neck and neck, though. At the end of the day, it was all about assessing his ability. I always need to see it for myself, not just in a file."

"I remember. Vividly," Lucy said flatly, and Tim pinched her side, making her yelp. Her hands jumped to steady the bowl on her stomach.

"And how was the groveling speech from the Virgin?"

Lucy sighed heavily, setting the bowl aside and sliding off Tim's chest to turn around and face him, folding her legs in front of her. He looked at her apprehensively, knowing that her body language wasn't good, but he couldn't figure out how bad things were.

"He told me that he used to have cancer," Tim didn't react much, but she saw a flicker of surprise on his face. "Yeah. Not what I was expecting either. He was late the other day because of a doctor's appointment. Apparently, there are some irregularities that they need to run further testing for, and he's been waiting for his results to figure out what happens next."

"Well, I can't say this is a situation I'm familiar with, but how do you feel about that?"

She looked down at her legs and back up at him, reaching to fumble with her braid. "I mean…I don't know…I know what it's like to go through something mentally that you have to manage while you're on the job. So, I am gonna give him the benefit of the doubt…But at the same time…I did channel you a bit…"

Tim smirked, and Lucy rolled her eyes, continuing, "…In my own way to remind him that, yes, it's hard and it's horrible, but at the end of the day people—and me—are counting on him to bring his A-game. And if he can't do that, then that's a different conversation, but I'm responsible for him. And he should've told me from the outset instead of letting this fester."

"Yeah, because then he's a liability to everyone."

Lucy nodded, opening her palm in agreement before folding it back into her lap. "Exactly. And if he can't focus. Then this can't work."

"Well, I think you handled it well. The best thing you can do is to keep an eye on him. With luck, it's nothing, and you can continue moving forward. If his results come back positive, there's nothing that says he can't still go through the program as long as he can perform the necessary duties required. We can't terminate him for having cancer. But…he'll need to be forthcoming about how he's feeling health-wise. Because the one thing I will not stand for is him putting you in danger because he's not communicating effectively. All I care about is your safety." He placed his hands on her knees, his thumbs rubbing gently across the smooth skin.

"So that aside," he breathed, "How are you feeling about him as an officer? I know Grey talked to you the other day, but I never asked what you thought."

"I'll tell you the same thing I told Grey," she shrugged, "It's too soon to tell whether he's going to cut it. He's got potential, but he's made some fundamental mistakes, as you know. So…only time will tell." 

"I do have to say—" Tim reached down to grab her hands, "and this is Sergeant Bradford speaking, not your husband, although he agrees—you are doing an amazing job as a training officer. I always knew that whatever you did, you'd crush, but witnessing it in action has been amazing. I know things with Ridley are uncertain, but I still think you're doing lightyears better than Nolan did, even after two months."

Lucy blushed, shoving him a little bit with their joined hands. "You're just saying that cuz you're my husband."

"Sergeant Bradford speaking, remember?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "You know he doesn't just say shit."

"You're ridiculous," She laughed, rolling her eyes, "But thank you."

Tim grinned, pulling her towards him. "You're welcome," he said softly, and their lips met in a soft kiss.

Lucy made a little sound as they pulled away, her eyes fluttering open. "You know…no one technically won the bet."

"Why do I feel like your brain has suddenly come up with something mischievous?" He said skeptically, seeing the impish smile on her face.

"Not mischievous—fun. A little spicy."

"New terms?" He ran his hands slowly up her thighs.

"Sort of. Three weeks. No orgasms. Whoever cracks first has to do whatever the other person wants."

Tim's eyes widened. "Three weeks?" Not days?

"Yup," Lucy nodded, a smirk plastered on her face. "No cumming…at all."

He eyed her for a long moment. Three fucking weeks. And he couldn't even jerk off? He hadn't done that shit since…he couldn't remember. He may die.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked a slight hesitation in his voice.

"Don't think you can handle it?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.

Damnit. She knew she had him. He wasn't backing down from a challenge. Even if she had to scrape his deprived body off the floor. Until then…he'd delight in making her squirm.

"Fine." He sighed, "You're on. I will thoroughly enjoy collecting my winnings."

"Mmhmm. Keep telling yourself that Mr. I wanna taste before my wife gets home. Pretty sure you'll be eating those words. And plenty of other things."

Chapter Text

People tell little white lies every day, like saying they love a gift they actually don’t want, pretending to be busy to avoid a social event, or complimenting someone’s cooking even if it’s not great. They’re small, often harmless fibs that are usually meant to spare someone’s feelings or avoid awkward situations.

For Seth they meant something completely different.

Seth wasn’t sure when it started or why he was did it. Actually, no—scratch that. After years of resorting to the same pattern and trying to pinpoint where it came from, he knew exactly why. What he couldn’t figure out was why he couldn’t stop. Lying had become a reflex, a compulsive defense mechanism hardwired into him from years of trying to avoid blame and real consequences for his move before his brain could process. A white lie tumbling out to smooth things over.

Usually, it was nothing major. Just a small twist, a half-truth to shift the narrative and lessen the blow out. It was a way to protect himself, because Seth never learned how to take responsibility for his actions, not when excuses came easier and consequences could be dodged with the right words.

Somewhere in high school Seth had set his mind on becoming a cop, so he joined the academy, and vowed to himself that he was done with lying and deception. He swore to himself that he would do better regardless of the consequences.

But then he’d made his first misstep as a rookie and found himself caught in his first lie.

He had thrown up on a crime scene, triggered by the smell of drugs and the sight of a dead body and to avoid throwing up on his Training Officer, Seth had opted for the car. Consumed by the embarrassment that followed and under the judging eyes of Lucy, he caved, and the words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Seth recalled the overdose of a classmate, telling Lucy that it was his girlfriend, that he had performed mouth to mouth and that smell and memory triggered nauseousness. Understanding bloomed in her eyes and he realized that she’d let him off the hook, the panic and anxiety receding. But that understanding was short-lived. Because next, he’d been late to roll call on his second day. Slept right through his alarm. And per Sergeant Bradford’s words, there was no acceptable excuse for being late to roll call. To make matters worse, he finally caught a glimpse of the sharp, no bullshit cop that Officer Chen could be beneath the kind, affable persona she usually was.

And he didn’t know what to do with that, because he had hoped that her empathy would help quell his nerves, would help him be someone who had their life together. But karma seemed to play a cruel joke on him and when he arrived, Seth’s anxiety spiked once he was called out in front of everyone.

So, a doctor’s appointment was created, because no one could argue with a doctor’s appointment.

Lucy seemed to accept his excuse, and they went out on patrol together, but then he’d lost an armed suspect, his duty belt fell apart and his focus shifted.

No plates. No identifiers.

Lieutenant Grey had called him an embarrassment.

It was only his second day.

So he did the only thing he could do. He leaned on a bit of his history. Weaving in some truth, but nothing that he couldn’t walk back from. Just enough to nudge at Officer Chen’s empathetic nature again. To maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and not allow his first two days to define his future in the FTO program.

He used to have cancer. True.

He had bloodwork done a week ago. True.

The results were inconclusive, and he needed more testing. Lie.

Seth had watched her soften as he told her and concern threaded through ever so slightly. It wasn’t a lot. But it was enough for him to know he was in the clear for a while at least.

He had been doing fine. For the most part. Even scored a win (by the skin of his teeth) and a ton of good publicity when he and Miles went against orders, saved a hostage, and apprehended the suspect.

So, it was pure bad luck—or karma again—that the smallest exchange caused the most significant issue when they were called to a scene of a major car wreck. He’d been nervous, fumbling through the chaos, and after being called out by both Celina and Miles, the anxiety came rushing back and the next lie just slipped out, called forth in a stressed haze.

Another girlfriend. Dying in a car wreck. Lie.

Officer Chen had caught it immediately. Questioned him about this girlfriend versus the previous one. He thought he’d covered it well, but Seth could tell she’d grown suspicious. Her empathy gave way to curiosity and uncertainty. He knew if he couldn’t steer her away from it, he’d be washed out within days, but things seemed to calm down, until he found out she went to his high school.

And once again, his seemingly harmless embellishments were now fully fledged lies. And instead of looking at him as if she was giving him the room to prove himself, now Officer Chen looked at him as if he was already doomed to fail.

He wasn’t sure how to come back from this one, but all he knew was he had to figure something out…and fast.

“Hey man, you good?” Seth was pulled from his thoughts by Miles opening his locker, grabbing his backpack. “You alright?” He asked in concern.

Seth looked down at himself realizing he was still lost in thought, staring into his own locker, only his uniform shirt removed. “Huh? Oh, yeah…yeah I-I’m fine.”

“You sure? You seem a little…” Miles trailed off, not quite sure what to say. Seth shook it off.

“I’m good. Thanks.”

“You wanna grab a bite to eat after you change out? Maybe take your mind off whatever’s bothering you? I can tell you all about Sergeant Bradford’s perspective on relationships.”

Seth moved through his change out on autopilot, thrust back into his spiral of thoughts, not even registering that Miles had spoken as he contemplated what to do next. His conscience was telling him to take Miles up on his offer and maybe shed some of the burden of the truth with him. But sharing the burden, wouldn’t do anything to fix the doubts that have already built up in Officer Chen’s mind.

He knew he couldn’t plead his case with her again. Officer Chen looked at him with nothing more than suspicion with every word that he said. Seth had fallen too far down the rabbit hole now and the only way to save his job—save himself—would be to lean into the one lie that softened her the most, the one lie that would soften everyone the most.

Cancer.

“Dude!” Miles’ voice cut through again and Seth startled.

“Huh? What?”

“Bro what is going on?” Miles, now fully dressed, leaned up against his locker, backpack on the ground, watching Seth like a hawk. “You look like you swallowed a jar full of moths.”

“Nothing.” Seth said sharpy, throwing his plaid hoodie over his t-shirt, finally shutting his locker. “I’m fine. I…I just have to go see Sergeant Grey.”

Miles winced, reaching down to sling his bag over his shoulders. “Oh, say no more man. I get it. Good luck. Give me a holler if you want to grab a drink.” Patting Seth on the back, he walked past him to head out of the locker room.

15 hours earlier…

A soft glow penetrated Lucy’s consciousness as the sunrise light emanated from her halo alarm clock. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open as peaceful melodic music began to play, coaxing her senses awake. She was snugly wrapped in Tim’s arms, who remained deep in slumber and would stay that way until his foghorn of an alarm went off.

As the light grew brighter, Lucy groaned inwardly, not quite ready to face what she had planned for the morning. Running her hand lightly through the hairs on Tim’s forearm, she gently wrapped her fingers around his wrist, testing the hold. Feeling them relax slightly, she slipped free. Tim let out a breath as he rolled onto his back, hand coming to rest on his chest.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she leaned over to switch off the alarm clock before rising. She stretched her arms towards the ceiling, a soft groan slipping from her throat as her body slowly released itself from the fog of sleep. Glancing back in the darkness of the room, she checked to see if she’d woken Tim, but he remained blissfully unaware.

Padding quietly to their ensuite, Lucy shut the door behind her and switched on the lights reaching for the toothpaste in the cabinet. She went through the motions mechanically, once again thankful that she’d persuaded Tim to install the vanity lights on a dimmer so she could ease into the morning.

After spitting and rinsing, she wiped her face and turned on the shower, letting the water warm as she undressed. Slowly, steam began to fill the bathroom, and Lucy increased the brightness of the lights before stepping into the stall, shutting the glass door behind her.

Her mind finally began to drift as the heated water ran over her body. She was up earlier than usual, having emailed Sergeant Grey the night before to let him know she might be late to roll call due to some preparations related to Ridley’s training. In reality, she was doing a bit of investigating. Something about Ridley wasn’t sitting right. His stories weren’t adding up. First, one girlfriend OD’d and then another died in a car crash? If Tim hadn’t reminded her of how thorough LAPD background checks were, she might’ve suspected something darker. Maybe that he’d even been involved somehow. Who has two girlfriends die (or almost die) during high school?

When she confronted Ridley about it, he’d played it off well, but it was too late, her suspicion had been sparked. Things just weren’t adding up, and since she couldn’t trust Seth’s words, she needed to find out the truth herself.

A sudden woosh of cool air pulled her from her thoughts as she lathered. The dull thud of the glass door closing behind her was followed by the familiar feeling of Tim’s hands sliding around her waist. She smiled, humming slightly as his mouth brushed her neck, his fingers dancing across her stomach.

“You’re up early,” he said into her ear, voice still rough with sleep, before taking her lobe between his teeth.  

“I’ve got…” Lucy faltered as he trailed kisses down the hollow of her throat, stopping to suck on her tattoo, the spot that he knew always drove her wild. “Stuff—to do this morning,” she finally said, her breathing quickening.

“Stuff?” He challenged absentmindedly, his mind laser-focused on her body—warm, wet and flushed from the heat of the shower that was kicking up droplets from where it hit the tiled floor.

Lucy didn’t even hear Tim’s throwaway query, her mind too focused on the sensations he was evoking as his teeth grazed the vein of her neck while his fingers slipped between her legs to part her folds.  His left forearm was pressed across her chest, hugging her tightly to his front, his hand kneading her right breast, thumb flicking across her nipple.  

Her hand moved backward to tangle into his damp hair, gasping out Tim’s name as his finger slowly circled her clit, feeling it throb as he grazed the sensitive skin around it. Her body shuddered for a moment, feeling the pleasure thrumming from her core, expanding out through her nerve endings.

“God, I’m always amazed by how you respond to me,” He murmured against her skin, grinding his erection against her backside. He reveled in her moan as he placed his finger directly on her clit, working it deftly and Lucy’s hips jerked at the zing of arousal that wracked her body.

“I bet you’re dripping for me,” he said, leaning down to suckle at her neck, Lucy pressing his head more firmly against her. “I bet if I just…” He plunged his finger inside her and curled, making her cry out.

“Yesss….” He hissed, pulling out and adding another finger and thrusting back in, the heel of his huge hand pressing on her womb, the pressure heightening her bliss. Her body jerked suddenly as he crooked his fingers again and the water sprayed their sides, shocking Lucy into reality for a moment.

Her mind finally registered his words.

I bet you’re dripping for me.

Lucy’s eyes narrowed, her brain registering that there was something she should be remembering about those words. At the same time, she let out a groan when his mouth and fingers hit all her spots at once and she felt him sending her closer and closer to the edge.

I bet if I just…

She grinded on his digits, walls fluttering as her juices flowed over his hand and down her thighs, mingling with the water.

The bet.

Fuck.

Lucy could not lose when their bet had hardly begun, she’d never hear the end of it.

Digging her fingers into his scalp one last time, she wrenched herself away with an agonized groan, almost throwing herself into the shower. Tim frowned in confusion, hands reaching out to pull her back in.

“Wha--? Huh? Luce, what’s going on? Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He fired out with worry, his cock still hard and bobbing between them as his eyes darted all over her body for signs of injury.

Lucy held her arm out, pointing at him accusingly. “Oh no you don’t mister! I know what you were doing! Coming at me when I’m just waking up. Nuhuh—no sir—you are not winning the bet like this!”

Tim still frowned, staring at her as the water cascaded all over his gorgeous wife. Her breasts glistened as they broke the steady stream, dusky brown nipples still pert and ready. It took him a moment to register what she’d said and then it slowly dawned on him. His expression transitioned to a smirk.

“But Luce…you were right there.” He said devilishly, taking a step towards her so they were both under the spray. She sidestepped him, thankful for their huge shower.

“Oh no you don’t,” She glared at him, “That wasn’t fair and you know it.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Fine.  I give up. You can finish your shower.”

“Gee, thanks,” she said sarcastically. “Fortunately, I was pretty much done.” She turned to leave, but Tim grabbed her arm gently, stopping her.

“You definitely were almost finished. And just so we’re clear,” he smirked, “I’m totally winning this bet.”

With a sweet smile, Lucy reached past him, flicking her wrist and quickly backing up and out of the shower, her eyes roving over his sculpted form, erection still standing proudly. As the door thudded close in front of her, Tim let out a loud shriek as the water suddenly turned ice cold, shocking his body.

“What the fuuuuuck? Lucy!”

“Payback’s a bitch, babe!” She giggled at his deep frown. “Love you!”

She grabbed a towel and trotted out of the bathroom, Tim’s groans of frustration drowning out behind her as she shut the door and he readjusted the shower temperature. 

Eight minutes later Lucy had quickly slicked some anti-frizz and heat protectant into her hair and given it a quick blow dry. It was still a bit damp though, so in the interest of time, she had pulled it into a low bun to finish the job on her drive. She was fastening her bra in the doorway of their walk in closer when Tim emerged from the shower, cock half-mast beneath his towel.

“That was a dirty trick,” he said grumpily, cutting his eyes over at her.

Lucy giggled, “It was certainly one way to start the day. Besides, all’s fair in love and bets.”

“I wasn’t even thinking about the bet,” he grumbled.

“Which is why I’m going to win,” she said pointedly, disappearing back into their closet to finish dressing.

“So you say,” he called after her as he finished drying off. Dropping his towel, he followed her into their closet, pulling open the top drawer of his dresser to grab a pair of boxer briefs. Lucy took a minute to appreciate the view while his back was turned as she buttoned her shirt.

Pulling on his jeans, he shot her a look over his shoulder. “But I’m the one who got you so riled up, you almost forgot about the damn bet.”

“I won’t make that mistake again,” Lucy huffed playfully, and Tim turned around, his jeans still undone and slung low on his hips revealing the ‘v’ that he knew Lucy found irresistible. She stared at him with betrayal in her eyes. Tim caught her expression, but remained quiet, instead pulling open another drawer to grab a soft grey T-shirt.   

Smirking, he pulled it on, flexing his abs and biceps while he was at it. But instead of egging her on with another witty comeback, he pulled a chocolate brown overshirt off its hanger and changed the subject. “You never did tell me why you were up so early?”

“And whose fault is that?” she grumbled, shaking off the haze of arousal that had begun to overtake her. “You fell asleep, but I emailed Grey last night. I decided to head over to Ridley’s high school. I just…something about his stories weren’t adding up. It’s got me questioning his integrity on the job.”

“So, what are you going to do?” Tim asked, their little push pull of the bet forgotten as he shrugged on his shirt.

She shrugged, digging out her eyeliner and mascara from her makeup bag. “Talk to his guidance counselor. See if my instincts are right.”  

“And since they usually are…what are your plans once you find out?” He raised a brow, pulled out a pair of socks.

Lucy’s teeth tugged on her lip as she chewed on his question as she put the finishing touches on her makeup but came up empty. “Honestly? I’m not sure.”

“Well you know I’m here for whatever you need,” Tim reminded her as they each pulled on their boots.

Lucy cocked her head to the side as she pulled her black blazer off its hanger. “I know. Thank you.” Shrugging it on, she pulled out her necklace, unclasping it and holding it out to Tim who took it as she turned her back to him.

She lifted her bun, and Tim placed the delicate piece around her neck, settling it against her collarbone as he clasped it.  Peeking back over her shoulder, she smiled and Tim leaned down kissing her gently, suckling a little at her bottom lip.

“I’ll see you at the station,” he said, pulling away. “Come find me later.”

Lucy hummed contentedly, pivoting to face him again and slipping her arms around his neck, his winding around her waist. “Have a good shift.”

Lucy huffed, practically throwing her tray of food down onto the table, swinging her leg over and sitting on the bench.

“Damn who shit in your veggie burger, Sunshine?” Alison asked her through a mouthful of her carne asada tacos. Lucy scrunched her nose up.

“I don’t understand how you can eat all that midday,” she gestured towards the tray that was laden with three more tacos, and a container of tortilla chips and salsa. “I feel bad for Harper and Lopez. I hope you don’t have to ride anywhere with them after this. Tim at least brushes his teeth and obsessively washes his hands after he has onions.”

Alison shot her a look, dismissing Lucy’s tirade with a wave of her hand, a few pieces of onion and cilantro dropping onto the platter. “Geez,” she said picking up her drink and taking a sip, “Did someone shit on your fries and pickles too?”

“I’m sorry,” Lucy sighed suddenly realizing how unlike herself she sounded, “I guess you could say my Rookie did take a massive shit all over my day.”

“Babyface?” She asked, shoving a salsa laden chip in her mouth. “What’d he do now?”

“Okay,” she started, opening her burger to place a few pickles on it, “so I have confirmed that Seth lied to me on two separate occasions about past tragedies.”

Alison screwed up her face as she swallowed, picking up her soda to wash it down. “What kind of tragedies?”

Lucy looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. “Two girlfriends. One OD’d and he said he saved her and the other died in a car crash,” she said quietly.

“Well, that sucks.” Alison replied, “In four years of high school? I wouldn’t sign up to be his girlfriend.”

“That’s the thing. None of it happened the way he said it did. Neither of them was his girlfriend. One of them he barely knew.” She picked up a French fry instead of the burger, popping one into her mouth.

“Well…” Alison wasn’t quite sure what to say. It wasn’t an egregious infraction to lie about your past as long as it didn’t have any implications for the job.  

Lucy sighed mid chew. “I know, I know. There’s a difference between lying on the job and lying about the job. Tim said the same thing when I talked to him.”

“What else did he say?”

“That it was a T.O. problem and I need to correct it,” Lucy said drily, finally picking up her burger and taking a bite.

 “Well, he’s not wrong. It’s a shit position to be in though,” she replied, glancing around to watch the other officers milling around. “What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea. He’s got potential, you know?” Lucy swallowed her bite, then took another, chewing for a few moments before continuing. “But when he gets stressed, he panics. And I get it, you know? The rookie year—especially the first few months—is insanely stressful. But…that doesn’t go away. The cases get harder. Decisions get more complicated. But if your go to is to lie when things are stressful….” She trailed off shaking her head and taking another bite of her burger.

“Then how can you trust that he can do the job?” Alison finished for her.

“Exactly.”

“So you’re going to wash him out?”

Lucy groaned, “I don’t know. Is it really fair to wash him out over a couple of lies about his past?”

Alison gave her a pointed look, “But is it really fair to keep him on the job, watching your six, when you can’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth?”

She stared at her friend, body sagging a bit as the decision nudged the back of her mind, trying to push its way to the forefront.

By the end of lunch Lucy had decided they’d be station bound for the rest of the day. Seth, working at the front desk with Wrigley, while Lucy lost herself in assembling the puzzle pieces to aid Harper and Lopez’s latest case. Seth had challenged the order initially, insisting that he could help her, but one look at her expression and he quickly complied.

Lucy connected the dots after a few hours of research and delivered the prime suspect to Harper, even helping to mastermind a way to bring him in without alerting him to the fact that he was a suspect. It was the kind of strategic insight that boosted her confidence enough to think through what to do about Seth.

If Seth’s lies had been trivial, she could have overlooked them. God knows the number of times Tim had lied about trapping bugs in her apartment when she’d heard the smack of his hand snuffing out the life of the fly that had found it’s way in. Or the distinct stomp of his boot when a silverfish made its way quickly across the floor. It was harmless (although not to those poor buggy souls).

Seth’s lies had been about human life, about people in crisis or tragedy that he claimed to be close with. And on top of that, he had delivered those lies so effortlessly (until caught). They were reflexive and habitual. And it was exactly what made it more dangerous as a cop.

We’re under a microscope right now. So if you ever start to think that he might be a liability, I need you to let me know right away.

Lieutenant Grey’s words rattled in Lucy’s head, an ever-present statement since she became suspicious of her rookie. What would happen if he had to give a statement and panicked? If he was on the stand the stress got to him? His pathological lying could impact the credibility of the entire station—the entire department. And that would be on her head. Because he’s her responsibility.

 By end of shift, Lucy had made a decision, allowing the resolve to settle over her body as she waited for Tim to leave the locker room, her wringing hands the only indication that there was something on her mind.

“Hey, ready to go?” Tim asked when he saw her. His backpack was slung over one shoulder, posture shedding Sergeant Bradford with each step.

“Not yet,” she stopped him. “I’ve been thinking about the Seth situation.”

“Luce—” Tim sighed, but she cut him off.

“I know this is my problem. And you’ve been great about being a sounding board, but I get what you’ve been saying. I'm the TO,” she pointed at herself, “So I made a decision. He can't stay. The stakes are way too high, and the only way to fix this is to cut him from the program.”

“Okay. Let's talk to Grey,” he said simply, pivoting to head back into the bullpen towards Grey’s office.

“Wait,” she frowned in surprise, falling into step quickly beside him, “that’s it? You're not gonna talk me out of it?”

“No,” he shook his head, continuing his path, “Like you said, you’re the TO. It's your call. I’m just here for back up.”

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, before she schooled her features. Sometimes Tim’s unwavering belief in her abilities still surprised her.

They approached Lieutenant Grey’s door just as he was exiting with Seth. “Just know this whole station is going to be behind you every step of the way.”

“Thank you, sir,” Seth nodded, and Lucy frowned as she watched the exchange.

“What's…what's going on?” she asked.

 “It's your news to share,” Grey held a hand out towards Seth, who pulled in a breath before speaking.

“I finally got my lab results,” he started, and a sense of dread came over Lucy, “and my cancer is back, but we caught it early, and the doctor says that I should still be able to work. And, uh, I just…I just…I wanted to let you know, that I am ready, I am willing, and able to complete my training, if you will still have me.”

Bullshit. It was Lucy’s first thought, and she felt absolutely sick that she didn’t believe him about something this serious. But she couldn’t argue with cancer, so instead she crossed her arms, cleared her throat, and nodded.

“Yeah, of course.”

Her glance at Tim told her he didn’t believe it either. But right now Seth Ridley had her in check.

Chapter Text

Lucy loved games. The spark of excitement that came from competition. The adrenaline that thrummed throughout your body in the height of the contest. The rush of satisfaction that came with triumph. Any opportunity for a competition, Lucy was there for it.

And she met her match when she was paired with Tim, who was just as competitive as her.  Chasing the high of the win, they dominated anything they participated in. And if they were paired up, no one stood a chance.

But if that competitive spirit was turned on each other, everyone steered clear. The sparks alone could ignite the station.

Which was exactly why they’ve been making bets with each other practically since day one.

Only this time…she wasn’t sure it was as fun as it should be.

Because Lucy was in agony.

Tim was spooned against her in slumber, his erection hard as steel against her ass (was it possible for morning wood to feel harder than normal?), and all she wanted to do was fucking slide onto it.

It had been ten days since they started this bet. Ten days of teasing…of pushing and pulling…of pent up arousal that was sitting in a pressure cooker waiting for one of them to burst.

Lucy had never felt this…desperate in her life, not even when she was away from him for those six weeks in Sacramento. This…forced celibacy might’ve been the dumbest idea she’s ever had. Not that she’d tell her husband that.

He’d been deliberately trying to rile her up ever since the morning she’d paid him back in the shower, shocking his body with cold water. She tried to give as good as she got, but he was seriously testing her willpower.

First, he started wearing cargo pants daily, knowing that it gave her the perfect view of his package and his ass…a fact that she’d heard many female officers openly discussing in the locker room back when she and Tim were still secretly sleeping together and he was trying out for Metro.

Next, he’d changed up his workouts at home. Instead of using the gym Nolan had helped build, he started doing pushups right in front of their bed first thing in the morning. And pull ups in their doorway. Every. Fucking. Day. In nothing but some basketball shorts.

Then, he’d started finding any opportunity to call her ‘boot’ again, knowing exactly what it did to her. He’d been saying it to her so much at home, that now when she heard it said at work, her clit would throb, pussy immediately swelling in anticipation. It was a fucking pavlovian response that left her panties in a permanent state of ruin.

And then came the peaches.

Flashback…

Tim loved fruit. Whenever they’d go to the farmers market, he would always take a while to pick the best and chatted with the booth owners to determine what was good. Somehow, in all the time they’d been going together he’d only bought peaches once and it was to make a cobbler.

So, when he came home with a big ass bucket of peaches, Lucy was a little confused. But then he whipped one out and devoured it and suddenly she understood. Tim ate that peach like he’d eat her, sucking up all the juices—slurping noises and all. The first time she saw it (and heard it), it took every ounce of strength not to grab him by the hair, drag him to their room and sit on his face.

He'd hidden them from her too. Lucy tried to find them so she could help deplete the supply and put herself out of misery, but she could never figure out where he’d hidden them. Then suddenly, one would appear in his hand. At work, at home, it didn’t matter. And when he ate one…it was the most un-Sergeant Bradford like display—messy, wet, juices dribbling down his chin, little sounds at the back of his throat.

He even had the audacity to tease her with one at work one afternoon, knowing that there wasn’t much she could do to draw attention to their little game.

“Oh holy hell girl, that is what you’ve had behind closed doors?” Alison whispered to her as they waited in line for their food. She whistled quietly under her breath. “I’ve said it before…but I get it. I really get it.”

Lucy growled under her breath, narrowed eyes darting around the area, to see other fellow officers (women and men) mesmerized by the show he was putting on.  “Screw this. Fine. He wants to play this game here? We’ll play.”

 “What are you talking about?” Alison’s eyes flicked to her, seeing Lucy’s eyes flash with frustrated heat. “Wait, is this all because of your little bet?” She huffed out a little laugh, “You two are so fucking kinky I love it. You still haven’t even told me what this bet is about.”

Lucy didn’t pay any attention to her comment, “Wait here,” she said firmly, before heading to the smoothie truck and purchasing a banana. She peeled it quickly, and shoved as much of it into her mouth as she could get, eyes locked onto Tim. She caught a quick gulp from her husband as the tip of the fruit met the back of her throat before her lips closed around it, but just when she thought she’d gained the upper hand, he smirked, reached down next to him and pulled out another peach.

With a frustrated growl, she stomped back over to him, leaving Alison behind and yanked the peach out of his hand and sitting down hard on the seat next to him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” her eyes flashed at him and Tim looked at her innocently.

“What?” he shrugged, “I’m eating my lunch. What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out when you suddenly started liking peaches so damn much,” she glared. “It’s one fruit that you literally never buy unless you’re making cobbler.”

“Ah ha,” he said as if she’d missed an obvious point, “But I didn’t need it when I had yours. But you gave me no choice. So…this was second best. Sweet…juicy…delicious.”

Since then, Lucy started avoiding him at lunchtime, but she doubled down on eating popsicles at home. She even had gotten down sucking the juices out of them to a science. Any food was fair game at this point. It was a constant battle to see who would run out of the room first.

Tim retaliated by walking around naked any chance he got. He’d get naked as soon as he got home from work. Said that it felt better on his skin and he had forgotten how freeing it was since the honeymoon. She would’ve believed him if it hadn’t been for his dick jutting out and bouncing off his thigh like a fucking beacon.

Slipping discreetly out of his arms, Lucy turned to examine Tim, letting her eyes rove over his body. Her pussy clenched around nothing as she imagined his cock splitting her. She bit her lip, contemplating her next move. Her body was aching for him, already drenched by just the thought of him sliding inside her.

She’d exhibited an incredible amount of restraint for these past ten days. So much restraint, that she began to wonder if she’d have enough self-control to stop herself before she came.

It was Tim’s deep groan and sigh that catapulted her to a decision, and as he rolled over, Lucy took the time to shed her underwear and t-shirt, swinging a leg over his hips as he slowly began to wake.

“Am I dreaming?” he said sluggishly, blinking to clear the fog.

Lucy rotated her hips slightly, feeling the length of his cock sliding between her pussy lips as she seared him with her slick.  “Does that feel like you’re dreaming?” She shot back as his hands flew to her hips, a guttural moan sounding from his lips.

He cursed as Lucy raked her nails down his chest, cresting lightly over his nipples. “I think…I can handle it. The question is…can you?” she asked huskily.

Tim raised his brow, knowing exactly what she was trying to do. He clenched his teeth, his body coiled tightly beneath her writhing, but he was determined not to give in, keeping his voice low and even as he replied.  

“I can handle anything you want to throw at me. Made it this far, haven’t I? Seems like you might be the one with the problem.” Digging his fingernails into her flesh, in a flash he had flipped her onto her back, her breasts bouncing as she landed beneath him.

“I think you might have that backwards,” she responded, the sudden movement making her gasp and taking the sass out of her tone. Her breath hitched in anticipation when Tim dipped two fingers inside her pussy, gathering more of her juices before pumping his cock. His head fell back, abs contracting at the sensation of pleasuring himself for the first time in over a week, his balls already tingling and tightening and Tim found himself groaning despite himself.  

Lucy was riveted as she watched him jerking his dick, reaching down to shove two fingers inside herself, feeling her pussy already beginning to flutter. At her moan, Tim lifted his head, eyes darkening when he saw her hand moving. Swatting it away quickly, he snapped his hips, sheathing himself inside her wet heat, reveling in the way Lucy’s back arched off the bed, her moans bouncing off the walls.

Each stroke felt like he was hitting every neglected nerve ending in her body, his cock stoking the flame that had been burning inside her. He was swelling and pulsating as he lifted her hips higher so his dick could drag along her most sensitive hidden flesh. Eyes locked, Lucy met him thrust after thrust. He slid one hand from her hip to work her clit and Lucy felt herself catapulting towards an explosion that she wasn’t even sure she was ready for. All thoughts of bets and winning ceased to exist as Tim’s cock swelled even further and she felt his balls tightening against her ass.

And just as quickly as things had spiraled out of control…it was gone.

Tim had pulled away quickly and Lucy flopped back onto the bed, arms and legs flailing while she looked around frantically in confusion.

“Tim—wha—? What the fuck?!” Her glare was murderous, her body, empty and still vibrating with need.

Tim stood at the foot of the bed, cock red, angry and leaking, the veins in his neck and forehead bulging with strain. His jaw flexed with the effort to get himself under control. Had it been any other day, any other set of circumstances, he would be cowering under the glare she was laying on him. But Lucy was the one who created this bet, who got him to agree to this ridiculous mess, so he was giving her a taste of her own medicine. 

“You didn’t think you were going to convince me to throw the bet, did you?” Somehow, he managed to twist his face into a smirk.

Lucy’s jaw dropped and lifted up to recline on her elbows, “Wha—are you serious?!”

“You created this bet, baby,” he replied, smirk still on his face, “You should be happy I stopped. But it’s like you said…payback’s a bitch.” Pushing away from the bed, he headed to their bathroom, listening to Lucy’s angry growl fade out behind him as he switched on the water to take a shower.

A cold one.

But Lucy didn’t need to know that.

For as by the book as Tim was, he was quite sure he might commit murder sometime in the next ten days.

And when Lucy was helping him hide the body…he’d remind her that she brought it on herself.

And then he’d fuck her into oblivion.

That was how much this insane bet had gotten his thoughts spiraling completely out of control.

If he’d been thinking rationally, he would have told himself that he was responsible for his own actions and could’ve called the bet off if he wanted to. But his balls were full, his brain was short circuiting (not in a good way), and he was wound tighter than a coil preparing to snap.

Lucy had made it her personal mission to get him to lose it.

Nowhere was safe, not even work. If Tim was around, she was taunting him.

It started when she pretended to forget her signature on some paperwork and rushed out of the locker room before she got to change out of her uniform.

But she’d taken her bun down.

And Tim knew he was rightfully fucked.

Aside from the million other fantasies he’d had about her and the various states he’d seen her in over the years, Lucy in uniform with her hair down was something that he hadn’t seen. He’d mentioned it in some offhanded comment once; something whispered during foreplay. But he didn’t realize she’d remembered it till now as she sauntered through the bullpen.

Tim had done a double take when he glanced up from the report he’d been reviewing and could barely get any words out when he watched her hips sway as she walked, her long, full mane of chestnut hair flowing behind her. His eyes flitted around the bullpen, narrowing when he saw that she’d also drawn the attention of other fellow officers.

And then she’d added insult to injury which caused all his blood to rush south. She’d turned to face him after performatively reviewing a document and then smirked, “accidentally” dropping the pen and paper she was holding and sank unnecessarily to her knees to get them, eyes locked on Tim.

His mind flashed to her mouth on his cock, uniform shirt opened and pants unbuttoned, while Tim’s hand fisted her hair into a ponytail.  

“Oops,” she giggled innocently, as she picked up the items and stood up. Tim’s jaw clenched as she placed the file back in the bin, flipped her hair over her shoulder and headed back towards the locker room.

She didn’t forget to peek over her shoulder though.

“If I’d known angels walked this close to the ground, I’d have started lookin’ up a lot sooner,” an awed southern drawl sounded from next to him and Tim turned to see Officer Penn staring in Lucy’s wake. Fire burned in his chest.

“What did I tell you about laying eyes on Officer Chen like that, boot?!” Tim barked and Penn was startled from his thoughts to see Tim glaring at him.

“Uh…I…sir…I didn’t mean anything by it—”

“She is your superior Officer and you will treat her as such. The only reason I haven’t given you a blue page yet is because Officer Chen defended your Southern charm. But know this…if I hear another word out of you commenting Officer Chen—or any other officer’s—appearance again, I will have you of here faster than you can say ‘giddy up.’ Is that understood?”

Penn looked appropriately contrite when he nodded, “Yes sir.”

“Go change out. End of shift.”

That was early on. It had only gotten worse since then. She’d taken to buying some fruity ass popsicles and then sucking daylights out of the sinfully phallic confection while they watched a show (the juices were gone). The first time she did it, Tim may have shed a tear. He definitely didn’t miss the smirk that was on her face, and so he’d retaliated by buying a bunch of peaches and going to work on them as if he was feasting on Lucy’s sweet pussy. Unfortunately, all his efforts did was make her suck those popsicles harder.

One day he walked out of the bathroom without a towel and then decided to grab his coffee in the nude. Lucy had gotten up, glared at him and suddenly it was like they were catapulted to the couple of weeks after their honeymoon. Only this time even their nudity was a competition. It was a mad dash to see who could get naked faster once they got home. Who would inevitably do something that had the other racing to escape the other for the relief of the pool or shower?

It didn’t matter, though. She upped the game. Wearing the most revealing outfits she’s ever worn to work every day with the hottest lingerie beneath it. Making sure she was always walking two steps in front of him, an extra swing in her hips to taunt him, knowing that her ass and thighs where his favorite.

And then this morning she was fully prepared to let him fuck her into oblivion and what did he do? Stopped it under some bonehead guise that it was payback, when in reality he was about to explode inside her and didn’t want to lose.

At this point, Tim was fairly certain he’d lost all his brain cells and now all he had were heavy balls and a bad attitude. He’d been stalking through the station with a permanent scowl that everyone had been steering clear of him. It was like he’d regressed in a matter of days. 

To top it all off, it was Valentine’s Day.  A day they’d usually spend fucking each other’s brains out any chance they had. Instead, in just a couple of hours they’d be attending a charity gala that Luna was hosting—dressed to the nines, drinks flowing and a hotel suite he’d booked three weeks ago. His lovely wife clearly did not think this through. How the hell were they going to make it through the night?

He had to make it through shift first.

And right now, the citizens of Los Angeles were not making his life any easier. Somehow, he’d gone viral yesterday on Clip Talk and was being dubbed #GrumpyCop simply because he wasn’t interested in helping some asshat who decided to use vandalism to propose to his girlfriend. It was a fact that his boot—and his wife—were all too happy to remind him of.

To keep his sanity, he suggested that they get ready separately, knowing that if he saw Lucy getting ready, it was highly possible he’d blow his load just slipping his underwear on. It was decided that he’d give her a ride to the hotel and then would meet her at the gala.  

He’d caught a sliver of lace through the little window of the garment bag as he placed it in the car and it caused him to let out a little strangled groan. Lucy smirked but said nothing as she slipped into the passenger seat. Tim placed his hand on her thigh and heard Lucy’s breath catch in her throat as his fingers dug in possessively while he pulled out of the driveway, tension simmering during the ride as her garment bag swayed in the back seat, taunting him.

“What time are you picking up Genny?” Lucy asked him a little breathlessly, which made his heart beat a little faster. At least he wasn’t the only one affected.

“I told her I’d pick her up 20 minutes before the event starts,” Tim said, lifting his hand to turn a particularly sharp corner. “That way we’ll get there only a few minutes after things start, but not too early. I’ll call you when we’re on our way. Are you still getting ready with Celina and Alison?”

“I think so. Since we got the suite, Ali was adamant, especially when I mentioned that you were going to get ready at home and pick up Genny.”

Tim let out a little laugh, shaking his head, “On brand for her.”

Lucy grinned, “Isn’t it though? Once you decided that you couldn’t handle seeing me get ready, Alison was adamant that we pay homage to the glory days, when we’d get ready to go out with music, a couple of drinks and makeup scattered all over the bathroom.”

“Excuse me,” he replied indignantly, “You just wait ‘til you see my suit. I think it might be you that can’t handle it. Also, tell Alison she better not wreck our room or I’m bringing Kojo over to her apartment and ordering him to tear up her bedroom like he did to your apartment all those years ago.”

An hour and a half later, Lucy had showered, blow dried and her curls hair which was pinned up to preserve it.  Tim had some refreshments sent to their room and she was relaxing on the sofa, a glass of champagne in her hand and a plate of fresh fruit and crackers on the coffee table in front of her while some reality show played on the TV in front of her.

A knock at the door signaled that Alison and Celina had finally arrived. “Come on, Sunshine! Open up so we can see how hot you look!”

Rolling her eyes, Lucy placed her glass down and headed to open the door. Celina and Alison stood on the other side, hair in curlers, but dresses on, make up bag and shoes in hand.

“Hi Ladies,” Lucy said sardonically as Alison and Celina entered looking around the spacious suite.

“This is nice,” Celina said, impressed. “You guys really splurged, huh?”

“Yeah, Tim was annoyed when he found out Nolan got the bigger suite. He wanted the one with the most square footage, but he got to it first. So, we got the third largest room or something.” Lucy rolled her eyes, “I told him it was fine. We didn’t need all that space.”

Celina and Alison both laughed ironically, heading towards the ice bucket and charcuterie board to help themselves.

“Are you kidding?” Alison scoffed, “They way you two go at it, you need all the space you can get. No way, Nolan and Bailey would even know what to do with all that space.”

Lucy sighed, once again kicking herself for the stupid bet. “Yeah well…we won’t need it tonight.”

“You guys have been off these past couple of weeks. Are you two fighting or something?” Celina asked her in concern, brow furrowing as she popped a grape in her mouth.

“Or something,” Lucy mumbled taking a swig of her champagne. The two women stared at her in confusion before realization dawned in Alison’s eyes.

“Does this have anything to do with your ridiculous bet that you still won’t tell any of us about?”

Lucy was silent for a moment. Their friends all knew they were in some kind of bet, and that it had to do with sex, but both Lucy and Tim had made it a point not to tell them the exact terms. So everyone had just watched them devolve without a clue as to why. It was her frustration that caused her to break.

“We aren’t allowed to come for three weeks. Whoever breaks first loses and has to spend a week doing whatever the other person wants.”

Alison immediately barked out a laugh as the trio headed into the spacious bathroom to begin doing their makeup, “You mean to tell me you and Bradford are going three weeks without? Oh my god no wonder you two are acting insane.”

“Is three weeks really that long though?” Celina asked, beginning to take out the contents of her bag: primer, foundation, concealer…the works.

Alison shot her a look, “Lina…these two can barely go a day without it. Do you really think they’d be able to make weeks?”

“It’s been…hard,” Lucy finally said.

“No shit,” Alison laughed, “I had to watch you deep throat a damn banana, while Bradford made me even more envious of your pussy when he was eating that peach. At work.”

“What?” Celina looked positively scandalized, dropping the hand holding her foundation stick to the vanity surface, eyes wide and mouth open as she turned to Lucy. “When was this!?”

“I can’t believe you didn’t hear about it,” Alison said letting out another laugh as Lucy fanned her face waiting for her primer to dry and her flush to recede. “A lot of people missed Sunshine’s display over here, but Bradford’s sinful indulgence in that peach was the talk of the women’s locker room.”

“Oh my god,” Lucy’s head dropped down in embarrassment, “We have completely lost it. I’ve successfully managed to break Tim Bradford and myself. All our brain cells…just gone.”

“You know you can just fix all of this if you let him rail you,” Alison shrugged her shoulders, finally picking up her foundation, seeing Lucy’s eyes flash with defiance in the mirror.

“I can’t,” she huffed, picking up a brush to begin blending, “It’s the principle. I already almost caved once. If I break now, it will stay with me until the end of time. I’m not letting him win.”

“It’s just an orgasm, Lucy. We can even give you some privacy if you needed to take care of things now. No one would say anything,” Celina offered.

“No,” she replied fiercely, “He would know as soon as he saw me. Just as I would know the same for him. No one knows my body like he does.”

“You two are so fuckin’ weird, I swear,” Alison shook her head, “Hot? Yes. Horny as fuck? Yes. But so fuckin’ weird. Like you literally created the competition in your own mind and created extended foreplay or an extended version of orgasm denial.”

“No one asked for your opinion, Ponds,” Lucy shot back and Alison gasped.

“Wait…is this like some BDSM kink shit? Are you guys into that?”

“Ali…you were at Bailey’s bachelorette. Don’t you remember ‘Never Have I Ever’?” Lucy glanced at her before turning back towards the mirror to line her eyes.

“I sure won’t ever forget it,” Celina commented, swiping some gloss on her lips. “I learned way too much about my superior officers that day.”

“I got drunk, and we finally hooked up,” Alison replied, putting the finishing touches on her makeup and putting the items away, zipping up the bag. She pushed up her breasts in the cups of the tight, corseted black number she had on, and fluffed her hair. “I don’t remember much else but that and the fact that Sunshine outed her and Bradford. And that they got it on, on a pole.”

“You guys are ridiculous,” Lucy rolled her eyes unclipping the pins from her hair, letting her curls fall. “Now, shoo because I need to change into my dress. I’ll be right out.”

“Lookin’ good Timothy,” Tim whirled around as he walked into the ballroom with Genny to see Angela, Wesley and their friend Gretchen sauntering up to him. “I’m always surprised when I see you clean up nice.”

“Gee thanks Lopez,” he said drily, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek, “You look beautiful as always.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” Genny narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him for a minute, then turning to Angela, “He’s been surprisingly complimentary this evening.”

Tim rolled his eyes, “Can’t I just be nice?”

Angela touched Genny on the shoulder, leaning over conspiratorially, “It’s because he went viral on Clip Talk the other day. They’re dubbing him #GrumpyCop.”

“Stop it, are you serious?” Genny’s jaw dropped open as she turned to her brother, “Why did I not know about this?”

“Girl you missed out. It was the talk of the station,” Nyla said, coming up with James. “Lucy was reminding him every chance she got.”

“I can’t believe Lucy didn’t immediately text me about this!” Genny exclaimed, looking at Tim accusingly, as if he somehow influenced the silence, smacking him on the shoulder. “What did you do?”

“Ow! What?! Why do you assume I did something? Or that something is even wrong?”

“Oh please,” she scoffed, “It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re getting ready separately? You picked me up? Not to mention, you’re way more tense than usual. Something is clearly going on.”

“Something’s going on alright,” Angela smirked, “But it’s not what you think. He and Lucy have some weird sex bet going on. It’s making them do crazy shit.”

Tim frowned, “Wha—how did you?”

“Our buddy Alison texted me a little while ago to give me the download while Lucy was changing.” Angela shook her head, “It’s not wonder you two have been acting like cavepeople these past few weeks. I almost thought I was going to have to get Grey involved with the way Tim was scaring people.” 

Genny wrinkled her nose, “Ew.”

Tim didn’t even get a chance to respond because the crowd near them parted, and he was struck speechless.

Lucy had entered the ballroom.

Tim was pretty certain she was standing with Celina and Alison, but he only had eyes for his gorgeous wife.

He started from her feet. Her black-cherry red toes peeking out from some strappy black heels. His eyes trailed up, tracing the muscular curves of her sculpted legs that called onlookers like a damn siren every time she took a step.

The slit of the black satin wrap dress was torturously high. Lucy knew what it would do to him. Because…her thighs.

Goddamnit her thighs.

He already felt the stirrings of arousal, and he hadn’t even finished drinking her in. His gaze raked up her midsection, the sash of the dress perfectly cinching her waist, he could only imagine what she looked like from the back. He paused at the deep v of her cleavage, her breast full, pert, yet still sitting comfortably at her chest. They were relaxed in a way that made her look seem effortless. He followed the hollow of her neck up to her face where he found her penetrating gaze on him, doing the exact same as he was to her, only she was still making her way up his chest. 

When their eyes finally locked, they stepped towards each other, pulled together in almost a trance, completely oblivious to their friends.

Tim’s hands encircled her hips possessively, as Lucy’s arms wrapped around his neck.

“You…” Tim pulled back just slightly to give Lucy another once over, “Look incredible.”

Lucy slid her hands down to the lapels of Tim’s charcoal suit jacket, tugging him in towards her with a smile, “You’re not so bad yourself.” She pushed up on her toes and Tim met her halfway, grinning into the kiss.

“Oh, really?” He murmured against her lips.

“Yes,” she replied, still grinning. “Very Bond.”

Tim opened his mouth to respond but she swallowed it, sucking in a deep breath through her nose as they both sank into the kiss. They hadn’t kissed that often over the past couple of weeks, each knowing that as soon as their lips touched, everything else would fly out the window. There was an unspoken agreement that kisses were reserved for greetings and farewells during the course of the bet.

But now, with each of them looking so good, there was no way they’d be able to keep their hands off each other. And so, the two lost themselves in the kiss, Lucy’s arms returning to his neck, and Tim’s sliding from her hips to the dip in her back. He pulled her flush against him, fingers flexing with the desire to grip the fabric, but he didn’t.  He desperately wanted to keep going, to slide his hands over the swell of her ass but stopped himself just far enough so no one would call him out for being indecent.

“Ay! Bradfords!” Angela called, “I know you two are deprived or whatever, but save some of that for your room why don’t you?”

“I think that’s the problem,” Alison chimed in, “These two idiots have put themselves in a situation where they can’t even use their room.”

“So now we all have to suffer for it?” Nyla rolled her eyes, “Go find a coat room or something.”

Tim and Lucy pulled away, resting their foreheads against each other. “Only a few more days til I win,” Lucy said breathlessly.

“In your dreams, Chen,” Tim shot back, and Lucy stepped out of his arms to glare at him, hands on her hips.

“Call me Chen one more time, I dare you.”

“Okay, before this can get any crazier,” Wesley said, holding his hands up like he was preparing to break up a brawl, “Angela, Nyla, why don’t you take Gretchen to meet Detective Graham?”

Angela gave him a little suspicious look and then exchanged a glance with Nyla before looping her arm through Gretchen’s. “Come on, Gretch. Let’s go before my husband decides to tap back into his lawyerness and not be as agreeable.”

Gretchen gave a little grin, allowing herself to be led off while Nyla sighed, but followed, curious to see how Wesley and Angela’s obvious matchmaking plan would play out.

Before Wesley could respond, Genny chimed in eagerly. “And in the meantime, ladies what do you say we check out the other bar? I ‘m going to need to be far away from my brother if I have any hope of meeting a guy tonight.”

The remaining women laughed as Tim’s mouth fell open as he looked at his sister in offense. “Wow, sis. Tell me how you really feel.”

“I’m sorry, I love you but this is gonna go much better if I’m flying solo,” she replied then nudged Lucy and Alison, “Or at least with a few hot wingman women next to me.”

“Amen to that, sister,” Alison said, pivoting towards the other side of the ballroom, “Let’s go.”

The group splintered off and a few moments later, Wesley, Tim and James found themselves leaning against the bar, nursing their drinks. James was watching the guests mingle and peruse the silent auction items, while Wesley kept an eye on his matchmaking wife to see if Detective Graham and Gretchen hit it off. Tim still only had eyes for his wife, who glanced at him heatedly over her shoulder from the second bar on the other side of the ballroom.

“So since when are you a matchmaker?” James asked Wesley, causing Tim to finally break his gaze.

Wesley turned back to them, “Let’s just say…Detective Graham seems to have a…unique interest in Angela, and I needed him to get off that trail.”

“You do know, there’s no threat there right?” Tim said dryly and Wesley shot him a look. “Angela would never step out on you.”

“Oh I know that,” Wesley said though the slight waver in his voice had Tim’s brow furrowing.

“Seriously, Wes,” Tim placed a hand on his shoulder, “I don’t know where this is suddenly coming from, but I know Angela. You know Angela. You two are solid. Detective Graham is just…annoying.”

“Yeah man, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” James added. “You guys are one of the strongest relationships I’ve ever seen.”

Wesley breathed out a little laugh after swallowing a sip of whiskey. “I know,” he shook his head, “No I know, and you’re right. But…if I can eliminate a target before it becomes a threat…why not right?”

Tim narrowed his eyes, “Are you sure you and Angela didn’t do a body swap? Thank goodness this isn’t a lawyer gala. You all are a lot less understanding when it comes to word choice.”

James snorted and pointed towards them with his glass, “Man’s got a point.”

“Well speaking of wives…what’s going on with you and yours Tim? All Angela’s been doing for the past two weeks is coming home to tell me about how, yet again, you are the talk of the women’s locker room.”

Tim looked stricken, “What are you talking about?”

“Oh yeah, we heard about this one when we were over there for dinner the other night,” James said wryly, signaling for another round from the bartender, “Something about you guys, a bet and a peach?”  

“Oh god,” Tim closed his eyes with a groan, “Lucy and I have a bet…”

“Obviously,” Wesley interrupted with a gleeful grin and Tim cut his eyes at him while Wesley just laughed.

“I won’t go into detail…but it’s making us do all sorts of shit.”

“Seems so,” James added brightly.

“Alright, I won’t pry,” Wesley said, “I’m not completely channeling my wife tonight.”

“Thanks for that,” Tim said flatly.  

“Okay, on that note,” James said, gabbing his fresh glass, “I am going to find Nyla. There are a couple of people from the community center here tonight and I want to make our rounds.”

Wesley and Tim raised their glasses in a casual toast as James disappeared into the crowd. Before Tim could even lower his drink, Lucy appeared in front of him, slipping a hand onto his forearm.

“Okay, don’t hate me,” she said a little too brightly.

He gave her a look, raising a brow, “What did you do?”

She shook her head. “No, no…you’re supposed to say, ‘I could never hate you.’”

“Okay…I’m going to find my wife now,” Wesley said, taking a cautious step back, and quickly retreating before he could get caught up in whatever was about to happen.

“You’re welcome, by the way, Wes!” Lucy called after him, then turned back to Tim with a sheepish smile.

“What did you do?” Tim asked again and Lucy grimaced.

“Soo…you know how Detective Graham has the hots for Angela? And Angela agreed to invite Gretchen along to help Wesley play matchmaker?”

“Ange caught that did she?”

Lucy gave him a pointed look. “If you caught the fact that Detective Graham had the hots for Angela, guarantee Angela caught the fact that Wesley was playing matchmaker.”

“I’m going to ignore that dig,” he muttered, “Now, we both know I could never hate you, so, tell me what you did.”

“Well, they were hitting it off really well…and I figured we were still in our bet so…”

“Lucy…”

“I might have…given our room to Graham and Gretchen,” she said in a rush.

“Lucy!”

“I know! I’m sorry! It was in the spirit of matchmaking! Plus, it’s not like we were gonna use it to its fullest extent. We’re in a bet!”

“Oh, screw the bet!”

“Sorry interrupt you guys,” a somber voice interrupted beside them and the couple turned to see Nolan walking up next to them.

“Hey! We’ve been wondering where you guys were!” Lucy said cheerfully, though her smile faltered as she took in his face. “Where’s Bailey?”

“She left,” he said simply.

Lucy blinked in surprise. “Oh. Is everything…okay?”

Nolan didn’t answer right away. The couple had been through it recently, with Bailey’s ex-husband breaking out of jail and suddenly returning to terrorize her. Everyone had felt the edge of the tension that simmered between the couple as Nolan became more and more protective, but fortunately, they’d made it out on the other side, with an unfortunately fatal end for Jason.

The gala was a perfect opportunity for them to relax and enjoy each other in the wake of all the stress, but it seemed that things had taken a turn. 

Nolan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a plastic key card, placing it gently on the bar. “If you know anyone needs a room tonight,” he said, his voice tight, “they can have that one.”   

He turned and walked away, shoulders slumped, sticking out amidst the happiness of the event.

The couple stared after him, stunned. “Did you know there was something going on with them?” Lucy asked.

“No,” Tim shook his head, “they seemed to be fine after everything went down. But they were in a pressure cooker before everything happened with Jason. If it never boiled over but they were just sweeping it aside, it might have finally come to a head.”

They watched Nolan exit the ballroom, silence stretching between them, Lucy lost in thought over how to help her friends.

Then she turned back to Tim, just as he pocketed the key card with a sigh.

“Well, on the bright side, you can’t be mad at me anymore,” She grinned. “Not when we ended up with the room you wanted in the first place.”

Tim gave her a look somewhere between exasperation and affection as he dipped his head to capture her lips. “You, Mrs. Bradford, are unbelievable.”

“I know,” she said sweetly. “And that’s why you love me.”

TBC...

Chapter Text

After they’d secured the key to the largest suite in the hotel, Tim arranged for their belongings to be moved from their previous suite. Then suddenly, the husband of one of James’ community center volunteers decided to showcase exactly the type of man he was by getting drunk and belligerent in the middle of the event. Tim stepped in and Lucy unexpectedly found herself witnessing her husband taking the man down in a move worthy of any blockbuster action movie.

The James Bond-like suit that he’d done it in had been her undoing. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she felt arousal beginning to drip and the undergarments she’d decided on would do nothing to hide her state from anyone else. She’d all but dragged Tim to their room after discovering the cut on the back of his neck.

Lucy had managed to clean his cut with the first aid kit Luna had sent up and was preparing to bandage it, then try to figure out what happened next. But then Tim stood to face her, their eyes locking, the heat between them crackling and Lucy felt the swoop of arousal in her gut. Tim’s eyes flashed, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to touch, to taste—God, she wanted to devour him.

Tim had already said screw the bet. All she needed to do was give in.

“Fuck the bet, Tim.” Lucy practically growled, tossing the bandage aside and grabbing his face, “I can’t take it anymore. I need you.”

Tim was ready for her, meeting her halfway, his chest rumbling with desire as their mouths collided. He tugged her roughly to him and then shoved her back against the credenza, making it teeter backwards, thumping against the wall.

Lucy’s hand flailed a little as she caught her balance and a shattering sound of ceramic hitting the wood floor reverberated loudly in the room, but they didn’t miss a beat. Hands groped and grabbed at whatever flesh or fabric they could find, their mouths fused, tongues dueling furiously.

She grunted as Tim lifted her to the console, the TV banging against the wall as her shoulder hit it, the sound of items thudding as they hit the floor. Her teeth dug into his lip and tugged, Tim hissing as her nails sank into the back of his neck, the sting of pain shooting down from the small cut.

“Sorry,” she gasped out against his mouth, teeth scraping along his lip as she spoke.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he rasped out, pulling away to sink his teeth into the vein pulsating in front of her neck tattoo.

“Fuck, yes,” she moaned, arching into him. Tim smirked around her flesh, sucking a bruise into her jugular. Lucy’s legs were wrapped around his hips and her arousal was soaking through his trousers, right against the erection that was straining against his zipper.

Releasing her neck from his mouth, he leaned back up to capture her lips again, his hand engulfing her jaw as he kissed her, possessive and fierce, claiming her mouth just as he had marked her neck. Lucy welcomed it, giving back just as good as she got, nipping at him again and digging her nails into his shoulders to hold herself upright.

“Shit, please, Tim,” she whined against his lips, not quite sure what she was asking for—his hands, his mouth, his cock—it didn’t matter, she just needed the edge taken off.

“Yeah,” he choked out, knowing instinctively what she was asking for.  He gripped the sash at her waist and tugged, the knot releasing easily. Taking a half step back, he looked down and let out a strangled sound somewhere between a groan and a whine.

The lingerie set she’d chosen was sheer, its bra a deep-v embroidered with intricate patterns that only accentuated the fullness of her chest, her nipples straining through the mesh.

But it was the panties that made his mouth water. A detailed butterfly covered her apex which gave way to the crotchless opening that presented her to him. Her cunt and thighs were glistening from the arousal that began in the ballroom and Tim found himself licking his lips as he watched her opening contract with need.

“Tim,” she whined again, reaching down to squeeze her lips together. A bit of her pearly fluid dripped down, and he saw it catch for a moment before falling to her ass.

“Fuuck,” Tim growled, spurring into action, his hand encircling her wrist, yanking it away.

With one hand gripping the back of her neck, he sank two fingers in with the other and Lucy moaned loudly, throwing her head back in relief at him finally penetrating her. Tim leaned in, latching himself to the length of her neck, nipping at the bruise he knew would be there tomorrow, their groans and pants filling the room.  He rutted his cock against the inside of her thigh, feeling his own sort of desperation as his fingers thrust and curled with purpose, caressing the spot inside that would send her into bliss.

They both knew she wouldn’t last long, his thumb soon joining his fingers, and it took only a few swipes of her clit to send her over the edge, juices flowing down his hand to the wooden surface. Her body shuddered, eyes squeezed tight, colors exploding behind them as her hands clawed at his back to steady herself. Tim held her to him through the aftershocks, his fingers still thrusting shallowly, coaxing her back to reality.

Finally, she lifted her head, eyes glazed and hair deliciously mussed. Dropping her hands to Tim’s wrist, she pulled a little, his fingers slipping from her entrance with a soft squelch. He watched, mesmerized as she lifted his hand, encircling the base of his wet index and middle fingers with her own and guiding them to her mouth.

She took them deep, laving her tongue around the wet digits, sucking them clean of her essence. Tim felt his fingers hit the back of her throat and cursed, his breath ragged.

Pulling away for a second, she let go of his hand. “Fuck my mouth with your fingers.”

Instantly, they were back in her mouth, Tim’s thumb curled beneath her chin as his fingers followed instructions. He groaned, watching the saliva begin to drip as he slid to the back of her mouth and the slight gagging sound with each plunge.

“Fuck, look at you,” Tim said huskily, pausing for a moment to give her a break, “Are you taking my fingers to get ready for my cock?”

Lucy nodded around them, and Tim caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Take me out then, baby. I’m so fucking ready for you.”

At that, Lucy turned them both so Tim leaned against the dresser and quickly reached for his belt buckle, fumbling with the clasp. Tim pulled his hand out of her mouth as she worked, dragging his knuckles down her neck, leaving a wet trail to her chest where he tweaked a nipple, making her gasp. She finally got the button and zipper undone and tugged his pants down his hips, releasing his cock.

Pushing him back she stood up, letting her dress fall to the floor, before she sank to her knees, flipping her hair to one side. She made quite the picture, looking up at him with promise in her eyes before taking his base in hand. Suddenly, he was deep, so deep inside her warm, wet mouth and he let out a strangled gasp at the sudden sensation. He was down her throat after the second bob, the head of his cock slipping into the tight opening, Lucy dropped the hand at his base, pushing deeper, and Tim hissed.

His hand flew to the back of her head, curling his fingers in her hair, holding her in place while she breathed out her nose. “Fuck, that’s it,” he said through gritted teeth as his cock slipped into the tight passage of her throat.

After a few moments, she pulled back, Tim’s fingers ruffling the back of her hair and she glanced up with glassy eyes, her mouth full and his fingers flexed with arousal. She returned her focus, saliva dripping out the corners of her lips and hitting the floor with low slaps as she pleasured him. When her throat needed a break, her hand joined in. Each time her head pulled back her fingers caressed the tip of his cock before her mouth was on him again, gliding down to the base and back up.

“Fuck, baby, you suck me so good,” Tim rasped, his hips beginning to thrust, and Lucy knew she’d found the rhythm he liked. If his cock was in her mouth, her husband preferred well-paced consistency over fast and wild. She lifted her hand between his legs, cupping his balls that had drawn up. She tugged gently, letting out a little moan of satisfaction when Tim’s breath hitched.

“I wanna come on your tits, baby,” he groaned as his cock swelled in her mouth, stretching her lips around his girth, “Fuck, I want to cum on your tits and then lick it up so I can give it to your mouth.”

Lucy looked up at him through hooded eyes and pulled away with a final suck to his head, causing Tim to let out another grunt. Keeping his sack in her left hand she jerked his cock firmly with her right, relishing in the noises she was pulling from him.

Tim began to mumble a steady string of curses, the base of his spine tingling, and his stomach tightening as his body prepared to shatter. Lucy’s fingers crept further past his sack and just as she felt him beginning to climax, she pressed two hard against his taint, massaging it firmly.

He shouted and not even a mere moment later, his load shot out and onto her chest, neck, and chin in thick spurts, painting her in rope after rope of his milky cum, Tim’s body jerking almost violently. Tim was wheezing, thankful for the table behind him to catch him as he lost control.  Little by little, Lucy released the pressure against his perineum as he rode out his orgasm, his cock twitching in her hand as it softened.  

“Holy shit,” he finally managed, slumping against the console, and looking down at Lucy who smiled up at him her mouth gleaming.

“Glad to be of service,” she lifted her hand to wipe her lips when Tim stopped her with a hand around her wrist.

“Ah, ah, ah,” he cocked a brow at her. “I believe that’s mine to give to you, remember?” He rasped, jerking his chin towards the bed, “Get on the bed.”

Eyes sparkling, Lucy allowed Tim to help her to her feet, still clad in her heels. She backed up, never breaking contact with him, eyes still locked. He kicked off his shoes, letting his pants and underwear fall to the ground, and stepped out of them to follow. Lucy shimmied her hips to settle more comfortably on the king-sized bed with help from Tim, then leaned back onto her elbows, her slick chest gleaming beneath the low light of the room.

“Well?” she quirked an eyebrow at him, “Aren’t you gonna come get it?”

Tim’s eyes darkened. Instead of responding he stepped between her knees, bracing himself with a hand on the bed, and swooped down, lapping up his own cum, collecting it beneath his tongue. He traced the swell of her left breast, then her right, Lucy arching into his trailing muscle. His path ended at her mouth, and he cupped his hand around her chin, fingers clutching her jaw to coax her mouth open.

The salty stream dripped into her waiting mouth, and he felt her muscles swallowing beneath his hand as he watched it disappear down her throat. Neither could speak, but both could easily read what they weren’t saying.

That’s it…drink me down.

Give it to me.

Spit and cum mingled as the last of Tim landed in Lucy’s waiting throat, and he ducked his head, still clutching her face, licking into her mouth. She wrapped her lips around his tongue sucking every drop that still lingered, Tim, grunting at the pressure.

“I ate you, baby,” she said breathlessly as she finally pulled away and Tim released her face, both flushed at their display. “I think it’s only fair if you eat me.”

Tim smiled wolfishly, “Oh you bet your ass I’m gonna.”

He tucked a searching hand behind her back, unfastening the clasp when he found it. Sitting back on his knees he pulled it down her arms to reveal her breasts, heavy with arousal and waiting for him. He circled her left nipple with his tongue, fluttering then sucking it between his lips, while his hand worked her right breast, flicking and tugging.

Lucy felt herself growing wetter, ready for him to continue his path down her body, but Tim was content to lavish attention on her chest, eliciting sounds from her as he drove her pleasure higher. If he wasn’t going to move down, she wanted more though, wanted him to mark her so she felt it when his cock was finally inside her and her nipples throbbed. She wanted to feel it in the morning.

“Fuck, bite me, baby,” she mewled, arching into his mouth, her hands tangled in the short strands of his hair, “Make my nipples feel it.”

At her words, Tim felt the blood rush to his half-hard cock. Not one to ignore her instruction, he bared his teeth, first dragging them gently along her nipple then diving back in and sucking, his hand still working at her other breast. Lucy tugged his hair, pressing his head closer, and suddenly his teeth sunk in, biting around her areola first. Lucy cried out at the sudden pain, knees squeezing his sides, her nails digging into Tim’s scalp, gripping his hair tightly as her back bowed.

He immediately soothed the bite with his tongue and Lucy relaxed. “Again,” she commanded huskily.

Her shout bounced off the walls of the room as Tim bit her nipple, then laved his tongue over it before taking it back between her teeth and tugging. His grunt mingled with her moans as a sharp pain shot across his scalp from Lucy’s hold on his hair.

Tim pulled away to give her other breast the same attention, his hand softly caressing the marks he’d made on the other.  A sheen of sweat had broken out over Lucy’s body as she tensed and trembled under Tim’s ministrations. Loosening her grip, she pushed his head and this time Tim moved, sliding off the bed to kneel on the floor.

He tugged her hips towards the edge then lifted her legs, pushing them back so her feet rested near her ears (sending a silent thank you to the universe for her hours of yoga practice). Everything was bared to him, wet and waiting and Tim took a moment to breathe her in, appreciating the intoxicating sweetness that was distinctly Lucy.

Licking a stripe from her entrance to her clit he spread her lips, pulled back, and spit, watching the bubbly moisture fall around her little bud.  He met her eyes as he leaned back in, catching the liquid and circling her clit with his tongue.

He sucked, smacking sounds filling the room. “Ngggh!” Lucy cried out as her head fell back on the bed.

His mouth worked her furiously, the continuous flow of arousal seeping out of her, soaking her ass and the bed. Her breath was stuttered, and her legs added pressure against the marks he’d left before, causing Lucy’s body to tremble with the cacophony of sensations. Her pussy pulsed, clit thrumming under his attention and she felt her pending orgasm beginning to radiate out like shockwaves.

Tim moved lower as her moans got louder, knowing she was close and latched his mouth to her rim. He tongued the tight ring around her asshole, reaching up to plunge two fingers into her pussy and using his remaining hand to rub her stiff clit.

“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck…” she released steadily as her senses were overwhelmed, and Tim gave her as good as she had given him.

Lucy shrieked as the world around her exploded in light, sending a flood of juices towards Tim, soaking his face. He drank as much as he could, hungrily grunting through the onslaught as Lucy shook above him.

Giving her no time to recover, Tim quickly, stood, bracing his hands against her thighs to hold her in place, and plunged his cock in.

“Fuck! Shit, Tim!” Lucy shouted, hips jumping, not sure if she was being sent into another orgasm or prolonging her first one.

He pounded into her, skin slapping loudly with each thrust. “Fuck, yes,” he grunted, drawing his lip between his teeth as he locked eyes with Lucy. His cock was impossibly hard and from the way her pussy was fluttering around him, she was on the precipice of another orgasm. And he wanted to give her one more before he let himself go.

Reaching between them, he thumbed her clit, bending his knees slightly to adjust the angle of his thrusts and Lucy broke eye contact as her eyes rolled back and fell shut, her head dropping back again.

“Come on, boot,” he urged sternly, knowing what it did to her when called back to the T.O. days, “Give me one more.”

Lucy lit up, feeling her body humming down to her toes as she crested over the edge again. Tim didn’t let up, thrusting through it, her body stiffening as she remained suspended in bliss.

It only took a few more pumps and Tim was tumbling after her with a strangled yell as the vice-grip her pussy had on his cock milked him, draining the heaviness from his balls. He fell forward onto his hands, Lucy’s legs slowly coming back down as her body settled and blood began to circulate back to her limbs.

Each pant whistled in the back of Tim’s throat as he fought to steady his breathing. His eyes slowly returned to focus, hair plastered to his forehead from strain and sweat, and Lucy. Her hand combed through his hair and down his face as his cock softened inside her, but neither rushed to move, savoring the feeling of being joined after what felt like weeks of going without.

Tim’s eyes drifted shut, comforted by her gentle touch and he swallowed roughly, clearing his throat to speak. “Hey, Luce?”

“Yeah?” she replied quietly.

“We’re never doing a bet like that again.”

She laughed, pinching his neck, “You gotta admit…the payoff was awesome though.”

“I don’t care,” Tim shook his head, finally pulling out, shivering a little bit as his sensitive tip slipped out of her opening. Their combined fluids dripped out of Lucy and he watched them for a minute before blinking to clear his head. “I don’t know if we’d survive self-imposed torture like that again.”

“Maybe not for a bet,” she smirked, “But intentional deprivation for a mind-blowing payoff? I think I could convince you.”

Wanna bet? was on the tip of his tongue and Tim pinched his arm—hard—hissing at the sting. Lucy frowned at him.

“What on earth did you do that for?” she asked.

“I had to make sure I didn’t say something stupid and initiate another bet,” he grumbled. “They’re talking about me in the locker room because I ate a peach like I eat you—at work.”

Lucy giggled, “Oh yeah, I got quite a few jealous looks after that one.”

Tim rolled his eyes, but his stomach growled before he could respond. “Okay…never mind. Let’s order room service and get cleaned up.” He looked around the room to see the broken vase and various items on the floor and winced, “And we should probably clean the room too.”

-----

They’d tried cleaning up, but as soon as they stepped foot in the bathroom, the marble tile had Tim flashing back to their first time in Vegas. Lucy’s eyes locked with his in the mirror as she stepped beneath the shower, and suddenly he was drilling her into the wall, her shouts echoing through the luxurious bathroom.

An hour later, laughter filled the living area of the massive suite where they sat on a retro, 70s-inspired red leather sunken couch in the center of the room. Lucy was perpendicular to Tim, both in the soft hotel robes, her feet resting comfortably in his lap. Their meals sat on the tray in front of them, spring rolls and a turkey club for him, a Mediterranean veggie sandwich for Lucy, and a huge plate of fries for them to share. They grazed lazily, taking their time to enjoy their meals and each other.

“Do you think the gala ended once they escorted that guy out?” Lucy asked taking a bite of French fry.

“No way,” Tim shook his head. “It was for charity and Luna. There was no way Grey was going to end the event because of some asshole and broken glass. Plus, they had to finish the silent auction.”

“Oh no, we missed the results!”

“It’s fine,” he reassured her, “If we won anything, Luna will call us tomorrow, or just tell us at the station so we can pay for them. Otherwise, I’ll just make a donation from us.”  

Lucy smiled, rubbing her foot gently up his chest in appreciation. “Oh my god, some of the items were really good, but did you see the others? I could so see you cringing.”

“Seriously, I saw Bailey put her and Nolan down for a private interpretive dance lesson before their night got shot to hell.”

“Oh my god, stop it,” Lucy laughed, “Now I’m picturing Will Ferrell’s ribbon dance from Old School.”

They both dissolved into laughter, throwing their heads back as they thought of the priceless moment. “Imagine…” Tim wheezed, “Imagine Nolan in tights and a ribbon, leaping across a dance floor, while Bailey spins around him with some fairy costume.”

Lucy hollered, pitching forward to clutch her stomach, bringing one hand up to wipe her eyes, “Oh my god, I am crying. You and the guys have to find out when it is and catch it on camera.”

 “I’m sure Aaron will be on board for that,” Tim snorted, rubbing his hand up and down her ankle. “Actually, I can probably get Nyla to join for that one.”

“What did you put your name down for? I don’t think I saw it on anything,” Lucy asked, changing the subject.

“Nuhuh,” he shook his head, “Not telling. If I won, you’ll find out. And if I didn’t win, I’ll probably get it anyway, so you’ll find out then.”

“Fine,” she sighed, poking his chest with her big toe, “I’m not telling you either then.”

“That’s cool,” he said, pinching her ankle, causing her to wrinkle her nose. “I’m just glad I didn’t see your name—or mine—on goat yoga.”

“But babe,” Lucy said sweetly, “Yoga makes me bendy. And if I recall…you love bendy Lucy.”

“I do love bendy Lucy,” Tim shot back playfully, “Which is one of the reasons I am always supportive of your practice. And you know I join you from time to time for my agility. But goats? Hard pass.”

Lucy pouted for a minute and Tim smirked as he grabbed a fry, popping it into his mouth. Then a slow grin came over her face as she got an idea.

“You know…I have a hidden skill that I never told you about,” she said slyly, wiggling her toes and Tim looked at her curiously.

“What are you going to prove that you actually are a goat whisperer?” he said sarcastically, and she shoved him gently with her foot.

“No,” she rolled her eyes. “My feet are…extremely flexible.”

“Flexible,” he deadpanned.

“Yes, flexible,” she smirked picking her foot up and wiggling her manicured toes in his face, “Give me a fry.”

“What?” he huffed out a laugh.

“A fry,” she said flatly, “Put on between my toes. I’m gonna feed one to you.”

Tim raised his brows, “Isn’t the whole point for you to show me how flexible your feet are? If you want to feed me a fry, pick one up and give it to me.”

Rolling her eyes, Lucy lifted one of her legs from Tim’s lap, spreading it out to the side and bending her knee until her foot was hovering over the plate of French fries. Tim’s head cocked to the side, appreciating the view as her robe fell open revealing her naked body.

Lucy tapped his chest with her other foot and his eyes snapped to the tray, seeing her grab a fry between two of her toes. She brought her leg back towards him and Tim clasped his hands around her foot bringing it closer to him.

He wrapped his mouth around her big and second toes, sucking the fry from between them and Lucy let out a little sound at the back of her throat. Tim’s eyes flashed with heat as he pulled away.

“Hmm…I mean I guess that’s impressive,” Tim said dismissively, “But it’s a little basic. You gotta give me something else.”

The air shifted as a charged look passed between them, and he quirked a brow in challenge which Lucy reciprocated. Slowly, she began to move her foot, Tim’s hands falling away. She pressed it against his throat for a moment, then ran her toes down, shoving the robe aside to reveal his chest. Her other foot joined in, massaging his pecks, toes tickling his nipples. Their eyes remained locked on each other as she continued, heat simmering between them.  

“Undo your robe,” she said huskily, and his hands immediately moved to comply, Lucy’s feet doing the rest of the work to push his robe open completely. His cock had started to harden as Lucy worked her foot back up to towards his face, one still planted against his chest.

“Suck,” she commanded, hovering in front of his mouth. Tim grabbed her ankle, taking her toes into his mouth. Lucy gasped as the pressure made her foot tingle, arousal beginning to creep in at the feeling of his warm, wet mouth around her toes.

When she tugged gently, Tim released her foot and Lucy leaned over to grab the small bottle of olive oil from the tray, holding it out to him. Tim quirked a brow at it but didn’t take it from her hands.

“Shouldn’t you have gotten that with your feet?”

“Shut up,” she rolled her eyes, “Take the bottle and lube me up.”

“Well, that’s romantic,” he shot back.

“Do you want to see what my feet can do or not?” She said sassily, nudging him teasingly and Tim chuckled, uncorking the small vial and tipping it, watching the oil trickle over Lucy’s feet and his chest.

The room filled with the earthy scent of olive oil as she rubbed, lubricating her toes, pads and soles. Gently, she pushed him back further and Tim shifted so he could recline a bit more before slowly dragging her feet over his abs, down to his groin. She nudged his thighs further apart, then dug her toes into their meat, kneading gently, inching closer and closer to his sack.  

Slowly, painstakingly, she began to softly massage his balls with her feet, adding the tiniest bit of pressure to make him gasp before releasing it and then repeating the motion. She watched as Tim’s dick hardened against his stomach, twitching and thickening as his arousal heightened.

“You like that?” she asked, her voice low and deep.

Tim groaned as her foot left his scrotum and slid up the underside of his cock, rubbing up and down the shaft slowly, his head slipping between her toes.

“Fuck, yesss,” he managed to hiss.

“Do you believe me when I say I have flexible feet now?” she asked, wiggling her slick toes to tickle his frenulum, his hips twitching.

“Yes,” he said breathlessly, and in response, Lucy took his cock between the soles of her feet and began to stroke him. Tim watched with rapt attention, hands clenching at his sides, fascinated by the feelings she was evoking in him with her soles. If this had been anyone else, he likely wouldn’t have been into it, but this was Lucy, and he was attracted to every inch of her. She leaned back on her hands as she stroked, pushing her chest out in a brazen display that Tim’s eyes—and his cock—clearly appreciated.

“Come here, babe,” he beckoned, and Lucy pouted.

“But I was having fun.”

Tim grunted, “I know, I was too. But I’d be having even more fun if you were sitting on my face. Plus, I didn’t get my dessert yet.”  

Lucy grinned impishly and moved quickly to acquiesce, gently removing her feet from his groin. Tim’s cock smacked against his abs as she released him, a small stream of precum landing on his stomach. His hands grabbed her hips as Lucy moved towards him, shedding her robe in the process. She gasped in surprise when he lifted her, rotating her body so her ass was facing him, and gently coxed her back onto his waiting mouth.

She giggled as he seated her fully on him, swiping his tongue along her folds and lapping up the juices that had collected. She leaned down, anticipating taking him into her mouth but the angle made it difficult for her to reach his cock.

“God why are you so damn tall?” she complained when her mouth couldn’t take him all.

Tim pulled away with a smack of his mouth, “This is the first time I’ve heard that this is a problem.”

“I can’t reach your dick!” she whined, and he laughed, flicking her clit with his thumb, watching her ass jiggle when she jumped. She reached back, swatting him on the side of his head making him chuckle again, before grabbing the little bottle of olive oil that Tim had tossed aside. Pouring a little into her hands, she rubbed them together to moisten them and then wrapped both hands around his waiting erection as Tim returned his mouth to her pussy.

She held him, momentarily distracted when Tim’s tongue danced figure eights over her clit, and then he began to move her. Grabbing her hips, he pushed her back and forth over his face, his warm, wet muscle dragging across her lips in hungry, panting grunts.

“Nghhh right there,” Lucy moaned, her voice strangled as she moved with him. Getting a sudden idea when her hands moved as Tim ground her pussy on his face, Lucy used the momentum to slide her hands down to the base of his cock, letting Tim do the real work to pleasure them both. As he pulled her hips back, her hands slid to the head of his dick and when he pushed, she glided down again until his hips began to thrust.

Somehow, even with the intricacies of their movement, they found a rhythm that had Lucy dripping onto his face and Tim steadily groaning. Lifting her shoulders, she began wringing her hands as they slid up and down his cock, squeezing slightly.

Tim bucked up into her hands, rasping a loud curse against her and penetrating her hole in retaliation. Lucy hissed at the intrusion, hips stuttering and arching back towards him, the squelch of his fingers loud as her pussy sucked them in.

“Fuck, babe. Make me come with your mouth…then I need your cock again,” Lucy moaned, and Tim hooked his arms around her thighs to seat her firmly on him, using his entire face to get her off, spurred on by the sounds she was making. He wanted to taste her on his tongue again, and he wanted to be inside her when he came again.

He ate her like a man starved, his hunger for Lucy never sated. She was nearing the edge, her body vibrating, cries increasing as Tim sucked her clit into his mouth, swirling his tongue.

Her hips faltered, her ass trembling over his face as she fell apart above him, Tim’s name on her lips.   He lapped up the fluids that drenched his face, little moans of satisfaction muffled by her skin.

When Lucy caught her breath she moved, pulling herself from Tim’s grasp to take his cock into her mouth, making his body jerk in surprise.

“Shit, Luce,” he said running his tongue around his lips and then gritting his teeth. “Fuck, put me inside you, baby.”  

Shuffling her knees down the sides of his body, Lucy stopped when her hips were in his lap, lining up with his cock and Tim sat up, sliding his arms around her, gently clasping her throat. She wrapped her hand around him, pushing up before sinking back down on her haunches with a sigh.

“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned as she began to rock. Lucy was in control this time, grinding in his lap and Tim’s hand tightened around her throat, feeling her gasp beneath his fingertips. The feeling of her surrounding him always sent a thrill through him, and after what felt like ages of not being able to indulge in each other, it only made him want her more. Each time he was inside her seemed new, and he hadn’t been able to savor it as much earlier because they’d been so desperate. Now, as she rocked steadily, he felt her around every inch of him, and it wouldn’t be long before he came undone.

Lucy fell first, quieter this time, but no less forceful. She shattered on his cock, motions uncontrollable as she rode out her aftershocks, causing Tim to follow over the edge, spilling inside her with a deep groan.

Tim rested his forehead against her back, loosening the hand at her throat, but still hugging her close as they came down. He planted a kiss along her spine, feeling the vibration of Lucy’s satisfied hum.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, baby,” Tim said quietly against her back. “I love you so damn much.”

“I love you too,” she replied, covering his hands with hers and hugging him to her. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Rise and shine Bradfords! Get your asses up!”

The unmistakable sound of Angela’s voice jolted them from sleep and both Tim and Lucy shot upright in a tangle of limbs and blankets. Lucy’s hair was wild, a glorious mess, sticking up all around her head as a sign of a great night and a hard sleep. Her makeup was smudged, and a smear of drool was trailing from the corner of her mouth that she hadn’t yet noticed.

Tim blinked hard, disoriented, one arm still hooked around her waist as they both realized they had been lying sideways across the bed, sheets pooled at their hips. The room reeked of sweat and sex with a hint of something sweeter and the distant note of olive oil still in the air.

Shaking his head, Tim looked around, eyes landing on Angela who was standing in the doorway to the second bedroom in the suite. Somehow, they’d ended up in that room, but neither could recall exactly how in the haze of the morning.

“Angela,” he said through gritted teeth, “How the hell did you get in our room? And what the hell are you doing in here?”

“First of all, Bailey threw me the key when she stormed out. But then your wifey here took one for the team and gave Graham your old room, so when Wesley told me Nolan gave you his, I just put it in my purse. And second, you don’t get to be mad at me Timothy,” she said, quirking an eyebrow at him. “Not when we were up most of the night because you two were creating the next big bang.”

“Seriously,” Alison’s voice rang out from behind her as she walked into the room. “Nice marks you two.”

“Oh my god,” Lucy groaned, mortified, looking down at herself and then over at Tim to see the various bites and bruises they’d left on each other last night. She unconsciously rubbed her chest, feeling the dull ache from where she’d asked him to bite her.  

“Yeah…we heard a lot of that, especially as it got later,” Alison grinned.

“What the hell, how do you even know what was going on?” Tim turned his glare to the other Detective.

“Well after Wesley and I got our few rounds in, you two were back at it. And it sounded kind of interesting. So I texted Alison and Celina.”

“Hold on you listened to us? And you roped a rookie in?” Tim hissed and Lucy burrowed herself underneath the covers.

“It was hard not to listen,” Angela shot back.

“It brought back memories,” Alison said wistfully, “And gave me a shit ton of dreams. Good god, do you two know how hot you are?”

“Don’t worry, Celina didn’t come up,” Angela reassured them, “She was still traumatized from Bailey’s bachelorette.”

“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here at…” Tim reached over to grab his phone from the nightstand but quickly realized it wasn’t there. “Shit where’s my phone?”

“It’s probably out in the wreckage,” Alison pointed her thumb out the doorway. “You sure you two aren’t secretly related to Dim and Juicy? Because the broken shit I saw out there…”

“Shit! We didn’t clean up!” Lucy exclaimed, popping her head out of the covers. “What time is it?”

“It wasn’t that bad. And don’t worry, we have a late checkout, remember?” Tim reassured her. “Nolan mentioned he got one before I booked ours.”

“Speaking of Nolan…” Angela said, “He’s the reason why I’m here. The hotel only had Nolan’s number on file, and I guess Graham and Gretchen called to see if the people in the suite on their floor could keep it down. Then the front desk called Nolan.”

“We weren’t that loud,” Tim rolled his eyes.

“Uh yeah, you were. It died down for a while,” Angela shot back, “But when you decided to have your little session at 2 am, we all heard it.”

Tim’s eyes grew wide, and he and Lucy exchanged glances. They’d dozed for a little bit, but Lucy woke him up with her mouth, and then Tim decided he owed her some punishment for coming up with the bet. The spanking he’d given her had ended up with her sprawled on the dining table while Tim took her from behind.   

“Fortunately, you two quieted down after that, but it was touch and go for a while,” Angela told them, a wry grin on her face, “So just don’t be surprised when you have a bunch of phone calls from Nolan. I thought we’d do you the courtesy of letting you know in advance.”

“Plus, she said there was no way she was going to let you two be in dreamland bliss when she and Wesley had to go back to parenting being sleep-deprived,” Alison added.

“Nolan should be happy that people thought it was him,” Tim grumbled, “He should be thanking us. Graham will love to spread the gossip about this one.”

“Ha sorry, nope,” Angela laughed gleefully, “Gretchen already texted me to see if I heard all the noises last night. I confirmed that it was you two. So if anyone is going to have gossip spread about them, it’s gonna be you two.”

Tim and Lucy groaned, and Lucy flopped back down taking the covers with her. Tim yelped when she pulled a little too far and almost exposed him, clamoring to yank them back to cover himself.

“Next time…if you’re gonna do a sex bet, don’t make us the damn casualties!” Angela warned, pivoting to head out of the bedroom. “Enjoy your morning, you horny bastards! We’ll see you at the station tomorrow. Hopefully, you’ve gotten it out of your system by then.”

“But by all means,” Alison grinned, “If you want to have some fun with peaches and bananas during your lunch hour, I’d be all for it.”  

Chapter Text

Tim stood at his locker, grabbing his uniform shirt from the hanger. He slipped one arm into the sleeve, then the other, shrugging to adjust the collar and the fit across his shoulders. Other officers carried on around him in various stages of dress and undress, preparing for the day shift or getting ready to go home. As much as he loved the job, he hated the locker room. The pungent odor that was distinctly male: sweat and moisture, sometimes piss. The cleanliness of the locker room was one of the things he was a stickler about when he became Sergeant and while they had cleaners who came in, it wasn’t their responsibility to clean up after people who refused put things back where they belonged. It was disrespectful.

He had whipped them into shape once, but it seemed with some of the new blood they had at the station, the guys were falling out of line again. He made a mental note to get them back on track.

Tucking his shirt into his pants, he cut his eyes at one officer who threw a towel on the floor near the bin, he took a breath. “Hey! Jesnsen!” He barked and the officer turned reluctantly.

“Yeah, Bradford?”

“Your layup needs some work.”

“Sir?” He asked, confused by the question.

“There’s a basket right next to you. We treat this locker room with the same level of care we give to our uniform. I don’t care if we have someone who cleans up.” His voice was steadily rising, “Their job is to make sure things are sanitized. Not picking up your trash or your used towels. It’s bad enough they have to wash them. Put it in the basket. It’s the least you can do.”

Tim raised his voice even louder so the other officers could hear him. “That goes for the rest of you! How about we have some respect for our house. Do better!”

He watched as Jensen pursed his lips, wanting to say something, but instead bent down, picking up the discarded towel and placing it into the bin. Tim nodded, turning back to his locker, grabbing his duty belt. He could hear other officers grumbling about his anal retentiveness.

“You owe me,” Nolan’s voice rang out from is left and Tim whirled to see him approaching. At the same time, Officer Jan walked by, patting Nolan on the back with a low, “Hang in there.” Nolan looked at him in confusion before turning back to Tim.

“How do I owe you?” He asked, checking the clasp on his watch. “You gave up the room. And I paid you for the fees and a bit extra.”

The hotel had charged Nolan’s credit card a pretty penny for some of the broken items. Tim had immediately sent him the money, and Lucy had apologized profusely.

“Yeah, I know. That’s all handled,” Nolan dismissed. “You owe me for the I got a call at 2 in the morning from the hotel complaining about noise from me and my wife. But it was actually you two. And she didn’t even come home that night.”

Tim sighed. At the end of the day, Nolan was going through it right now. And he’d never owed Nolan anything. But owing Nolan was nowhere near like owing Angela. He could deal with this. “Alright, fine. I owe you. What do you want?”

“I haven't figured it out yet, but when I do, I'll let you know.”

Officer Nickerson passed by on his way out of the locker room, giving Nolan a pat on the shoulder. “We got your back, big dog.”

His brow furrowed in response. “Thanks,” he said hesitantly then turned back to him, “What’s happening?”

Tim cocked his head, lifting a hand from his duty belt as he spoke. “Everybody’s heard you and Bailey are fighting.”

“Seriously? I thought everyone was talking about you guys.”

“Nah,” Tim shook his head, waving his hand. He was accustomed to officers gossiping at this point. And after he and Lucy got together it just got worse. No one dared say anything to him (outside of their close friends obviously), so he mostly ignored it. “My stuff is old news. You and Bailey never make waves. And cops gossip more than middle schoolers, you know that.”

“First marriage is just a trial run,” Smitty interrupted, with his usual nonchalance. “There's no shame in divorce. Every cop goes through this.”

Nolan looked offended, “Okay, it's not my first marriage. And we're not getting divorced. It…it's just a fight.”

“Uh-huh,” Smitty didn’t look like he believed him at all and dug into his shirt pocket producing a business card that he handed over to Nolan. “I use this guy.”

Tim’s face dropped in shock. Leave it to Smitty to be unbelievable at all times. “Excuse me…use? What do you just have some guy on call whenever you need a divorce? How many times have you been married?”

“This decade?” He deadpanned, “But don’t worry Bradford. I think it’s sticking for you this time around. My concern is Nolan here.” 

“You know what?” Nolan handed the card back to him with a tight smile. “You keep that. I don't think I'll be needing it.”

Smitty raised his eyebrows, turning to walk away, “Denial. I get it. Stay strong.”

“Okay, this is ridiculous,” Nolan turned back to Tim. “Couples fight. I mean, granted, it's a bad one. But we’re not over.”

“Great.”

Nolan frowned, “I feel like you don't believe me.”

Tim shrugged, “Feels like you don't believe yourself.”

“Yeah, I don't know,” Nolan sighed. “It's just…God, it's taking up so much space in my brain. I just gotta get out of my head.”

“Listen I don’t know what you guys have going on, but I know what used to help me…” Tim started.

“Violence?” Nolan asked, recalling the early days of his rookie year when it seemed like Tim was always getting into something.

“Action.” He smirked looking excited by the idea of getting into something. “Pull some felony warrants, get in trouble. Last thing you'll be thinking about is a personal woe.”

Tim saw Nolan begin to smile back but needed to put a warning out there. “But my better half would have my head if I didn’t tell you that’s likely not the best way to handle things, but it’s a surefire way to get your mind off it.”

“Hmm…Thanks,” Nolan looked preoccupied while he walked away, and Tim hoped for the best.

He’d been preparing to leave the locker room when he saw Penn and Ridley entering and decided to stick around. Neither of them saw him standing a few feet away, too preoccupied with their conversation. He heard Seth mention something about Penn’s relationship, which Tim had no interest in hearing about, but then it quickly transitioned to Seth’s treatment.

The fact that he was so nonchalant about the potential impacts his illness could have on both himself and Lucy, did not sit well with Tim. He’d seen the side effects of treatment, and he didn’t know what treatments Seth was getting, only that his doctors said he was clear to work. And while Tim knew there were quite a few medical advancements, the likelihood that he’d be able to perform at 100% seemed to be slim. From his vantage point, Ridley already only performed at 70% on a good day.

He trusted that Lucy could handle herself on the job. She was a badass even on her worst day. But when you added Ridley to the mix…there was no way he trusted that guy with his wife’s safety.

And Ridley needed to know that Tim was watching him.

“You sure you're ready to be here, Boot?” He boomed, stalking up to Seth and Miles with a predatory confidence reserved only for rookies, or criminals. His eyes locked onto Seth like a target, jaw clenched, face devoid of any emotion.

“Uh, yes, sir. Thanks for asking,” Seth said appreciatively, and Tim saw Miles shake his head in the background. Good. At least one rookie understood that Tim Bradford didn’t just hand out niceties.

“I'm not asking to be kind, boot,” He said sternly, “I'm asking because if you're not up to the task, you put the life of your T.O. in jeopardy. And that is unacceptable. So I ask again…are you ready to be here?”

“Uh, no, sir,” Ridley stammered, wanting to kick himself for always crumbling beneath Bradford’s intensity. “I—I—uh, yes, sir. I mean I am good to go and I will not let her down.”

“Make sure you don't,” Tim barked, “Because if you do. You will answer to every cop in this station. But I will be your worst nightmare.”

Tim pivoted, stalking away from them with the same intensity that he came towards them with, and Seth gulped, turning back to his locker.

“You okay, man?” Miles asked and Seth shook himself out of his stupor, resuming getting ready.

“Yeah…yeah I’m fine.”

“Oooo,” they heard a voice suck a breath in and turned.

Smitty.

“If there’s one thing that we all know in this station, it’s that Bradford doesn’t play about Chen,” he said wisely. “I’d heed his warning if I were you. Stronger men have crumbled beneath his wrath. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Damn, Smitty,” Miles said, shaking his head. “The guy is stressed out enough as it is. You didn’t have to add to it. I think Bradford made it pretty clear.”

“I’m just saying,” he shrugged, throwing his hands up. “Some people might think he’s that way just for intimidation purposes. I’m letting you know he’s serious. It’s for your own good.”

The two rookies turned back to each other as Smitty walked away. “I feel so much better know,” Seth said shakily.

“Aw man, it’ll be fine,” Miles encouraged, nudging him, “Just do what you gotta do and give it your all. Have her back, like they said. You got this.”

Lucy was not happy. She stared at Tamara as the young woman who was family to her prepared to participate in a UC op with her rookie. Someone Lucy—sadly—trusted only slightly more than she trusted a common criminal right now. But suddenly she had to entrust him with Tamara’s safety? She felt the pit of anxiety in her stomach growing as Seth walked out of the locker room in plain clothes.

Ironically, this is the second time that Tamara had stumbled upon a drug situation that required someone to go undercover. But the first time around Lucy and Tim had been the ones lucky enough to participate in the op. But now, the fact of the matter was, they needed a college student. And as much as Lucy would much rather it be anyone other than Seth participating, no one at the station looked quite as young as he did. As loathe as she was to admit it, he did fit the college student look much better than her.

The question was…could he do it?

And could she trust him to keep Tamara safe?

He was adamant that he could successfully complete the drug buy. And at some point, Lucy was going to have to give him the benefit of the doubt again if she wanted him to make it through the remainder of his training. She didn’t like feeling this distrustful. It was stressful. And she didn’t feel like herself.

And then there was the little spark she saw between the two of them. The automatic rapport that made her stomach twist. Seth was the last person Tamara should be taking an interest in.

Shoving that to the side, Lucy focused on the task ahead. Grey had approved the op, but she had to take Smitty, which made her cringe. The sad part was…when it came down to Tamara’s safety, she’s pretty sure she trusted Smitty more.

Sighing, she took her phone out, navigating to Tim’s contact. Last she heard he was enroute back to the station, so she only hoped they’d finished processing the suspect so he could answer. The last thing she wanted was for him to hear about Tamara going on a UC op from someone else.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she cringed as she heard Tim’s voice behind her. “I got back here and someone said you were about to head out on an op?”

Lucy turned slowly, eyes landing on her husband who was walking through the sliding glass doors to the.

“Yeah…” Lucy said reluctantly. “Yeah um…Tamara…she stumbled on a guy dealing some pretty serious stuff on campus.”

“Ah, so you’re going back to college? What, is it bringing back bad memories?” he smirked.

“No, uh…Ridley’s completing the buy. Tamara is making the introduction.”  

Tim’s eyes hardened, scanning the station until it landed on the two young adults, who had been joined by Penn, and were laughing and giggling together. His jaw tightened, the careless sound of their laughter grating something in him.

His eyes flicked back to Lucy, who was eyeing him cautiously. “Who’s backing you up?”

“That would be me,” Smitty said sidling up next to them, red licorice in hand. Tim looked at him, then Lucy, horrified.

“Don’t worry, Sarge, I heard your message to the virgin loud and clear this morning. Nothing’s happening on Smitty’s watch. I got their backs,” he winked, taking a bite of the candy, and strolling to the driver’s side of the car, opening it and getting in.

“What did you say this morning?”

“I just…I wanted to be sure he was prepared to be here,” Tim smiled sheepishly, “And I may have implied that bad things might happen if he put his T.O.’s life in danger.”

“Tim!”

“Sorry not sorry. He needed to know,” Tim said unapologetically, “I know you can handle yourself, but he’s too much of a wildcard for me not to say anything. Especially now that we are entrusting Tamara with him. I’m glad Smitty overheard.”

 “You’re ridiculous,” Lucy rolled her eyes, giving him a little grin. “But thank you for caring.”

“Always,” he grinned back, squeezing her elbow, both wishing they could do more, but their rookies and Tamara were approaching. “Good luck today.”

Tim turned to Tarama as she passed through the sliding glass doors. “Hey, Tam.

“Dadford,” she shot back, and Tim rolled his eyes.

“Uh…Dadford?” Seth asked nervously, eyes flicking between Tamara and the Sergeant, who crossed his arms. He refused to clear anything up for the rookie. Let him sweat.

“Be careful. I expect a text when it’s done,” He directed his words to Tamara, glancing at her briefly, before returning his gaze to Seth, the warning clear…Don’t fuck up.  

“We’ll be fine,” she said exasperatedly, dismissing his overprotectiveness. “Plus, we’ve got the badass UC herself as our handler.”

“Uh huh,” Tim replied, unimpressed. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something to Ridley, but he refrained. The kid already looked like he was about to throw up and he needed him clear and confident.

“Come on you guys. Time waits for no dealer!” Smitty called from the car.

Tim raised a pointed brow, “I’ll see you all later. You call us if you need back up.”

Lucy smirked at him for a moment, but it slid off her face as Seth opened the door for Tamara, who smiled flirtatiously at him. She glanced back at Tim who was frowning at the exchange, looking even grumpier than before.

He didn’t speak, just gave Lucy another look, reminding her to be careful and pivoted on his feet, gesturing towards Penn, “Let’s go boot!”

Miles glanced at his T.O. out of the corner of his eye for what seemed like the hundredth time. His jaw was tight, not unlike it usually was, but it was his mannerisms that made him particularly interesting to watch.

Sergeant Bradford was fidgeting.

Not over the top, ants in your pants, can’t sit still fidgeting. But subtle tick movements that made Miles realize something he’d never witnessed before…Bradford was nervous.

In the first few weeks of Miles’ training, he’d been intense, cold and clinical. It seemed odd that he allowed anyone to get close enough to even be a buddy to watch the game with. But little by little, Miles had seen glimpses of the man beyond the badge. Or perhaps it was just beyond the training officer. There were plenty of other cops in the station who seemed to be close to him, the detectives, especially Lopez, Harper and Ponds, a few officers. Even Lieutenant Grey even seemed to have a soft spot for the Sergeant.

But it was Officer Chen that gave Miles the most insight into his training officer. Bradford was…soft with her in a way that he wasn’t with anyone else. He lit up like a Christmas tree when he was around her. And that was like neon blinking sign for someone like his T.O.

He deferred to her judgment, and it was obvious he respected the hell out of her. He was also insanely protective of her, as evidenced by the few times he’d chewed Miles’ ass out for being a little too southernly charming.

He barely saw the Sergeant crack smirk, but around Chen he would break into full on smile…megawatt with teeth. Not to mention the touches. A hand to his chest or forearm from Chen, a subtle touch of her elbow from Bradford. To anyone else it wouldn’t be a big deal, but the man was professional to a fault.

It made him wonder about their relationship. But it seemed unlikely that someone as sweet and kind as Officer Chen would get involved with Bradford.

And then there was Tamara. Miles had only just met her today and she was a development that he hadn’t expected. She’d called him…Dadford, but her op wasn’t with him. And from what she and Seth told him…Tamara had called Chen to report the drugs.

Miles glanced at his T.O. again. He guessed he could understand why she wouldn’t have called him. He was intense on a good day. Miles could only imagine how much he would flip out if his daughter brought drugs to him. And if Bradford and Chen were as close as they seemed, it only made sense that she’d be close with his daughter as well. Perhaps that’s why she called Chen first.

“You got somethin’ to say to me, boot?” Tim snapped cutting his eyes at Miles and startling him from his thoughts.

“Excuse me, sir?” he asked, a little bewildered.

“You’ve been staring at me since we left the station like I’m a damn art exhibit, and it’s starting to get on my nerves, so I’m giving you one chance to say whatever it is you seem to want to say.”

“I…uh…I didn’t know you had a daughter, sir.”

“Excuse me?” Miles gulped as he watched Tim’s eyes narrow at the observation. He didn’t protest though, so he kept going.

“Tamara,” he said as if it were obvious, “I mean…it was just surprising that you’d be doing the whole single dad thing.”

“Did I ever give you an indication that you could pry into my personal life?” Tim said sharply.

“Uh…no, sir, but I wasn’t prying…it was merely an observation…” Miles started to explain but Tim cut him off.

“Observation or not, it’s none of your business.”

“Yes, sir.”

Miles went back to focusing on patrol, eyes scanning the streets as he’d been taught. They took a few mundane calls, but nothing that required back up or an arrest. Though after the morning, it was a welcome shift.

As they were heading back to the station, suddenly, Tim’s phone rang, lighting up with Tamara’s name. He glanced at Miles out of the corner of his eye before swiping to answer.

“Hey Tam, everything okay?”

“Yeah, you told me to text, but I figured you’d rather hear that I was okay straight from the source,” her voice sounded through the speaker.

Tim nodded, “You figured right. All good?”

“Yep. All good. Lucy and Seth are back at the station. She told me to tell you she’d text you after debriefing if you aren’t back at the station.”

“Alright, thanks. We’ll see you later for dinner?” he asked, reminding her of their monthly get together. Usually it was brunch, but lately Tamara had been doing brunch with her friends

“Duh,” the eyeroll in her voice was clear even to Miles, “And I’m bringing that dessert you love.”

Tim cringed, turning his nose up, “Ew, the one with the jello?”

“Yup!” Her voice popped on the ‘p.’

“That’s why I’m going to cook you liver.”

Tamara huffed out a laugh, “Sure, Dadford. See you tomorrow.”

He let Tamara end the call, glancing at Miles again as they pulled into the station lot. “Not a word, boot.”

Tim was reviewing Miles’ final reports for the day, preparing to clock out so he could head home and begin preparing dinner. He was actually going to be grilling burgers for them all, though he did think about making a stop at the store to buy some liver just to mess with Tamara.

Scratching his signature to the final document, he placed the stack in the bin and tucked the pen back into his uniform pocket just as Nolan walked up to him.

“I know how you can pay me back.”

“What, you want me to organize Juarez’s P2 celebration.” Tim guessed, raising his brow. “That’d be a real cop out when she found out her own T.O. couldn’t even be bothered.”

“What? No,” Nolan frowned, “I’m supposed to organize a celebration? She’s the only rookie.”

Tim sucked his teeth and shook his head. “It hasn’t been that long since you were a rookie, Nolan. And we did it for you.”

Nolan huffed out a laugh, “I distinctly remember Harper and Lopez telling us that you specifically organized it. We figured it was only because you were…” he trailed off when he saw Tim’s glare and quickly changed the subject.

“Never mind. Anyway, back to why I was coming over. Harper and Lopez need two officers to move these guys to a safe house and guard them tonight for a gun bust tomorrow.”

Fuck. “And you volunteered us?”  

“Well I don’t really feel like being home alone tonight.” Nolan shrugged, “And clean slate after this so…”

Tim sighed, not wanting to disrupt his plans, but he really didn’t want to have a debt to Nolan hanging over his head. “Fine,” he finally acquiesced, “Who are we guarding anyway?”

“Uhhh…this guy named Mickey…and his partner who calls himself…The Hammer?”

“Is this the same Hammer that Tim fought before your wedding and won the ring off of?” Lucy strolled up to the two men, still in plain clothes. Tim gave her an appreciative once over before responding.

“I don’t know any other criminals in LA who call themselves the Hammer, so sounds like it.”

Confused, Nolan’s eyes darted between the couple, “You won a ring off him before my wedding?”

“Randy pawned off Bailey's ring the day of your wedding,” Tim told him, “Hammer bought it and Lucy and I got it back.”

Nolan blinked, alarmed, “What?”

“You're welcome,” Lucy smirked, patting him on the shoulder.

“What?” he repeated, baffled, but the two ignored him.

“You know, I was going to change out, but technically, since I’m one of the reasons you even got to have a wedding, my debt should be clear,” Tim pointed out, crossing his arms, and Nolan opened his mouth to speak, but Lucy cut him off.

“Tim,” she said sharply and he turned to see her giving him an unimpressed look.

“What?” he said indignantly, “You should agree with me! I got thrown through a damn closet for it!”

She just raised a brow, silently staring.

“Ugh fine,” he sighed, uncrossing his arms, flopping them to his sides in defeat. He made a face at Nolan who smiled like a little kid. “Fine. I’m going to change out and then I’ll meet you back here to go over the details of the transport and safehouse.”

Tim turned towards the locker rooms, Lucy falling into step beside him. “Luce…”

She smiled, already pulling Tim’s phone from his back pocket, swiping it open. With a nudge she steered him into an empty conference room. “Let’s call Tam.”

“Let me guess…” Tamara’s voice sounded through the speaker of his phone, “Something came up at work?”

“I’m really sorry, Tam,” Tim said apologetically, “It’s just I owed Nolan after what happened at the Gala, and he needs my help with a security detail—”

“What happened at the Gala?” she interrupted.

“Nothing!” Tim and Lucy said in unison.

“Well that tells me I definitely don’t want to know,” Tamara said in disgust, but then her voice softened, “Seriously, it’s fine guys, I know the drill. We’ll raincheck.”

“You and I can still do dinner if you want…” Lucy started.

“Actually,” Tamara cut her off, “I had some other plans that came up that I turned down for dinner with you guys, but since…”

“Say no more,” Lucy smiled towards the phone, “We’ll reschedule. Have fun!”

“Be safe,” Tim added firmly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Thanks you guys.”

They hung up and Tim turned to Lucy, “I’m sorry, I’ll be gone all night, so…”

“Don’t worry about it babe. I’m gonna check in with Celina, see if she wants to celebrate,” she glanced towards the window of the doorway to see if anyone was there. Seeing no one, she leaned in to peck his lips. “Be careful tonight.”

“Thanks again for coming over,” Celina smiled at Lucy as Alison handed them each a mug of tea while they sat around the coffee table in her apartment. Music played in the background and a picked over charcuterie board sat on the surface, signs of a good impromptu girls evening.

“Of course, girl!” Lucy nudged her. “Making P2 is a big deal. You deserve to celebrate it. And don’t worry, I’m sure Nolan will be organizing a real celebration outing for you once we figure out schedules.”

“You think so?” Celina asked, slightly surprised.

“Of course he will be,” Alison reassured her, “It’s tradition.”

“Anyways. Champagne will come but…” Lucy held up her mug in a toast, “Congratulations on successfully making it through your rookie year.” A heavy clang bounced off the walls as they tapped their mugs against hers then took a sip.

“So,” Alison said, her voice coming out a little strained after swallowing the hot drink, “You are one hour away from being a full-fledged cop. How do you feel?”

Celina frowned in thought, “Mm, good, I think. Mostly. A-and also not. You know, being a rookie was one of the hardest things I've ever done. And as a reward for passing, I get to keep doing it for 30 years.”

“Yay!” Lucy grinned blowing the blue and silver noisemaker that she had sitting next to her. Alison and Celina snorted out a laugh.

“So, I heard you were doing a little impromptu undercover today,” Alison raised an eyebrow at Lucy, “How’d that go?”

“Um…it was, uh…interesting.”

“Really? Interesting how?” she probed.

“Just uh…” Lucy stumbled, not wanting to delve into Tamara and Seth and their easy comfort and fast connection with one another. “Did you know Smitty has kids?”

“Ha!” Alison snorted, as Celina’s phone pinged with a notification. “That’s hilarious. Who would even be dumb enough to forego a condom with that man?”

“Ehh…I wouldn’t be too quick to judge,” Celina said, unlocking the device to check it. “I saw his profile on a dating app once, and he was quite easy on the eyes when he was our age.” She looked up frowning, “Did I really just call Smitty attractive?”

Lucy laughed, looking at her in amusement as Celina went back to checking her phone.

“Aww…it looks like your little undercover op was even more successful! Tamara and Seth are out on a date!”

Lucy blinked, “What?”

“Yeah, see?” Celina holds her phone up to Lucy and the screen shows a Clip Talk post of Seth and Tamara out at some sort of outdoor venue, their faces plastered together for the selfie. Lucy’s stomach churned.

itsmeTamara: Cuties being cute

Alison craned her neck to see the photo. “Oh they look kinda cute together!” Lucy glowered at her, “Or not.”

“I don’t understand…is this a bad thing?” Celina asked, placing her phone on the coffee table. “I mean, I know he’s sick, or whatever, but from what I heard, the outlook is good.”

“Not, it’s not that, it’s…” she sighed, trailing off in thought. The Seth situation was not something she wanted to spread any further. Tim knew about it because he was her husband, her person. Alison knew because she was her best friend. She was getting to know Celina, but despite her making P2, Seth and Miles were her peers, and Lucy didn’t want to put Celina in an awkward position. How do you tell someone you don’t trust their colleague because of lies about their personal life and so you’re skeptical about their illness.

“It’s just…weird,” she finally settled on, “He’s my rookie. And Tamara’s family. Ridley needs to focus on getting through the remainder of his training. He’s hanging on by a thread as it is.”

“Also, let’s be honest,” Alison said bluntly, “He barely looks old enough to date.”

Celina sputtered, nostrils burning from where her tea shot out as she laughed, “Oh my god.”  

“Ali!” Lucy gasped in shock.

“What?! I bet you Tim would say the same thing.”

Lucy’s head fell back and she groaned in sudden realization, “Ugh…when I tell Tim she was out with him, he’s gonna flip. He already put the fear of god in him in the locker room this morning. And then he saw him before we went on the op.”

“Uh oh,” Alison and Celina said in unison.

“Yeah,” Lucy sighed, and then suddenly her phone began ringing. Grabbing it from her back pocket, she frowned, glancing up at the other two women before swiping to answer.

“Hey, are you with Seth? I saw that photo,” Lucy chewed her lip as she waited for Tamara’s response.

“I mean, I was, but he just left with Andy,” Tamara’s voice sounded worried.

“Are you serious? Andy from the drug buy?” she glanced at the other two women, a crease forming between her eyebrows.

“Yeah, um, he had a couple guys and said Javi wanted to talk. I took a picture of the plate just in case.” Lucy sighed in relief. Thank goodness she’d taught Tamara well. The wheels began turning in her head as the phone vibrated with the incoming photo.

“Okay. And--and Seth went with them?” Lucy asked, placing her phone on speaker so she could forward the image to Alison.

“Yeah. I mean, they just think he's a buyer, right? He'll be okay.”

“He has his police ID on him and his off-duty weapon. If they search him, it's over.” Lucy shook her head, despite Tamara being unable to see her. All three women were moving into action, gabbing their badges and off duty weapons from the safe. “Listen, you did the right thing, calling me. Did you drive yourself?”

“Yes, I met him here we didn’t go together.”

“Good. Head home,” she told her as the trio walked out the door and down to the car. “I’ll call you as soon as we’re code 4.”

“Okay. Thanks, Lucy.”

Lucy, hung up, silently seething at her rookie’s stupidity. This was the exact reason she didn’t want him to arrange a bigger buy earlier. Criminals were too unpredictable, and he was too inexperienced. She exchanged glances with the other two women. “I know you heard all of that. I’m sending you the plate number, Ali. Can you track it?”

“Already done,” she said, moving to the driver’s seat of Celina’s car, pulling the keys out of her hand. “I’m driving, you call Tim in for back up. Lina, run a search for this Javi guy.”

“Fuck,” he was going to be so pissed. Tapping Tim’s contact, he answered after two rings.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey, uh, Seth is in trouble and I was hoping that you could help me and Celina get him out of it.” She made the conscious decision not to tell him about Tamara being the one to call her. That would be a problem for another day. “We're tracking a license plate.”

She heard him blow out a breath, “Let me get an officer to replace me and then I’ll come to you. Text me your location. You be careful too.”

“Thanks.” Ending the call she Lucy released a breath, looking over at Alison who was speeding through the streets. “Any luck on a location?”

“I’m running a search as quickly as I can,” Celina’s voice said from the back. “See if I can narrow down who this Javi is.”

In the end they were fortunate that they didn’t need Tim, who had gotten caught up with his own crisis at the safehouse. Celina had narrowed down Javi’s location and the license plate tracking came through. Lucy had the ingenious idea of setting up a checkpoint using their fellow officers and before they knew it, she was sitting in the front of a shop waiting as Officer Nickerson loaded him in.

Lucy immediately texted Tim and then Tamara a ‘code 4,’ silently seething at her rookie’s stupidity. She could barely look at him. He thanked her and she told him to thank Tamara, because she was the one who gave them the intel so they could track him down. And then made the dumbass comment about it being a good thing that he and Tamara were hanging out.

She’d left him in the cuffs all the way to the station and had another officer take his statement. By the time everything was wrapped up, people were strolling in for the day shift, Seth was in a rideshare home and Lucy was on her way to the breakroom for a much needed cup of coffee and to wait for Tim.

“Hey,” his deep breathy rasp sounded behind her and Lucy turned from the coffee pot to see Tim briskly walking in. Her eyes roved over his form as it always did, especially when he was in her favorite jeans and dark green henley, but when her eyes landed on his face, her eyes widened in alarm.

“What the hell, Tim?” She set her coffee cup down clumsily on the counter, not feeling the hot liquid sloshing over the edge and onto her knuckle as she rushed over to her husband. He was sporting a nice gash on his hairline that seemed to be evidence of being whacked in the head.

She pressed her fingers around the wound, pausing when he winced a little, her eyes raking over his form again, this time searching for other injuries.

“Babe, I’m okay. Paramedics checked me out,” Tim reassured her, unconsciously leaning into her touch but Lucy still frowned. She was always unsettled when Tim came home with an injury.  

“You called me babe at the station where anyone could walk in,” she scoffed, rubbing a thumb along his temple, “I don’t know if I’d consider that okay.”

Tim gave her a look, “Seriously? Calling you babe is probably the tamest thing we’ve done here as of late considering the way Ange and Ali told me people were talking about me in the locker room. And need I mention what happened while you were in Sacramento?”

“True,” Lucy cringed, recalling their steamy afternoon of impromptu phone sex that Alison helped arrange while she was away at UC school and Tim was at work.  She tossed the thought aside, in favor of focusing on the present. And presently, her man was injured. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“Mickey got the drop on me in attempt to escape,” He shrugged, “Ironically, The Hammer saved me.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey,” Tamara walked into the break room and the couple slowly turned to greet her, Lucy slowly dropping her hand. “What happened to you?”

“Eh, it’s no big deal,” he replied, heading to the coffee maker in desperate need of caffeine.

“Mmmhmm,” Tamara replied, tracking his movements suspiciously, but didn’t comment, “How’s Seth?”

Tim frowned looking back over his shoulder at her, “You know what happened to Ridley?”

“Yeah, we were out when he ended up with those guys,” Tamara said plainly, and Tim glanced at Lucy, who sighed.

“You were on a date? With Ridley? When all that went down?” he said, spinning around his mug of dark roasted fuel, alarm creeping into his voice.

“Why are you two being weird?” Tamara asked, unimpressed with their attitudes. “Lucy was weird about it earlier, and you’re being weird about it now.”

“He could’ve gotten you hurt last night,” Tim folded his arms, mug resting against his crook of on elbow as he spoke.

“But he didn’t.” she replied, mirroring his body language, “In fact, he went with them willingly, just so I wouldn’t get hurt.”

“Look, Tam…you don’t know Seth like we do,” Lucy cut in, trying to get her to listen to them because it was highly possible that the conversation with Tim would get more heated if she let them continue on.

“What does that even mean?” She shot back, annoyance creeping into her voice.

“It means he lies,” Tim said flatly, and Lucy nodded.

“A lot. Like, habitually.”

“One might even say, pathologically,” he added.

“He's training to be a cop,” Tamara argued, with a little huff in her tone.

“I know, and…and I'm working on that,” Lucy explained, “but the point is... you can't date him.”

Tamara’s eyes fired up at Lucy’s words, “I--I can't?”

“I…I misspoke, all right? We just think that…” Lucy tried to backtrack, but the damage had been done as Tamara interrupted her, gaze darting between Lucy and Tim.

“You know, the last time I checked you two aren’t my parents,” she fired off to them angrily.

“Tam…” Tim started but she wasn’t having it.

“Who I date is not up to you,” she scoffed and turned, storming out of the break room, leaving Tim and Lucy stunned.

“That did not go how I was expecting,” Lucy groaned, raking her hands through her hair as she turned to look at Tim.

“Is she really going to date him?” he asked his voice laced with disbelief as a knot of dread began forming in his stomach. Tamara was usually so levelheaded, even in moments she disagreed with them, but she’d never stormed out before. Hell, they’d never even had a real argument until today.

 “Oh she’s definitely going to date him now,” she muttered grumpily.

“Do I need to go put the fear of Bradford in him again?” His jaw ticked, as he readied himself for action. Tim was all for any chance to scare the living daylights out of the Virgin.

 Lucy barked out a dry, pained laugh, looking down at her hands and back up at Tim. “I wish, but you and I both know that will only make things worse. We just gotta let things run their course unfortunately.”

He glanced towards the doorway where Tamara had just exited as if she’d appear any minute. He knew Lucy was right. If they interfered any more than they already had, they’d just drive her away.

“Fine,” he conceded, his voice low and tight. “But if he hurts her…”

“Oh don’t worry,” Lucy said, not missing a beat, “I’m helping you hide the body.”

Chapter Text

The emergency room buzzed with an undercurrent of pandemonium, as dozens of people entered in various states of injury as a result of the wildfire. Tim slowly blinked awake, having fallen asleep from the relief of finally being able to breathe. The oxygen mask was pressed tight against his face, each breath hissing as his chest rose and fell slowly. The steady beep of machines was soothing amidst the chaos and he looked over at Lucy in the bed next to him who was sitting up and watching him with wide eyes, covered in dirt and ash.

He felt a pang in his chest as their eyes met, struck by both the fact that she somehow managed to always look beautiful no matter what state they were in, and that they were sitting next to each other…alive.

He’d said before, that as police officers, tomorrow was never certain. But today…today might have been the first time he really thought it was the end.

8 hours earlier…

The morning sunrise filtered through the shades of their bedroom, bathing the room in a soft ethereal light. Breathy moans and sighs hummed through the room, the mattress groaning beneath the couple who moved passionately above it. The covers had been shoved to the floor and they lay naked in the center of the bed as their bodies moved together.  

Tim and Lucy were on their sides, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on their skin, signaling that they’d been joined for some time. Tim clutched her to him, his mouth at her shoulder, hand around the thigh that was slung over his as he took her from behind. His thrusts were slower and not as deep, but his cock nudged the right spot within her with each stroke.  

Feeling her wetness fluttering around him, Tim’s hand left her thigh for a moment to tilt her head so he could capture her lips. He licked into her mouth, suckling at her top lip and swallowing her moan as his hand traveled down to dance on her clit. One of his biggest turn ons was pleasuring his wife and her orgasm would send him right over the edge.  

Lucy broke away from his kiss, her breath hitching as her hips arched back against him, insides beginning to thrum. She loved making love Tim in the mornings. Everything around them was still asleep, and it was as if they were huddled in their own little bubble of time. Their friends often joked that it was how things always were between them, that the rest of the world faded away whenever. But somehow, in the quiet of the mornings it always felt even more true.

Her fingers reached back to tangle in Tim’s hair, pulling him closer, his breath hot and ragged against her neck as they rocked towards the edge together.

A shrill chime sounded from phone on the nightstand in front of them, but the two ignored it, chasing their release. Lucy writhed back against him, the motion pulling a low, jolted groan from Tim.

Another chime.

“Don’t stop,” she said breathlessly. “It’s only Nyla.”

Another chime.

Tim grumbled, lifting her off of him, ignoring Lucy’s loud protest, “Tim!”

He shifted her to her hands and knees, quickly kneeling behind her and plunging his cock into her. The air in the room shifted as he pulled back and snapped his hips forward suddenly, grunting along with her keening whine. He repeated the action, just as her phone sets off another set of notifications.

“What the fuck? She’s never the one to interrupt us, and when she finally does it’s at 6 am!?” Tim growls in frustration, but doesn’t lose his pace, snapping his hips again.

“I’m helping with surveillance remember,” Lucy moans, fucking back against him as her insides began to coil.

He brough a hand down firmly on her ass, the slap—and Lucy’s yelp— bouncing off the walls, “Fuck surveillance.”

He thrust hard into her as Lucy’s phone went off again with a series of notifications, indicating a conversation was going on, eliciting another growl from Tim.

“Don’t you dare stop, Tim,” she growled back, yanking his hand from her ass and guiding it forcefully to her clit. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and tugged a little roughly, Lucy crying out as her head tilted back and Tim slammed into her again and again.

“If you think I’m fucking stopping right now, you’re insane,” he grunted, his fingers smacking her clit in response, making her hips jerk and her pussy ripple. His jaw clenched, and he felt the pressure building inside him as she squeezed his cock.

Lucy comes with a few more swipes along her nub, her hips wildly arching back into him. Her moans were choked as he pulled her up, the hand fisting her hair and other clutched at her pussy, working together to yank her back as he sat on his haunches. He licked the vein at her throat, breathy grunts sounding in her ear as he chased his orgasm, prolonging hers with his fingers.

His own release followed shortly after, the world narrowing to a pinpoint and then exploding along with his cock. A rough curse tumbled from his mouth, muffled by the bite against her shoulder and he released his hold on her hair, winding his arms around her chest to clutch her even tighter to him.

She milked him through the aftershocks, his pulsating cock sending shivers through her body as he painted her walls and stilted groans came from between his clenched teeth.

The phone pinged again.

“Oh for fucks sake,” Tim complained, rolling his eyes and slumping back on his heels, bringing Lucy with him, his hand still cupping her breast. “What is happening?”

Her chest shook as she giggled, dislodging herself from his arms to grab the device. Tim shivered as his cock slipped out of her, eyeing her hungrily as their combined juices dripped out of her as she crawled.  

He cocked his head for a moment, and a split second later made a decision. Not letting her get to the nightstand, Tim reached out wrapping a hand firmly around her ankle, yanking to stop her.

“Wha—?” Lucy turned to ask him but didn’t get a chance. “Tim!” she shrieked as he surged forward spreading her legs apart and running his tongue up her thighs to clean up the mess they made.

He ended his trail at her cunt, spreading her cheeks to lap at her from behind. His mouth was hungry and wet, and it was highly possible that he was making even more of a mess from the sounds emanating from him.

“Babe…fuck…” she hissed, losing her train of thought, her hand reaching back intending to push him away, but instead she curled her fingers into his short strands. “We’re gonna be so late…”

Tim ignored her, plunging two fingers in, reveling in the squelch that they made. He curled them, caressing her inner pleasure point, smirking when her back bowed against him.

“Tim…” her moan was laced with a bit of warning, but he shook his head vigorously, rubbing his face against her pussy and ass, Lucy letting out a little strangled cry.

“We’re already running behind schedule,” he said between licks and sucks, “And you know I can’t start the day without my breakfast.”

He turned his body to lay on the bed and his hands grip her ass, pulling her down to sit on his face. He latches onto her pussy, nosing her clit, before pulling back to lave his tongue around it, then sucked. He ignored the chimes from her phone as he pleasured her bud, pulling the hood back to give it special attention as his fingers snake between them to sink into her entrance.

Lucy’s body was vibrating, the nerves from her clit radiating outwards as her arousal climbed higher and higher from his attention, smacks and sucks seeming to almost echo in the room.

“Shit!” She pitched forward as her body grew taut and then suddenly snapped, stars dancing behind her eyes. Tim hooked his arms around her, holding her in place, lapping up her orgasm, feeling her body tremoring above him. His tongue licked gently, fingers still pumping slowly as she rode the wave of her orgasm, her moans high-pitched steady above him as her body shook.

“Damnit, Tim,” she said when she finally came back down. He chuckled, smacking one last kiss between her legs, before sliding out from under her. His cock was half hard, but he ignored it, knowing he really did make them super late.

“What can I say?” he shrugged, “You’re irresistible.”

Lucy snorted, finally making it to her nightstand to grab her phone. Once the device was in hand, she turned her body so Tim had a view of her profile as she kneeled on the bed, relaxed in her naked glory, tousled hair cascading around her shoulders down to her breasts.

She looked up for a minute, raising a brow at him. “Don’t get any other ideas mister. If we go again, neither of us are making it to work.” Tim just smirked and Lucy turned back to her phone, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth as she read through the messages.

There was a decent handful of people whose alerts would make it past their do not disturb setting and outside of each other, Tamara and the Grahams, their little found family from work had 24/7 access to them. A fact that Angela loved to abuse. There had been several days where she and Wesley had to head in early and Tim or Lucy were called upon on their day off to get the kids ready before the nanny arrived.

Nyla never called them outside of normal hours unless it had to do with a case. Lately, she had become—rightfully so—a little obsessed with Liam Glasser. An alleged serial killer—though they were all certain he’s guilty—and the one responsible for injuries Nyla sustained while on the hunt for him. Now she was surveilling him nearly around the clock, trying to catch him slipping. And to keep up appearances, as well as provide backup, Lucy, Celina and Alison got to help her tail him on his morning hike.

“What were the barrage of notifications for?” Tim asked dryly, finally moving off the bed.

Lucy looked up from her typing with a smile, “Well first it was Nyla reminding us that we were meeting at 7:30 and where to meet. Then it was Celina and Alison responding. And I guess when I didn’t respond, you know who had to comment…”

Tim rolled his eyes. Oh he knew all right. “I swear I don’t know how you became friends with her. She’s more insufferable than Angela.”

“Oh please,” Lucy snorted, “You know you love having a bunch of women around you that give you shit all the time.”

He gave her a look, but there was no heat to it, “Alison is more interested in our sex life than it sometimes seems we’re interested in our sex life!”

“That’s only cause we’re so hot,” Lucy giggled, “Plus, it’s not like she was wrong. We were literally just having sex.”

“That’s…” he trailed off realizing she had him. “True.”

“Not like it’s a bad thing babe,” she grinned, “They’re all just jealous. I know for a fact that the guys have all learned a thing or two from those guys nights.”

“Yeah, it’s the reason they keep wanting me to get drunk,” Tim grumbled. “I think I spill secrets every time. I gotta stop it.”

“Nah, I’ve slipped up plenty for the both of us. Be flattered babe! I know I am. Flattered and satisfied.” Lucy giggled again and patted his cheek, pecking his lips, “Okay, we really need to shower before we don’t make it.” She hopped off the bed, hair whipping behind her as she headed into their ensuite to shower.

His phone trilled with a notification just as the shower started up, and he glared at the offending object from his position. He used to be up and out at 5 am, like a damn rooster, but over the years of being with Lucy, Tim had learned to enjoy the quiet of the morning—typically inside his wife. Usually he ended up pushing his alarm to 6 am, sometimes even 6:30.

On those mornings, it was usually a mad dash to the station, him grumbling to Lucy about the fact that he never used to run late until she came along. She’d just laugh and remind him of exactly why he was late, and he’d shut right up.

Grabbing the device off his nightstand, he checked the time and cursed. It was one of those 6:30 mornings, though he never regretted shutting off his alarm. Tossing his phone onto the bed he hurried into the bathroom, reminding himself that he didn’t have time to start anything again with his hot wife.

Twenty-five minutes and one blow job later they were dressed and moving through the kitchen doing the final preparations for the day. Lucy stood at the counter, spreading peanut butter onto a banana, adding more with each bit from the little glop she had on a small plate. Tim rifled through the cabinet near the coffee maker, settling on his preferred protein bar that he grabbed when he needed a quick breakfast. Tearing it open, he spread the wrapper down the bar, taking a bite.

“This your new thing now?” he asked, nodding toward the banana. Usually, she opted for a slice of toast with peanut butter—the banana was new.

She shrugged, giving him a little smile. “Eh, I didn’t have enough time to make toast, and this hits all the food groups I care about before coffee. And I finally caught the bananas on a good day. Usually, I take one look at them and the next thing I know, they’re brown and you’re making banana bread.”

Tim hummed in agreement, chewing as he reached for his cup of coffee and took a sip, washing it down with the hot caffeinated liquid. He checked his watch, making sure they had enough time.

“Listen…” he started earnestly, and his tone told her that there was something on his mind. “I know you already know this but…be careful today? This isn't the usual tailing, and you know I'm always on board with Harpers instincts, so I believe her when she likes Glasser for this stuff. But it doesn't mean that I feel good about you being on his tail.”

Setting her banana down, Lucy turns to him, sliding her arms around his waist and looking up into his eyes. “I know. And I will. But this is what we do remember? Plus, I feel better if Harper has one of us at her six than another officer.”

“I agree,” he sighed, “I'd rather have you, Alison or Celina at my six any day over some of the others. Especially you.” He murmured as he leaned down, capturing her lips. They pulled away before going back in for another, this time lingering for a moment.

“Wow,” she said cheekily when they finally broke apart, “Celina has moved up on your list of trustworthy people, I'm shocked.”

 “She's grown on me.” Tim rolled his eyes. Of course she caught that. “Definitely doesn't hold a candle to you, but she's impressed me after she got over her first few months of growing pains, and moved past the trainwreck that Nolan used to be as a T.O.”

“Hmm…” she grinned, slipping out of his arms, to drain her last bit of coffee and take her final bite of banana. “I’ll be sure to tell her that.”

“Of course you will,” he shook his head with a small smile. He leaned down to kiss her again. “I’ll handle the clean up, I know you have to get going.”

“Thank you,” she batted her eyelashes up at him and he laughed, stealing one last kiss. “I’ll see you later.”

He swatted her ass when she turned making her yelp, turning back to look at him, pretending to be scandalized. “I couldn’t help it. These pants,” he groaned, turning his head to the side to admire her backside, “You ass looks fucking insane.”

She waggled her eyebrows, pulling her fanny pack over her head. “Maybe I’ll let you get a taste later.”

“You better,” he shot back with a smirk, and she turned back to the door, shaking her ass making him laugh.

“I love you!” she called over her shoulder.

“I love you too babe,” he called back as she opened the door, “See you at the station.”

Miles had gotten in early, after hearing about the fires, knowing that Bradford would expect him in. Seth was nowhere in sight yet, though he wasn’t exactly sure if he should expect him. He made a mental note to ask him about his treatment schedule.

“Hey, man!” He looked up to see Seth exiting the locker room. “Do you see what’s going on out there? It’s crazy.”

“Yeah, I got in early too,” Miles replied, “I figured Bradford was the type to expect me in early.”

“Did he?”

“Of course, but it didn’t earn me any points. I believe his words were, ‘why would I give you credit for doing exactly what you’re supposed to do when there’s a crisis?’”

Seth shook his head, “Man, that guy really doesn’t give anyone a break.”

“Yeah, at this point I’m used to it,” Miles shrugged, “I can’t deny the fact that he’s a good leader…and teacher.”

“If you say so,” Seth didn’t seem like he believed him.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re back,” he said, tapping Seth lightly on the shoulder, “I heard stuff went down the other night, but didn’t get a chance to text you. What happened?”  

“Oh…I…” Seth looked around checking to see if Lucy was in sight, “I went out with Tamara.”

Miles’ eyes practically popped out of his head. “Dude, you went out with Sergeant Bradford’s kid?!”

Seth furrowed his brow in confusion, “Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Tamara,” Miles hissed, “She’s Bradford’s kid!”

“What? Nooo…nah…” Seth dismissed, not believing it.

“I’m telling you man. You heard her call him Dadford. Well, I mentioned it in the shop...that I was surprised he had a daughter…the man didn’t deny it,” he told him.

Seth’s eyes widened as he let the information sink in. “Oh god,” he gasped and Miles patted his shoulder sympathetically. They both winced when they heard Bradford’s deep rasp approaching with Grey.

“According to LAFD, fire is zero percent contained, moving at wind speed south toward structures,” he said as the two leaders heading directly towards the rookies.

“Natural causes or deliberate 4-51?” Grey asked.

“Unknown at this time,” Tim replied, “Harper thinks Glasser set it. Lucy says it's too soon.”

“All right. I'll order mandatory holdover and authorize paid overtime,” Grey started down the strategy route, but Nolan interrupted, joining the four men.

“Where do you want us?”

“Tim, you won’t have time to train today,” Grey told him, “I need you to coordinate with North Hollywood for staging areas, evacuation routes, and make sure that the fire broadcast updates on the mutual aid channel.”

“Copy,” Tim acknowledged, but waited to hear the remaining orders, wanting to know where the rookies were going to end up.

“Nolan, take Officer Penn and check in with Harper, she’s coordinating the Western District evacuation.”

“Yes, sir,” Nolan and Miles said.

“Should I join Officer Chen in the field?” Seth asked eagerly.

“No,” Grey shook his head. “I need extra pair of hands here.”

“Yeah, I'm happy to help.”

“Don't get too excited. Your job is to be yelled at all day. Come with me,” Grey told him and headed towards his office. Seth gulped and looked over at Tim who was standing with his arms crossed, looking unimpressed.

“Don’t fuck up, Ridley,” he said in warning, and walked off to follow his own orders.

“I…I won’t sir. Good luck today,” Seth called after Tim who ignored him.

Present…

Tim broke his gaze from Lucy’s for a moment as his eyes closed and let out a ragged cough into the mask. They were finally alone, the nurses and doctors who were originally fussing over them, moving on to other patients now that the two were settled. Lucy’s eyes remained trained on him in concern as she heard his breathing.

They’d almost died today. Almost bunt to ash and nothing amidst acres and acres of wildfire. The thought kept ringing in her head and she found her breath hitching in a way that had nothing to do with the smoke inhalation and everything to do with the fact that she had come close to spending her last moments on earth.

A couple hours ago…

“Is this going to work?” she had asked him, as flames ripped and roared around them, vibrating the fire shelter, making it feel as if they were in a storm.

Tim had looked around frantically, trying to ensure that they were completely covered as the cover shook above them. He held her tightly to him, his hand engulfed the back of her head protectively. “It's designed to reflect radiant heat, protect against convective heat, and trap breathable air, which is good, but it's only meant for short-lived—”

He was panicking. Tim never rambled. The few times he did, was when he was nervous…or scared. And she could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen him scared. He was always the one grounding her, being the steady force when she was falling apart. It was her turn to be that for him.

Lucy placed a hand on his chest. Firm and steady, as she coxed him to meet her eyes. “Yes,” she said calmly amidst the chaos around them. “Yes is the answer that I'm looking for.”

“Yes, it is definitely going to work!” He rushed out, still checking all the angles of the tarp. But her realignment had done the trick to quiet his panic. He went silent for a moment, returning to the steadiness that was so familiar to her.

“Listen…baby. If…if this is it…” he had started to say and Lucy knew exactly where he was headed, but she wasn’t having it. She refused to believe that they were going down like this.

The fire shelter would work.

It had to work.

Because there was still too much they had left to do.

So she shook her head frantically and cut him off fiercely, the fire in her eyes blazing as brightly as the one surrounding them.

“You better not give me some declaration Tim Bradford!”

“Lucy…” his voice wavered.

“No! This is NOT the end. Not today,” She said, her voice strained with the effort to hold back her tears, “We’re supposed to be grandparents.”

“I know,” he told her, pulling her even closer, tucking her head into is chest. “I know.”

Present…

It wasn’t the end. She got to stare into his beautiful blue eyes once again. They were tired, bloodshot and red rimmed, but they were the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen.

In that moment, everything suddenly had become abundantly clear. She pulled her mask up, “Babe…” she coughed a little as she lifted it over her head.

He blinked his eyes open again, reaching for his own mask. “You shouldn’t do that,” she warned him.

“Says you,” he shot back, his voice deeper and more raspy than usual. “Didn’t you just call my name?”

“Technically I said, ‘babe’,” Lucy said, smirking, feeling her heart flutter as he rolled his eyes affectionately.

“Same thing,” he waved a hand dismissing her sass. She chuckled but then dissolved into a series of coughs. “Are you alright?” he asked worriedly.

“Fine,” she coughed, shaking her head, putting the mask back up to her face for a moment, breathing deeply as instructed.

When she pulled it away she turn back to him. “I-I just…I know I put on the brave face but…I really thought we were going to die out there.”

“I know…” he sighed, letting out another little cough, “Me too.”

“And when we were finally out…all I could think about was how fragile life is. How you said life is never certain…and it was never more true than today. It just…it crystalized my priorities.”

Suddenly Tim moved, pushing himself up and throwing his legs over the edge and it sent a sliver of fear through her. “What are you doing? You should be lying down.”

“I’m getting the sense that you are about to say something important,” he said slowly making his way to her bed, sitting on the edge of the stiff mattress and taking her hand. He’d probably be reprimanded by their nurse later, but he didn’t care. He’d been separated from his wife for too long.

Lucy smiled warmly as he rubbed a thumb across her knuckle.  “I keep talking about it, but I have to—I have to get serious, you know. I need to move forward in my career. Because I want those babies, Tim.”

“Yeah?” The smile he gave her was blinding, shining even brighter when surrounded by his soot covered face.

“Yeah,” she grinned back. “I've…uh…I’ve been thinking about taking the sergeant's exam.”

“Really?” he asked her in surprise.

“Yeah,” she said a little breathlessly, her voice husky, cracking with the effort of use, “I know I haven’t brought it up at all, and I wasn’t quite sure what you’d think given you’re a Sergeant and all…”

“Are you kidding me?” He cut her off, letting out a little cough before catching his breath, “I think it’s a great idea!”

“You do?”

“Of course I do,” he squeezed her hand, reaching out to cup her cheek. “To be honest I fully expect you to outrank me one day. I’m not getting any younger ya know.”

She rolled her eyes, shoving him a bit playfully with their joined hands. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I've got some excellent books on tape. And some great ideas for studying…” he smirked at her, leaning in. “And we both know I am an exceptional teacher.”

“You’re somethin’,” she said wryly, raising a brow. “And I was thinking…that if I pass—”

“Once you pass,” he corrected her with a look and she gave him as smile, touched by his unwavering belief in her.

She didn’t comment on it but did tug him in to steal a quick kiss. “Well either way,” she said pulling away, “I think that after we find out the results…I could make an appointment…to get my IUD removed…”  

Tim’s eyes widened, excitement radiating from every pore. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. I think after today…I don’t wanna waste anymore time. And it’s like you said…you aren’t getting any younger,” she ended with a cheeky grin and Tim nudged her again.

“Oh you,” he chastised her playfully leaning in to capture her lips. “I can’t wait to have babies with you,” he mumbled against her mouth.

“I can’t wait to have babies with you,” she said, leaning in again.

They pulled away, still grinning and lost in thought, daydreaming of the future they both wanted, but now seemed more real than ever. Tim’s mind wandered to a little girl, chocolate brown waves flowing as she ran after Kojo in their backyard, her eyes glinting with mischief. A spitfire personality with a heart of gold just like his wife. Meanwhile, Lucy imagined a boy with a mop of dirty blonde hair that she refused to cut until he was older—and a playful and adventurous spirit with a soft spot for those closest to him.

“Hey, you two!” The couple was pulled from their thoughts by the abrupt appearance of Nurse Jasper, tall and lanky, but with an attitude that made others listen. “If you want to be discharged soon, which I’m sure you do—because you always do—you need to keep those masks on! And you need to get back in bed and let your body rest. I am not going to have Nurse Lisa come back and have my head because you couldn’t do what you’re told.” He pointed to the bed that Tim had vacated. “Now…in.”

Tim and Lucy exchanged a glance and Lucy nodded her head towards the bed. “You should listen to him babe. Your voice doesn’t sound too good.”

He looked at her pointedly, placing her mask back on her face. “Pot. Kettle.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said beneath it, gesturing towards his bed with her free hand and giving his other a squeeze. Rolling his eyes, he reluctantly let go of her and, getting to his feet and crossing the vinyl floor to the other bed, glaring at Nurse Jasper, who was unimpressed.

“Don’t give me that look, Sergeant Bradford. You’re in here often enough that those faces don’t scare me.”

Moments later Tim was back in bed on, mask back in place, though he and Lucy’s eyes still remained locked on each other as they returned to their daydreams of the future. The emergency room was still lively from the days events and both were itching to leave. Technically they were still on shift, although they’d definitely be sent home.

 “Oh, thank God you guys are okay!” The couple winced internally as the squeaky voice of Lucy’s rookie sounded from the doorway as he hurried over to them. “You're…you're better than okay. It's like nothing even happened.”

Was this kid for real? Both Lucy and Tim looked at him as if he had grown two heads, lifting the masks back off their faces.

“Yeah,” Lucy said sarcastically though the smokiness in her voice made it seem almost sincere, “smoke inhalation and, like, a lifetime of nightmare fuel, but other than that...”

“Yeah, good…bad, but I…Good,” Seth stammered, and they waited impatiently for him to find his words. “Um, yeah, I got into it with the National Weather Service. I did some serious yelling. The fact that they didn't update us that the fire had…had shifted is unacceptable.”

Tim wasn’t certain he’d heard him right, pushing himself further up on the bed as if sitting straighter would give him more clarity. “I'm sorry. The road wasn't safe, they didn't tell us?”

“Yeah. It's unbelievable, right? I…somebody's got to get fired over this,” Seth replied, almost eagerly.

“I'll follow up,” Tim said firmly, anger laced in his voice at the fact that someone’s lazy mistake had almost cost them their lived, “make sure they do.”

Alarm flashed through Seth’s eyes, so quickly that it could’ve been imagined as scrambled to quell Tim’s outrage. “No, I-I don't think that's necessary. I put the fear of God in them. Um... anyways, I'm just here…I'm just checking on my T.O. I got to get back to the station. Grey needs me.”

Seth hurried out of the emergency room as quickly as he came and Tim turned back to Lucy who was watching him leave. Her brow was furrowed as she replayed the last few minutes in her mind.

“That was weird, right?” He asked her.

“Something is not right,” Lucy responded, still watching the door and worrying her lip. Seth was clearly hiding something.

“Do you think he was lying?”

“Did you see how freaked out he got when you questioned him? Especially when you said you were going to follow up?” Her hands fidgeted with the mask in her lap and she shook her head slightly.

“He was in panic mode,” Tim said observationally and Lucy nodded in agreement.  

“And when he panics…he lies. He said it himself. Tried to tell me he was going to do better. And I wanted to believe him. Just like I want to believe him now. So badly. Because who lies about something like this?”

“Someone who has made such an egregious error that they almost cost another person their life, when they’ve been saying their purpose is to save lives. Someone who has everything to lose,” Tim said Lucy’s stomach churned. “What do you want to do?

Whatever Seth wasn’t saying, had something to do with what happened to them today. She didn’t want to believe it was possible, but his skittish behavior when Tim questioned him was too obvious. She didn’t know what had happened, but Seth was lying.

“I think we should look into it,” she said finally. “I’ve put off talking to Grey long enough, I need to read him in.”

“Alright then. After we’re discharged we can talk to him.”

Chapter Text

Things went from bad to worse once Tim and Lucy were discharged. They discovered James had been shot and all thoughts of home and rest went out the window.  It was all hands-on deck supporting Harper and navigating all angles to track down his attacker.

It took Lucy a moment to snap in to focus, her chest twinging a bit and her mind still reeling from earlier events, and then the shock of seeing yet another of their close friends fighting for their lives. It was Harper—who always reminded her of Tim—openly broken and fragile, that cut through her haze, the fierce determination for justice hitting as Lucy pulled her into a hug.

From that moment they shoved everything aside and jumped into action to find the shooter, Angela taking the role as lead detective and Nolan, Lucy and Tim making it their mission to help solve the case.

It seemed that the entire day was an echo chamber screaming ‘life is short.’ And when their prime suspect hit a pedestrian and the officers found themselves escorting her to the hospital where she now lay on life support, it was a stark reminder that everything could be ripped from them in an instant, held together by sutures, gauze and hope.

Lucy was even surer that their decision to move forward in growing their family was the right one. The constant ache at her temples, the pull in her chest keeping the thought steady in the back of her mind.

“Are you alright?” Tim’s concerned voice pulled her from her thoughts and Lucy realized she’d been unconsciously rubbing her chest. She quickly dropped her hand, glancing over at him and catching the deep frown on his face. They had just pulled up to the studio lot and exited the shop, preparing to arrest the shooter. Nolan had just parked behind them and Lucy could tell Tim was about to suggest she stay behind.

“I’m fine,” she said flatly, but Tim didn’t look like he was buying it.

“Are you sure? If you don’t feel up to it…” he stopped himself and then tried a different approach, “Don’t think I haven’t heard you coughing, Luce.”

“There is no way I’m sitting back here and letting you two go in there to catch the guy who is responsible for nearly killing James. The only way I will be fine is at your six,” she told him fiercely. “When we get home I will rest and do that ball blowy thingy and be fine tomorrow.”

“Ball blowy?” Tim smirked suggestively, “I think I like your name for it.”

“Shut up,” she rolled her eyes playfully swatting his shoulder. Tim pretended to stumble, chuckling a bit before they both sobered as Nolan exited his shop. The three officers quickly fell into step with one another, snapping into focus as they entered.

In the end, they arrested the shooter on the lot where he was hiding and while they breathed a sigh of relief that justice had been served, they were still playing the waiting game. James had woken up, but they knew it didn’t mean he was out of the woods yet. Kylie—the woman who had been the real target—still wasn’t either.

Lucy leaned against the wall outside the men’s locker room, waiting for Tim. Her hands were clasped in front of her, water bottle dangling from one finger. Her head was beginning to throb now that she no longer had anything to distract her. She closed her eyes, tilting her head back against the wall, trying to get a bit of relief. She relaxed her jaw, letting her tongue fall away from the roof of her mouth.

Somehow it just made her head feel worse. As if she created an opening for the pain to creep in more.

“Ready?” there was a woosh of cool air that felt refreshing despite the faint smell of stale sweat that was distinctly the men’s locker room. Blinking her eyes open, Lucy saw Tim walking through the doorway, approaching her with his brow furrowed.

She gave him a tight, tired smile. “Actually…” Tim’s frown deepened at the rasp in her voice that seemed to have gotten worse now that the day was over, but he let her continue, “I wanted to run by the hospital.”

“Babe, I want to be there for Harper and James too, but—”

“No,” she shook her head slightly, trying to hide her wince, “I wanted to go to go sit with Kylie. I mean, the whole station is rallying around Harper and James, but I don't think Kylie has anyone…She should have someone.”

Tim’s expression softened as he gazed at his wife in awe of her compassion for others. “On any other day, I’d gladly grab us some food and join you, but…” He paused running his eyes all over her face, “You need to go home and rest.”

“Tim…”

“No,” He shook his head, his own voice strained and his throat hurting from overuse. “Babe you’re exhausted. And I love that you want to be there for Kylie, I do. But you need to take care of yourself. We’ve been firing on all cylinders since we left the hospital. We need food and rest. We can call Luna on the way and make sure someone sits with Kylie.”

Lucy’s body sagged against the wall, exhaustion settling deep in her bones as she nodded, knowing he was right. Tim held out his hand, and she took it, allowing him to pull her forward. She leaned against him for a moment, then pulled back, reminded of the fact that despite being off duty, they were still at work and agreed to keep PDA to a minimum. Tim, however, didn’t let go of her hand and she eyed him questioningly.

“We almost died today,” he said, giving their joined hands a little shake, “I think we’re entitled.”

Somehow things got even worse that night before they got better

Fortunately, Genny had taken Kojo home for the rest of the day since the Graham’s were away, allowing Lucy and Tim to have an uninterrupted evening.

Conversation was minimal, a silent agreement when the fatigue and strain from barking orders and call signs finally took its toll. Their last real verbal exchange had been about Seth, deciding that they’d bring their concerns to Grey the following morning.

They’d ordered dinner on the way home— simple salmon, brown rice and broccoli that would be easy on their stomachs, but good for their bodies.  They’d showered again while they waited, taking turns washing each other’s hair, hoping that the shampoo would finally cut through the last notes of smoke still clinging to them.

Once they were in bed, things took a turn. The doctors had warned them that there would be some lingering symptoms, but it seemed Lucy was getting the worst of it. Tim’s voice was still rough, and he had a mild, dry cough that came and went. But Lucy…she was struggling.

Her coughs had grown more frequent, deeper and heavier, as if there was something stuck in her chest that was refusing to budge. Her head had been aching too (all day, though she tried to wave it off) but once they were home, the more obvious her discomfort became. Tim could see how much the overhead lights seemed to physically hurt her and she curled away from the lamp on his side of the bed, squeezing her eyes shut as another cough rattled her chest. She wrapped her arms around her middle as she tucked herself into a ball of pain and fatigue.

“Babe,” he said quietly, splaying his hand across her stomach and pressing gently, wishing he could bring her relief from sheer will. He leaned close to her ear. “Babe, I think you need to go back to the hospital.”

Lucy shook her head sucking in a shallow breath before she replied, “No,” she wheezed stubbornly, “they said it might get like this. I just need rest and fluids.”

Tim gently helped her shift higher on the pillows, trying to ease the weight on her chest, hoping the change in position would help her cough. It didn’t seem quite as bad when she was sitting upright. He reached across to the nightstand and picked up her glass of water.

“Here,” he said holding it to her lips.  

“I’m not a baby, Tim,” she muttered rolling her eyes even as her voice cracked.

“Ah…but we’ll have one sooner or later, so…” Tim raised his eyebrows and gave her an encouraging smile, “Humor me. A few sips and then hopefully we can sleep.”

She drank slowly, the cool water giving sweet relief as it went down her throat. When she was finished, Tim set the glass down and Lucy settled back against him, breath still uneven but less labored.

But later, at some point during the darkest hours before dawn…Lucy stirred. Tim barely noticed it at first, but then the sound of her breathing changed, and she suddenly surged up. Tim’s eyes shot open, and he saw Lucy taking shallow gasps as she tried to seemingly catch her breath, followed by a sudden, sharp fit of coughing that doubled her over in bed. He placed his hand on her back to steady her body as he assessed her with wide, panicked eyes. The doctor’s said there would be lingering symptoms, but he’s pretty sure they didn’t mean this.

“Lucy, that’s it, we’re going to the hospital,” he told her, moving to get up from the bed when her arm shot out stopping him, shaking her head frantically. “Lucy, we have to go, you can’t breathe.”

She gripped the edge of the blanket as her body convulsed, and she let out a loud, harsh cough that seemed to make the rattling deep in her lungs finally loosen. She slumped back against the pillows, her chest heaving, but her breathing sounding clearer than it had all day.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she reached for Tim’s hand as she inhaled deeply, without wheezing. “See? I just needed to hack up a lung,” she said a little breathlessly.

Tim glared at her, squeezing her hand tightly as he crawled back onto the bed beside her. “Not funny. You scared me half to death.”

She closed her eyes again, snuggling into his arms, feeling Tim dropping a kiss on her head and she finally rested.  

“Lucy…” Tim started as she sucked in a deep breath before they stepped into the station. She was willing herself not to cough.

“I’m fine,” she said sharply.

She wasn’t fine. Her head was throbbing, her throat felt like sandpaper and her cough sounded like she was gargling metal dice in a glass of water, but sitting at home was only going to drive her crazy. Mid Wilshire was already wildly understaffed, and they’d be down a detective with Harper out, they couldn’t afford to have her out too.  So she finished her tea, filled her water bottle and made a deliberate effort to ignore her husband’s continuous worry for the morning.  

Tim wanted her to go to the hospital, but Lucy stubbornly refused. He thought about pressing the issue but knew better. They didn’t argue often—at least not about anything important—but with Lucy already on edge starting that argument would only lead to raised voices and the last thing either of them needed was to do more damage to their already wrecked throats.

In the end, before he turned off the freeway at the station’s exit, she finally agreed that if things got any worse, the hospital would be her next stop.

When she shut him down again as they walked through the doors, he finally gave up trying to convince her, trusting that she’d tell him if things became too much—and desperately trying to tamp down the little voice that said throw her over his shoulder and take her to the hospital, or at least home. Tim puffed out a little laugh as he thought about her reaction if he attempted to manhandle her. Might work for the bedroom, but he would surely be sleeping at Genny’s if he ever tried something like that.

He changed into his uniform quickly, barely registering his movements and not taking much time to acknowledge the other officers, his mind preoccupied by his wife. When he exited the locker room, he glanced at the roll call room, noticing that Lucy had yet to make it in and felt the unease settling back in his chest.

Before he could dwell on it, Grey approached him mid-stride.

“Hey Bradford,” he said, his tone gruff and slightly urgent. “I need you to take over roll call and supervisor duties this morning. I’ve got a last-minute meeting with the brass.”

Tim silently cursed. That meant that he and Lucy would need to wait to discuss Seth and their suspicions about the fire. Shaking it off, he gave a tight nod. “Yes, sir.”

Grey clapped him on the shoulder in appreciation before walking off, leaving Tim to refocus.

Roll call was second nature to him at this point, and he had the fleeting thought about what it would be like when Lucy made Sergeant and took her turn at the podium. He scanned the room as he went through the morning briefing, his eyes automatically seeking Lucy.

He tried not to make it too obvious that he was checking in on her but couldn’t help it when he heard a couple muffled coughs and a brief tremor in her hand as she folded her hands on the table.  He glanced instinctively at her as he rattled off assignments—pairing her and Nolan for the day—and she was looking right at him.

Her gaze was steady, almost challenging, as if she was daring him to act on the thoughts that were running through his mind earlier. As if she knew what he was doing, pairing her with Nolan.

He dismissed everyone and Lucy walked up to him with raised brows, Nolan trailing behind.

“I’ll be fine,” she said firmly. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I know. And that’s not what this is,” he said simply. “But…if something happens—” she opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off, “if something happens and you can’t access your radio…you have a partner you trust.”

Tim knew that she knew he was right when her nose scrunched after a beat, and she blew out a breath. “Fine,” that was the word of the day it seemed.

“Be safe. I’ll see you at lunch,” she gave him a pointed look then turned to Nolan, “You ready?” Without waiting for his response, she walked out of the room.

“Be safe!” Tim called after her and then turned to Nolan himself, “Anything happens, you call me. She hasn’t been quite right since the fire, but she won’t admit it.”

“Of course,” Nolan nodded and turned to follow her.

Tim’s eyes scanned the bullpen as he waited anxiously for Lucy to make an appearance. She and Nolan had been at the hospital most of the morning, trying to unwrap the mysterious case that had three young girls in the hospital with stab wounds. He hadn’t heard much more than that, but the fact that they weren’t on patrol meant that he didn’t hear Lucy checking in over the radio.

His chest felt tight in a way that had nothing to do with the fact that they’d been caught in a wildfire the day before and everything to do with the anxiety coursing through his nerves.

He needed his eyes on her.

“Bradford?” He heard Grey’s voice from behind him in his office, “Why are you standing outside my office like a guard? Shouldn’t you be out on patrol now?”

Tim whipped around, caught off guard for a moment. “Uhh…yes sir…but Officer Chen and I needed to speak with you. I’m just waiting for her to get back with Nolan.”

Grey narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “Are you about to tell me you found out something at the hospital yesterday?”

“Uh, yes sir…” he said hesitantly, “But…I’d rather Lucy be here as well before I say anything.”

The Lieutenant raised his eyebrows looking oddly amused, but raised his hands in deference, “Alright, come in when she’s here.”

Nodding, Tim turned around spotting Lucy coming towards him and breathed a sigh of relief which quickly caught in his throat. Something was off. She was walking slower than usual, as if each step took more effort than the last. One hand was pressed to her chest, absently rubbing. Her skin looked…paler than normal…almost ashen. And she looked exhausted, but it was barely noon.

He stepped towards her, a crease forming between his brows as he reached out to hover a hand beneath her elbow. “Luce…you don’t look so good…”

“I’m fine,” she cut in quickly, waving him off stubbornly. Her voice held even more rasp than this morning, but it was still firm enough to silence him for a moment. “Let’s just…get in there. We can’t put it off any longer.”

Tim hesitated, unconvinced and silently cursing Nolan for not calling him, but Lucy was already moving into Grey’s office. Sighing he followed her in.

“Sir,” Lucy cleared her throat and sucked in a deep breath. “We needed to talk to you about something…” She trailed off when Grey held up his hand.

“I think I know what this is about…” he started, a grin on his face as his eyes darted between the couple, “Should I say congratulations are in order?”

Tim and Lucy stared at him in confusion. “Congratulations, sir?” Tim asked and Grey nodded.

“Yes…aren’t you two about to tell me you’re having a baby?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

“What?” Lucy yelped, exchanging a shocked glance with Tim, “No!”

Grey blinked. “No?” he repeated, his grin fading slightly and a confused frown forming on his face.

The couple shook their heads. “No…no baby yet. Sorry to burst your bubble,” Tim shrugged with a slight smile.

Their boss crossed his arms, disappointment evident in his features. “Then what happened at the hospital that you had to tell me together, and that is not about my first semi grandchild?”

A lump formed in Lucy’s throat at Grey’s words, the weight of his statement speaking volumes to how he viewed his place in their lives.  They were his people. His family.

She swallowed hard and tried to speak, but the words felt caught. But this time it wasn’t from emotion…it was from the pressure increasing in her chest.

“It’s about Ridley,” she finally choked out, then cleared her throat.

The lump wasn’t going away.

She coughed once…then again, trying to clear her airway. She tried inhaling deeply through her nose, but her breath was tight and shallow, her chest burning as it had the night before.

“Lucy?” Tim asked, his brow furrowing in concern as he shifted closer to her. She waved her hand dismissively and tried to power through, her eyes flicking from Tim to Grey.

“He came…to see us…” She started, but her voice rasped to a stop. Fuck, why couldn’t she catch her damn breath?

“Are you alright, Chen?” Grey asked, stepping towards her. Lucy nodded, and opened her mouth again to speak, but no words came out. but didn’t speak. Tim pressed a grounding hand against the small of her back and Lucy shook her head faintly, indicating that he should continue.

Tim took over without hesitation, his hand rubbing circles at the small of her back. “Ridley came to see us after the fire. He mentioned that the NWS didn’t update him about the fire shifting on Eagle Rock Road.”

He glanced at Lucy to check in, but she wasn’t listening. Not completely. Her hand was rubbing her chest quickly now…almost frantic.

“I questioned him about it,” Tim continued rapidly, his mind already planning on taking Lucy back to the hospital to get checked out. “Told him I’d follow up with someone to see that there were some consequences…and suddenly he was back tracking, trying to shut it down.”

A crease formed between Grey’s brows as his head reeled back, his attention flicking between the couple. “I’m sorry, are you telling me Officer Ridley lied about the fire that you two almost died in?”

“We aren’t sure, sir,” Tim replied, distracted as his eyes darted to Lucy again for a moment. “But he’s lied about a couple of things in his personal life that makes us think…”

“Not anything pertinent to the job,” Lucy gasped out suddenly. Her voice was thin. And strangled.

Both men turned sharply towards her.

“Luce?” Tim moved to steady her as her knees buckled slightly. “That’s it, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“I can’t…” she wheezed, her eyes wide and frantic a hand clutching her chest, the other flailing a little before latching onto his forearm tightly as she sagged into Tim. “I can’t…breathe…”

Her legs gave out.

Tim caught her before she hit the floor, lowering her gently. “Lucy!” he said frantically, patting her cheek. “Hey, stay with me, baby. Come on, you’re okay…”

Grey was already moving, lifting his phone. “I’m calling an RA. What happened?”

“I…I…she was recovering. They…they said that we’d p-probably have some residual symptoms afterwards and she…she might be a little worse because she was smaller, but she must have been pushing too hard,” Tim said roughly, running his hands through her hair, trying to gently rouse her.

Lucy’s eyes fluttered, her lips slightly parted as she struggled to inhale, to stay conscious. Her skin had lost color and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on her brow. “Lucy? Baby can you hear me? We’re gonna get you help, okay? Just hang on.”

“Three minutes out...” Grey said still on the line with dispatch, and Tim only nodded. It was taking every ounce of control not to scoop her up and run out of the station, but it made more sense to wait for the people who could treat her right away.

She wasn’t responding and Tim kept his fingers pressed to her wrist, monitoring her pulse. His head was bent low, close to her face to listen to her breathing.

Fragile. Rattling.

Each one came slow and labored, like her lungs were still filled with smoke. Her eyes opened just long enough to meet his for a moment, then drifted shut again. Each blink came heavier than the last, until they finally drifted shut and Tim heard himself distantly begging for her to hold on, pleading for a response.

His own heart was hammering against his chest, his hands shaking with each stroke of her hair. He could barely hear anything around him…commotion from other officers, Grey’s yell sounding muffled. Everything was fading except for his fear. All that mattered was Lucy.

A firm hand suddenly closed around his bicep, and he looked up to see Bailey and a partner hurrying in with a gurney. She dropped to her knees beside Lucy, reaching for her neck to check her pulse.

“What happened?” she asked urgently as she assessed her.

“She—she’s been coughing since we were discharged from the hospital. It seemed like it suddenly got worse. Then she collapsed,” he managed to get out and bailey nodded as she placed an oxygen mask over Lucy’s face.

She and her partner moved quickly, lifting Lucy onto the stretcher. Grey gently forced Tim out of the way so they could work.

“Come on, son,” Grey urged, gently, “Let them work.”

Tim reluctantly let go, immediately reaching for Lucy’s hand again once she was loaded on the stretcher. He didn’t let go as they began to move, staying close and falling into step right beside them. He didn’t register the eyes on them from their fellow officers around the station, many frozen in place, shock and concern on their faces as they watched two of their own…of their best…in turmoil.  

Everything was in a blur as they passed through the station to the waiting ambulance and Tim only released her hand so they could lift her inside.

Bailey turned to him as her partner worked, but Tim didn’t give her a chance to speak, his voice harsh, leaving no room for argument. “Don’t even think about stopping me from going with you.”

She shook her head quickly, knowing that there wasn’t anything that would keep Tim from being with his wife. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Come on.”

He climbed in without hesitation, taking his place beside Lucy. He clasped her hand between both of his, holding it gently and securely between his, rubbing circles into skin with his thumb.

“Is…is she gonna be alright?” he rasped as Bailey adjusted the oxygen mask while Lucy’s eyes fluttered again but didn’t fully open.

“We’ve got her levels holding for now, which is a good sign,” Bailey said gently.

He didn’t acknowledge her words but pressed his lips to Lucy’s hand as the sirens wailed outside. “You’re gonna be okay, baby. Just hang on.”

Chapter Text

Inhale.

Exhale.

Tim watched the rise and fall of Lucy’s chest, tracking the rhythm as the monitors steadily beeped and the ventilator hissed continuously reminding him that she was still with him. He was finally by her side after what felt like hours, though it was less than one. He held her hand against his lips as he watched her.

A swollen larynx, they’d told him, but all Tim heard was that her airway was closing.

They told him she was lucky. And all Tim heard was if they hadn’t gotten her oxygen in time, her airway would have closed completely.

Lucky.

Lucy’s life should never, ever boil down to luck.

Watching her struggle for breath was one of the scariest moments in his life. For a moment he had one horrifying flash of her lying motionless on a bed of dirt, an empty barrel nearby and her chest still.

The doctors told him that once Lucy’s levels improved and the cortisone shot reduced the swelling, she’d wake up, but there was no telling when that would be. The sheer exhaustion from the last 24 hours might have kept her under a bit longer. So, he kept vigil as he had those years ago when she was just his rookie. When he couldn’t understand why his world had shaken so much when she was missing.  

But now he knew.

Because she is his whole world.

Tim’s eyes burned as tears welled, and he cursed himself for not seeing the severity of her struggle sooner. For not pushing harder for her to go back to the hospital. For not wanting to seem overbearing or overprotective, because he trusted that Lucy knew her own limits.

But sometimes he forgot how achingly similar they were.

They would both push themselves to the brink in service of others, shoving aside their own pain in order to help. Ignoring clear warning signs because their own issues couldn’t possibly be as severe as what was going on in front of them. Telling themselves that it wasn’t that bad, they could power through it.

It usually took the other person to make them see that they needed to slow down.

So why didn’t he see it this time? Why didn’t he push harder this time.

“God, baby…I’m sorry,” he whispered roughly, his voice wet.

Guilt gnawed at his insides as the monitor beeped again, the tears finally spilling over as he moved their joined hands to rest against his forehead. His shoulders shook with silent sobs as he screwed his eyes shut tight.

A soft knock startled him, and his head jolted up towards the door. Angela. He didn’t bother wiping his face. Tears were still falling.

He sucked in a breath as she walked towards them, her eyes wide with worry.

“How is she?” she asked softly.

Tim sucked in a shaky breath, sniffling slightly and wishing for the first time ever that his uniform was long sleeves so he could wipe his nose. Angela placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and leaned across his body to the table, plucking a tissue from the box that he hadn’t even noticed sitting there. He took it appreciatively from her hand, and wiped his nose, swiping his hand across his eyes.

“They said she’s gonna be okay, but…” he trailed off swallowing hard and Angela looked at him knowingly.

“But you won’t believe it until she’s looking at you,” she nodded, “I get it.”

Tim looked at her, remembering a time when he was the one supporting her because Wesley had been hurt. “Yeah…I guess you do.” His eyes drifted back to his wife who looked so unlike herself. She was a stark contrast to her usual bright and bubbly radiance.

 “What happened?” Angela asked after a moment of watching him, “Grey didn’t tell us much.”

“She uh…” he started, his voice thick, “she hadn’t been breathing right since…since we left the hospital yesterday. She had…she had a…rough night. We assumed she just needed to rest after pushing ourselves so hard yesterday, with everything with the shooting and James. But…it all just…came to a head today. And I…damnit I kept trying to get her to go back to the hospital but…”

Angela cut him off, “It’s not your fault, Tim.”

“I’m supposed to take care of her, Ange,” he whispered harshly, self-loathing in his voice. “She forgets to take care of herself. Especially when someone else is in crisis. She pushes her limits…so it’s my job to make sure that she stops.”

“Yeah, you do take care of her. Just like she takes care of you,” Angela told him, “But under these circumstances…it was impossible to know that things were as severe as they were. You literally jumped from one crisis to the next in a matter of hours. Rest made sense.”

Tim didn’t say anything, and Angela got the sense that he wouldn’t be able to absolve himself of his guilt until Lucy was the one to give him permission to do it. Sighing, she decided the only thing she could do was try to distract his mind from self-loathing.

“You wanna hear about how I’ve been back and forth between here and the station after our first stint here earlier this morning? Turns out, some evil A.I. basically talked those young girls into committing attempted murder.”

“Wow,” he said dryly.

“Yep.”  

Silence fell between the two of them again as Tim’s eyes remained trained on Lucy, his thumb rubbing back and forth across her forearm. Angela knew there was no distracting him. Not really. Not until Lucy opened her eyes. The minutes ticked by and Angela kept him company, being a steady presence to at least try to keep him grounded, knowing that the waiting was what would send him spiraling.

It was rare that Angela got to observe Tim in silence, and though these circumstances were awful, it didn’t stop her from thinking about everything that had gotten him to this point. She wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told her years ago that Tim and Isabel weren’t going to work out.

Even back then Angela knew that when Tim loved someone, he did it with his whole heart. She had felt it in the way he’d not only been there for her throughout all her ups and downs, but when he reciprocated her own family’s love and care just as fiercely. When she watched him care for her own mother as if she were his own.

Isabel never reciprocated Tim’s love in the same way. Oh, there was no doubt she loved him. She just loved the job more. And her ambition made it impossible to give herself over to him completely. And when Isabel lost herself to the job, Angela watched her friend become a shell of the person he used to be, putting up wall after wall to mask the pain he was in. It was then that Angela not only knew it was doomed, but she hoped Tim would come to realize it too, because that was the only way he’d end it.

Then Lucy came along. And on paper it shouldn’t have worked. But somehow she methodically broke down each of Tim’s walls brick by brick. First as his rookie, then as his friend, then his lover and finally his wife. And Angela had the privilege of watching their relationship bloom as Tim moved on and Lucy gently guided him to become the man he is today. Not completely unburdened, but more open and freer than she’d ever known him to be. Lucy was the love of his life. His person. The one who matters most in his world.

So he wouldn’t be okay until she was.

“Why are you staring at me?” Tim said gruffly, “I’m not the one in the hospital bed.”

“Someone has to keep watch over you, while you keep watch over her,” she shot back. “We all know that you will lose yourself while you wait. Just like you probably didn’t even realize you’re still in uniform.”

Tim shifted slightly, suddenly aware of his radio digging into his side. He glanced at Angela in mild annoyance, and she smirked slightly, knowing she was right.

“Nolan is bringing your bag and he’ll take your belt. Alison is bringing some food because you know there’s no way she’s staying away. The Grahams will get Kojo now that they’re back in town. And Genny is stopping by after work.”

“Thanks,” he said gratefully, his smile a little somber.

Suddenly, a noise at the door drew his attention to the door and Tim’s eyes narrowed. Before Angela could even register what was happening, she found herself jostling to the side as he flung himself out of his seat, the chair loudly clattering to the floor.

It was Seth.

“Whoa, Tim—” she grabbed the armrests to steady herself, but Tim was already halfway across the room.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” He said loudly, getting right in Seth’s path, his eyes wide with barely contained rage.

“Sir, I—” Seth started, rooted to his place just inside the room, but Tim slammed a hand against the frame of the door. Both Angela and Seth winced at the sound, but for different reasons. Seth looked terrified, and Angela thought Tim might break something. Or someone.

“You have the nerve to show your face here?” he went on, and Angela finally recovered from her shock, her eyes darting back and forth between the two men. Her eyes widened as she saw Lucy beginning to stir.

“Tim…” Angela said warningly, but he was too focused on Seth, the tension rolling off him in waves.

“She’s in here because of you!” he glared, towering over him.

Seth’s eyes widened and he frantically shook his head, “I…sir…I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was here…I was standing guard for one of the victims. Officer Penn told me the news. I-I was just checking on my T.O.”

“Enough, Ridley!” Tim roared, slapping the doorframe again. It was the same bullshit statement Seth made the last time they were here. “You and I both know that’s not true. We were trapped in acres of wildfire and Officer Chen almost died because you FAILED TO DO YOUR FUCKING JOB!”

He was panting, his body vibrating with unreleased rage. It was as if it was taking every ounce of strength not to lay his hands on Seth.

“Now, wait just a minute,” Seth said indignantly, “I-I did my job. Lieutenant Grey had me juggling multiple calls…”

“Right,” Tim scoffed, “Now it’s Lieutenant Grey’s fault that you fucked up.”

“Sir…I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“I told you not to put her life in jeopardy! I warned you…” he said harshly, ignoring Seth’s denial.

“Tim!” Angela’s voice cut through Tim’s anger like a blade, and he whirled around.

A pair of beautiful brown eyes were staring at him.  

Lucy was awake.

His eyes filled with tears of relief as she lifted a hand, holding it out for him.

Immediately abandoning the rookie who remained frozen in place, Tim rushed to her side, slotting his hand in hers, sitting on the bed.

“Hey…welcome back,” he said in relief, “You scared the shit outta me.”

She let out a little wheezed laugh beneath the mask, “That makes two of us,” she said her voice husky. Tim’s laugh was wet as he blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over.

“Is everything alright in here? We heard shouting.” a voice came from outside the doorway, and they turned to see a tall, short-haired doctor hurrying into the room. She was unfamiliar to Tim, who had been speaking regularly with Lucy’s doctor at this point.

Angela spoke up on behalf of everyone, knowing that there were still too many emotions whirling in the room. “Everything’s fine doctor. Thanks for checking in.”

She eyed them all suspiciously, her gaze transitioning to surprise when she saw Seth.

“Seth?”

“Hi. Dr. Roberts, it's, uh, so great to see you,” he said nervously, then gestured towards the others in the room. “These…these are my coworkers. Sergeant Tim Bradford and Detective Angela Lopez. I was just here uh checking on my training officer, Lucy Chen.” He nodded towards Lucy as the trio watched curiously.

“Hi,” Dr. Roberts greeted everyone politely.

Tim, who was always unimpressed by anything Seth did, just stared at him, deadpan. “Hi. How do you two know each other?”

“Well, Dr. Roberts used to be my oncologist,” Seth told them.

Tim’s brow furrowed and he glanced at Lucy, who wasn’t reacting, but was clearly paying attention. Exhaustion was still written all over her face, but she was determined to stay awake for this exchange.

It was Tim who spoke up on her behalf, knowing exactly what Lucy would be saying under normal circumstances. “Used to be?”

Seth’s eyes darted nervously between Dr. Roberts and the Senior Officers. He clearly wanted to be anywhere else, but he was stuck now. “Yeah, I…now I'm seeing Dr. Hasanov…My cancer came back.”

“I am so sorry to hear that,” Dr. Roberts replied, tilting her head sympathetically, “Why didn't you call me?”

This time Lucy narrowed her eyes as she waited for Seth to respond. And her senses began tingling when Seth seemed to fumble for his response.

“You know, I—whole new insurance plan. My new GP referred me to Hasanov.” His response seemed to surprise the doctor, but she quickly recovered.

“Okay. Well, take care of yourself. And, you know, if you need anything, call my office,” she turned to the trio of officers, “Nice to meet you. And…get well soon.” Without waiting for a goodbye, Dr. Roberts left the room and Seth turned, intending to leave as well, but Tim stopped him in his tracks.

“You had to change doctor’s, boot? Seems pretty inconvenient at a time like this.”

“Yeah. Yeah, totally,” Seth replied, a stupid little half smile on his face that Tim wanted nothing more than to punch, but decided it was better to gather as much information as he could to let him punch himself instead. “She's great. Um, but between us, she was really hard to get appointments with. You know, she…she made me wait a lot.”

Angela’s eyes darted between Tim and the rookie and she sensed that if she didn’t step in now, whatever Tim said next would send the conversation spiraling out of control again.

“Aren’t you supposed to be guarding one of the girls, boot?” she asked sternly, “I hope you got someone else to cover for you while you went on your little excursion.”

Seth’s eyes widened and Angela wasn’t sure if it was because he hadn’t gotten someone to cover for him, or the T.O. tone made him nervous, but he immediately moved into action.

“Uh…yes ma’am, again just…checking on my T.O.” He ducked his head towards Lucy. “Glad to see you’re awake, Officer Chen. I-I’ll hopefully see you soon.”

Tim scoffed and Angela cut him a look, but Seth was already moving out the door. No one said anything until they were certain he was out of earshot and Tim saw Lucy reaching to pull off the mask.

“Whoa, whoa what are you doing?” he said, a little frantically, reaching out to stop her. “You can’t take that off.”

Lucy gave him a look, “Tim.”

He shook his head, “I’m serious. You collapsed only a few hours ago Luce, so forgive me but until a doctor or nurse says otherwise, you’re keeping that mask on.”

His voice cracked on the word ‘collapsed,’ but was his expression that made her drop her hands immediately. Frightened in a way she hadn’t seen since Mad Dog. She never wanted to see it on his face again.

“Sorry,” she whispered, settling back against the pillows.

“Don’t apologize, baby,” he said softly, lifting a hand to run his thumb across her brow line, his other hand rubbing her thigh. Lucy leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and sighing, the soft sound drowned out beneath the ventilator. “I know it sucks. But I need you better. We’ve got work to do after all.” He said, pressing the call button with a little glint in his eye reminding her of their earlier conversation.

“Really, Bradford?” Angela cut through their moment in mock disgust, “Your wife has been awake for all of 15 minutes and you’re already thinking about sex? Can’t she get a break?”

Lucy’s snort turned into a cough and Tim cupped her head soothingly, waiting for her to catch her breath as he turned to glare at their friend. “I don’t see her complaining.”

“Uh yeah…cause she can’t,” Angela shot back smartly, which only made Lucy bark out another laugh that turned into a cough.

“Can you stop torturing my wife?”

“Fine,” Angela sighed dramatically then looked curiously at her best friend, “So you wanna tell me why you looked like you were about to commit a crime against Lucy’s boot?”

The couple exchanged a glance and Lucy nodded subtly, giving Tim the green light to share. Before he could, however, Nurse Jasper entered the room.

“Ah, I see our lovely lady is awake!” he exclaimed, heading to the sink to wash his hands. “How are we doing gorgeous?”

“Ready to get this damn thing off,” Lucy grumbled, the mask making her grumpiness even cuter and Tim smiled.

“Well, let’s see how things have progressed,” he said heading over to check her monitors. He went through a series of questions, assessing her breathing, her swallowing—adding a wink to Tim who rolled his eyes when Lucy smirked at the question.

“It seems like the medication did the trick. Alright, we’re going to remove the mask—for now,” Nurse Jasper explained, beginning to gently pull the straps around Lucy’s head. “I’ll give you a nose hose in the meantime and come back and check on you in a few minutes, and we’ll see how you’re doing. Until then, keep an eye on your breathing and swallowing.”

“Thanks, Jas,” she smiled softly once the mask had been pulled off and he began hooking up the nasal cannula.

“I don’t think I realized that you’re here enough to be on a nickname basis with people.” Angela said, raising a brow. “You know that’s not a good thing right?”

“We’re here as often as you Angela,” Lucy scrunched her nose, scratching it with the back of her hand, relieved to finally be free of her oxygen prison, although the tubes up her nostrils were still annoying.

Nurse Jasper let out a laugh as he added a few notes to her chart, “Not as a patient sweetie. You and your hunk of a man here have the privilege of getting blown up way more than your friends.”

“We’re honored,” Tim said dryly, and Nurse Jasper laughed as he finished up his notes.

“Alright, unfortunately I can’t enjoy this trifecta of beauty any longer,” he said with a dramatic sigh, “I’ll be back soon.” He strolled out, pushing the cart, sending them a wave when Lucy and Tim thanked him.

“So…” Angela turned back to the couple, the detective (and gossip) in her immediately latching back on to the question she had posed earlier. “You gonna tell me what that was with Seth?”

Tim rolled his eyes, “We’re pretty sure Seth had something to do with us being trapped on Eagle Rock Road.”

The detective reeled back in shock, “That’s a…pretty serious allegation.”

He let out a breath, “I know, but…Lucy’s caught him in several lies about his personal life over the past few months. He was the one on comms with the NWS and the city during the fires. He said something about them not informing him that the fire had shifted, but when I wanted to investigate it, he tried to shut me down.”

“Did you talk to Grey?” she asked and they both nodded.

“Yeah, we were in the middle of speaking with him we Lucy…” he trailed off, his eyes landing on his wife again.

“That’s not all,” Lucy cut in, her voice sounding marginally better than the last time she spoke.

“There’s more?” the detective asked in surprise. “Seems to me almost getting you both killed is enough reason for him to wash out.”

“We don’t have proof for that yet,” Lucy told her, “I was still waking up when that doctor came in, but the exchange seemed off.”

“And his cancer seemed to come back just as Lucy was about to wash him out the first time,” Tim added, not wanting Lucy to talk too much, given she was just taken off the ventilator.

Angela frowned as she tried to make sense of what he wasn’t saying, staring as Lucy nodded at Tim’s words. “Wait…are you telling me that Seth’s lying about having cancer?”

“It’s possible,” Lucy said.

“Probable,” Tim cut in and she shot him a look. “Listen I gave him the benefit of the doubt in the beginning, but after his lie landed you here, I’m suspicious of everything that comes out of his mouth. And the fact that his previous oncologist didn’t even know about it, when we can get some of the best care in the state? It’s smells.”

“But how would we even go about proving that?” Lucy asked him.

“Well, you could request that he submit to a blood test to prove it,” Angela suggested.

“I can do that?”

“He’s a rookie,” Tim chimed in, “He's got no right to medical privacy.”

Lucy felt sick at the prospect of heading down this route. Did she really want to be the type of person who questions someone’s illness? Could she actually make the accusation? She remembered how horrified she’d been when Tim had questioned the Make-a-Dream kid on the validity of his cancer diagnosis. At the time she didn’t think it was possible that someone could lie about something like that. But now…

“Luce, I see you getting all up in your head,” Tim’s voice cut through her spiraling, “At the end of the day he’s proven that he’s a liability though his other lies. You were already going to wash him out. If he’s lying now, all it does is confirm that he can’t be trusted on the job. And in my book, he definitely shouldn’t be trusted with your safety.”

Angela leaned forward, meeting Lucy’s eyes and placing her hands on the side of the bd. “You could call Grey in, get the hospital to draw his blood. If he refuses, you got your answer,” she punctuated her sentence with a nod of finality, leaning back again in her seat and folding her arms across her chest.

Two hours later, Tim was finally out of uniform and Lucy had finished a bowl of soup Alison brought her from their favorite deli. After Angela left, Luna had checked in on Lucy and ended up confirming what they’d feared…that the new doctor Seth mentioned was just as likely to be as dishonest as his so-called patient.

They immediately called Lieutenant Grey and walked him through their concerns, agreeing that he’d be on his way with Nolan to complete the official questioning of Seth.

Lucy picked at the blanket that was over her lap, watching as Tim ended the call, picking his phone up from where it was resting on the bed between the two and placing it on the tray table. She said his name hesitantly and Tim’s brow furrowed as he took in her tone.

When she was certain she had his attention she spoke. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, and hurried to continue when she saw him begin shaking his head. “No. No, I am. I should’ve listened to you when you kept suggesting I come back to the hospital. I-I just…everything with James and Harper…I just figured I needed some rest and I’d get better.”

“Luce…” Tim got up from his seat to sit facing her on the edge of the bed, “You didn’t know.”

“I know, but I should’ve!” she said emphatically, and Tim placed his hands on her covered thighs.

“Hey, babe…listen…you’re right. And I also could’ve pushed harder for you to go to the hospital…” he said and saw her mouth open to interject, but he stopped her, “My point is…you and I can go round and around blaming ourselves, but at the end of the day, the last two days have been insane. And we both tend to neglect our own health when others are in need. I’m a Sergeant and I still do it. Or do you not recall the time you had to force me to the hospital for my back?”

“Of all the traits for us to share,” she said sarcastically, lacing her fingers through his and squeezing.

“We are quite the pair,” Tim chuckled.

“I think we can both agree…that if we wanna have kids…we’ve gotta do better,” Lucy said, “They’ll deserve better from us.”

“They’ll deserve our best,” Tim corrected gently. “So how about we agree now…that we take better stock of ourselves? And the other person can call an audible when one of us seems like they’re heading down the path of neglecting our health? And we agree to listen, no push back.”

“I like that plan,” Lucy nodded with a smile.

“Good, because I was seriously considering tossing you over my shoulder to bring you here, and I really don’t want to have to do that in the future,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes, tugging him towards her by the hand, “You’re ridiculous.” Tim leaned in with a grin, planting a slow, gentle kiss on her lips. Their hands remained clasped between them, their fingers gently caressing and weaving, playing with on another as their mouths moved together.

Pulling a hares breath away Tim’s eyes fluttered open, “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Chen.”

“I’ll do my best, babe,” she mumbled against his mouth, before stealing another kiss. “And don’t think I don’t know that you keep calling me Chen just to push my buttons.”

Tim gave her an impish grin, that told her everything she needed to know. “I can’t help it. It’s hot when you remind me you’re a Bradford.”

“Well in that case…” she grinned back leaning closer and sliding her hand up his chest to fist his shirt, “It’s Bradford.” She yanked him against her with surprising force, for someone who’d just been in medical crisis.

This kiss was deeper than the last and somewhat awkward from the tube beneath her nose, but neither minded. They were simply happy to be alive and together.

“Didn’t you come here to get help with your breathing? Because I’m positive this isn’t helping,” Grey’s voice floated through their haze and the couple broke apart slowly with a laugh.

Tim turned to face their boss from his perch on the bed, and Lucy peeked around him with a sheepish grin.

“Hi, Sir,” she said, blushing. Tim had the fleeting thought that he was glad Angela wasn’t present, because he was certain there would’ve been some sort of joke about him providing ‘mouth to mouth.’

“Thanks for coming,” he said instead, and Grey just smirked.

“Nolan is going to get him now. Are you to ready for this?”

Lucy shrugged, “As I’ll ever be. It just really, really sucks.” The two men nodded in agreement, the mood turning a bit somber. Despite the circumstances, no good training officer ever wants to wash out a rookie.

A few moments later, Seth entered the room with nervously his eyes darting between the four officers, who remained stoic. “Is something wrong? Sirs. Ma’am.”

Grey stepped forward slightly, leaving significant space between he and Seth, but still towering over the shorter officer. “Officer Ridley, what happens in the next minute will decide your fate in the FTO program.”

Seth frowned at both his words and cold tone, looking anxiously over at Lucy who remained expressionless in the bed as Grey continued on. “Officer Chen has alerted us to her concern that you've lied about multiple things during the course of your training.”

“Sir—”

“Including failing to report critical weather information during the wildfire that resulted in the near death of two of my best officers,” he interrupted sternly.

“Sir, I can explain—”

“Yes, I've been briefed on your explanations, and I find them lacking.” Grey raised a brow, nodding his head. Under other circumstances, the glint in his eye could have been taken as amusement, but it was actually disbelief.

“But of greater concern is the veracity of your cancer diagnosis.”

Lucy spoke up, making the official request as his training officer. “Will you submit to a blood draw to prove it?”

Seth’s eyes leapt between each of the officers, as he appeared to be searching frantically for a way to respond—likely a way to lie himself out of this situation.

“This is nuts for you to even imply that I would be lying about something so serious!” he said indignantly.

Tim wasn’t having it, he crossed his arms, lifting his chin. “Yes or no, Officer Ridley?”

“And to be clear,” Grey added, “refusal to submit to the blood draw will result in your immediate termination.”

“As will blood work that shows no sign of cancer,” Tim practically spat the statement at him.

“I can't believe this is happening. I have rights,” Seth blinked and his body seemed to deflate as he switched gears to pleading. He turned to look at Lucy, which only angered Tim more, because how dare he try to ask for Lucy’s understanding when he’d put her at risk simply by existing.

“Please,” he begged, “I-I can't lose this. I love being a cop. I love working with all of you. I can—I can be better.”

“Yes or no, son?” Grey asked again.

It was as if a switch was flipped when Seth realized that there was no getting out of the request they watched him transform before their eyes. Gone were any traces of innocence, replaced with a calculating fury as his mouth formed a thin line.

“No, sir. I will not submit to the injustice of a blood draw,” he snarled and stepped into Grey’s face, “And I will be suing you and the department for medical discrimination.”

Grey remained unfazed, “Officer Ridley, you have failed to complete your probationary duties, which include following all lawful orders. Hand over your badge and your duty belt.”

Nolan stepped up from his place near the doorway, waiting silently as Seth unclasped his duty belt, his moves stilted with anger as Tim took over for Grey.

“Officer Nolan will escort you back to the station, where we'll take possession of every piece of city-issued equipment. We'll then take you off the property. If you come back without an appointment, you will be arrested.”

Seth shoved his duty belt at Nolan, glaring at Tim and Lucy as he turned to leave. “This isn’t over,” he spat.

“I’d say it is,” Tim fired back as they walked out.

Lucy released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in the last few seconds and Tim whirled around to face her.

“Babe, you can not hold your breath after everything you’ve gone through today,” he said, a little exasperated.

“Don’t go giving this man a heart attack,” Grey chuckled, “I can’t have both of you out of commission.”

She looked at him sheepishly, “Sorry, I didn’t even realize I was doing it. That was…kind of intense.”

“You did the right thing though,” Grey reassured her. “It’s never easy washing out a rookie, but after everything you told me. Between discovering that the NWS did, in fact, make the call about Eagle Rock Road and this bogus cancer diagnosis, he was more than a liability.”

“Do you think he’s going to sue?” Tim asked and Grey shrugged.

“It’s possible,” he said, and a small smile tugged at his lips, “But we’ll cross that bridge when and if we come to it. For now, we’ve done our jobs. You just take it easy Officer Chen and let this man take care of you.”

Chapter Text

“Alright Sergeant Chen, next question,” Tim said as they both floated on the loungers in the pool. They’d kept Lucy overnight in the hospital for monitoring, and she’d been discharged the following morning with instructions to stay home and rest for 48 hours.  Fortunately, Tim was already scheduled to be off, so he could spend the time with her.

Lucy decided to get a jump on studying for the Sergeant’s exam, so Tim was currently quizzing her while they relaxed. “A veteran officer under your command discharged their firearm at a suspect fleeing on foot. The suspect was unarmed, and the bodycam footage shows no clear threat. As the supervisor, how do you evaluate the use of force?”

Lucy took a sip of her iced tea and placed it back in the cup holder, adjusting her hat slightly as she thought about the answer. “Okay, I’d evaluate using the PLANE framework. Proportionality, Legality, Accountability, Necessity and Ethics.”

“Very good,” he smiled leaning his head back against the head rest, “You know you’re going to crush this test.”

“Don’t say that!” she groaned, “You might’ve jinxed me! I’ll get overconfident and then suddenly I’ll do awful!”

Tim rolled his eyes and sighed, “Okay first off, there’s absolutely no way you’ll do awfully. You recorded all those ancient books for me. You were my aide. You know how to review a report and supervise a scene better than half the roving Sergeants between here and North Hollywood!”

“Ugh…you say that now, but then I get some asshole leading the oral exam who wants me to fail,” she flopped her head back again, dragging her hand through the water. Tim stifled a laugh, and she turned to glare at him. “It’s not funny!”

“It’s a little funny,” he smirked. “Listen the test isn’t for two months. There’s no use freaking out now.”

“Uh what happened to T.O. Tim?” she grumbled, “He’d be reminding me that I should be studying morning, noon and night.”

“Well, you married him,” Tim said pointedly, “Plus, my T.O. voice gets you hot. It wouldn’t do you any good to be horny during the exam.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped at his words, she splashed him playfully and Tim laughed, shoving water back at her.

“Am I wrong?” he asked over the noise.

Her hand stopped moving as she scowled at him, while he still grinned back at her. “No. You’re not wrong. Ugh, now because of this conversation my brain is probably going to imagine you barking the questions at me and I’ll get hot anyway. Thanks.”

“Listen, horny or not,” he snickered, and she flicked some water at him, “you trusted me as your T.O. to know what you were capable of. So trust me now when I say you know this stuff. You’re going to do amazing.”

“Are you just going to be blindly optimistic this entire time?” she splashed him again

“It’s called being supportive,” he said, splashing her back a little harder, making her yelp. “Am I going to have to call you Sergeant Grumpy now? Because I thought that title was reserved for me.”

Lucy snorted out a laugh, “No, I’ve seen you with Penn. It still stands. Ok, gimme another one.”

“Luce…”

“Babe…you know this is my process. Quiz me.”

“You sure you don’t want to take a break?” he asked waggling his eyebrows.

“I will once I’m confident I’m not going to fail,” she stressed, gesturing for him to get a move on, “Now…question.”

“You know, you’re already well on your way to making a good Sergeant. Ordering people around seems to be one of your gifts,” Tim pointed out.

Lucy smirked, “I don’t see you complaining.”

Tim dragged his index and middle fingers through the water. “My only complaint, is that you’re wasting your time ordering me around for a test question.”

“Well maybe if you follow these orders, you’ll get some better ones later,” she said suggestively, dragging her own fingers through the water and his two with her own to pull him towards her.

“Alright Mrs. smarty pants,” he said taking a pull of his tea with his free hand, smacking his lips and putting his cup away, “An officer engaged in a high-speed vehicle pursuit through residential areas for a stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended in a crash…”

“This sounds like it could be a Nolan scenario,” Lucy interrupted, and Tim tilted his head towards her.

“…with minor civilian injuries…”

“Not a Nolan incident then.”

“You were not notified until after the fact. How do you evaluate and address the officer's actions?”

“So I’d evaluate this one using SLED. Safety, Legality, Effectiveness and Documentation.”

“See?” he lowered his sunglasses again and raised his eyebrows, “Flying colors.”

“You’re just full of praise today,” Lucy smiled, clearly pleased with herself and the praise this time. “Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! I made the appointment with my gyno.”  

“You made your doctor’s appointment already and you were sitting here worried about whether you were going to pass your test?” he gave her a little look behind his sunglasses that she could already imagine. “Sounds like blind optimism to me. Why wasn’t it okay when I did it?”

“Because you don’t normally do it!” she shot back sassily.

“I do a lot of things I didn’t use to normally do since I met you. One could probably say those things are actually normal now.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“But am I wrong though?” he said pointedly, and she smiled, shaking her head.

“Alright, what’s my next question?” she asked.

As Lucy wiggled to emphasize preparing for her next question, her cover up fell to her sides and Tim realized why it had been on in the first place. She’d gotten ready and into the pool before him, so Tim didn’t have a chance to see what she had on.

She fought dirty.

Her golden skin glistened in the sunlight, and it was only accentuated by the sinful olive-green bikini she had on. Its bottoms were low cut and its top…its top was held together by a tantalizing center tie that hugged her breasts perfectly and created an enticing deep scoop along her cleavage.

“Tim,” her voice cut through his thoughts, and he realized he was staring. Perhaps even leering. And…was that drool? He lifted a hand to quickly swipe at his mouth.

“Huh? What?” he shook his head, clearing it to find Lucy smirking at him. Tim pulled off his sunglasses to glare at her. “Now you know that’s just mean.”

Lucy giggled and then quickly schooled her face to look innocent, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Nuhuh,” he said childishly, and hopped off his lounger turning his hat backwards. He waded towards her predatorily.

“Tim…” she said, her voice laced with warning.

“An officer in your unit has been making repeated tactical errors during high-risk calls. You've coached them before, but the issues continue and are now affecting team safety. What do you do? A: Recommend the officer for remedial training and submit a performance improvement plan. B: Write a formal reprimand and suggest suspension for safety violations. C: Reassign the officer to administrative duties while you investigate further.
D: Hold another coaching session and remind them of the importance of safety protocols.”

Lucy wracked her brain while keeping her eyes on Tim. They widened when she saw his hands grasp the edge of her lounger.

“Um…” she said distractedly.

“Tick tock, babe…what do you do?” he asked smartly, tightening his grasp slightly and leaning in closer to her. Close enough that she could breathe in his scent above the chlorinated water.

“Uhhh…D?”

Splash!

Tim yanked the edge of her lounger, causing Lucy to yelp and tumble ungracefully into the water. Her arms flailed as she tried to hold on, but it was no use. She hit the water, her cup and sunglasses flying.

“Tim!” she sputtered as she popped back up, completely drenched and glaring. “What the hell?”

He was cackling, having a hard time staying upright in the pool from the force of his laughter. “Wrong answer!” he wheezed, and Lucy stalked towards him tough she looked much less intimidating with her wet hair plastered around her face and her cover up clinging to her body.

She just looked hot.

She reached out intending to shove him into the water, but Tim anticipated her actions and grabbed her wrists, yanking her to him, making her gasp.

“The correct answer,” he was so close she could feel his breath against her lips, “Is A: Recommend the officer for remedial training and submit a performance improvement plan.”

Lucy visibly sagged, but her wrists remained Tim’s grasp so she didn’t go very far. “I knew that,” she breathed, somberly.

“I know you did,” Tim said plainly.

“You distracted me,” she accused.

“You know you’re already going to be distracted on the job and will have to think on your feet,” he told her, and Lucy gave him a look.

“I’m not going to have people trying to make out with me on the job Tim.”

“The number of times you’ve had someone try to get in your pants on shift, you know that’s a bold-faced lie.”

“Well, I never wanted them to actually succeed on shift. The only one I wanted to get into my pants was you,” she replied, this time pushing her wet body closer to him, so her breasts were pressed against his chest. She gently pulled her hand from his grasp, dragging her fingertips down his chest until she reached the waistband of his swim trunks.  

Tim groaned when he felt her hand slip into his trunks and wrap around his now prominent erection. “Wasn’t I supposed to be the one getting payback for your distraction?”

“Ah…” she sent him a Cheshire grin as she stroked. Her hand didn’t glide smoothly in the pool water, but she’d mastered the right motions over the years, spending most of her time at his head, thumbing his slit in a way that always made him hiss. “But you know we always do best when it’s tit for tat.”

“Speaking of tits…” he grunted. Wanting to get the upper hand again, he reached up to tug the knot at her chest, freeing her breasts and watching them bounce. Her nipples were already erect, and he bent his knees, dislodging her hand to swoop down and take one between his lips as he palmed the other.

Lucy arched against his mouth, as his tongue circled one nipple before sucking then releasing it with a smack.

“Now…” he mumbled against her breast, his other hand creeping down beneath the water to palm her ass, lifting her even more effortlessly than usual with the aid of the water. Lucy wrapped her legs around his waist as he guided them to the pool edge, pressing her gently against the wall.

“Now…” he repeated, sliding his hand back around to her front and undoing the ties on the side of her swimsuit bottoms. “I’m going to ask you some questions…” he told her as his fingers crept towards her center. Lucy had originally cursed herself for letting him get the upper hand, but now she was pulsating with anticipation, and she couldn’t care less as long as he was going to make her come from it.

“Uh huh,” she said breathlessly, waiting for his instructions.

“And I’m gonna fuck you with my fingers while I quiz you…” He ran his finger over her slit and Lucy’s breath hitched. Tim ducked his head again, dragging his tongue over her nipple. She grabbed his baseball cap, sitting backwards on her head before clutching his hair and holding him to her.

“And you’re gonna get them all right…boot,” Tim grinned wolfishly as her body reacted to his words as it always did, stoking the fire inside her despite barely touching her. He circled her clit with his finger, sucking a little bruise into her chest, reveling in her moans.

“First question…your unit was involved in a high-profile shooting where no policy was violated, but public backlash has demoralized the team. How do you lead in the aftermath?” He continued to fondle her folds through the question before settling at her entrance while he waited for her to answer.

“Uhh…” Lucy shook her head briefly, blinking quickly as she tried to think about her answer and not reaching down to push his wrist. “I’d need the team to reset. So…rebuild morale by acknowledging the teams effort and praising their resilience, then evaluate performance and identify what went well versus what didn’t; support their wellbeing by encouraging mental health services, peer support and time off if needed; establish expectations and remind the team of the responsibility for professional conduct and what the standards are moving forward and then talk openly to address any rumors or concerns and be transparent abou—Ahh!”

Tim had plunged his two digits into her letting them sit, sheathed in her for a few moments, feeling her slick warmth around him. Placing gentle open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone, up to her neck, he began slowly fucking her, hooking his fingers ever so slightly as he pumped.

“Good girl,” he said quietly into her ear, his stomach swooping as her breath hitched. Lucy’s hips twitched and her cunt throbbed at the praise as he continued to finger her. “Next question.”

He leaned back to watch her face, flushed with arousal, highlighting the freckles across her nose and cheeks. “A community member complains about an officer’s tone during a recent encounter, though no policy violations occurred. As a sergeant, what’s your best course of action?”

He leaned down and pulled her nipple into his mouth, laving his tongue around her areola and pausing in between to deliver her choices.  “A: Explain that the officer didn’t break policy and close the issue.”

Suck. “Fucckk…” she groaned as he crooked his fingers again, caressing the spot inside that made her toes curl.

“B: Encourage the community member to file a formal complaint.” He fluttered his tongue around her nipple, alternating between both breasts as Lucy’s hips began to move against his hand.

“C: Meet with the officer and review the interaction to identify tone and professionalism concerns.” He ran his bottom teeth up her breast before taking a nipple between them and tugging.

“Shit!” she hissed, fingers digging into his hair, her breath coming in short pants.

He pulled away, stilling his fingers. “Or D: Ignore the complaint since no laws were violated.”

“Wha…?” Lucy’s eyes fluttered open in momentary confusion, her hands still tangled in his short, wet strands.

Tim smirked, “What’s your answer, boot?” Lucy cursed as she contracted around his fingers, rapidly blinking and trying to wrack her brain to recall the multiple-choice options he gave her.

“Umm…C. Meet with the officer but also be sure that the civilian knows it’s within their right to file a complaint.”

“Very good,” Lucy’s back arched as Tim’s hand began moving again and this time his thumb joined in, rubbing tight circles on her clit. Her legs tightened around his waist in attempts to bring him closer, but he evaded. His body was desperate to be inside her, but his mind could hold off. Lucy’s success was his priority.

“Two more…” he murmured, suckling a bruise into her neck and then licking a stripe up to her tattoo.

“Ugh, Tim,” she threw her head back to give him better access, but he didn’t linger long, pulling away and teasingly scissoring his fingers inside of her as he considered the next question.

“Shit…shit,” she cried out, trying to grind down, seeking more friction, more pressure as he feathered against her front wall.

“Nuhuh…” Tim shook his head pulling his fingers out and stilling them. Lucy growled in frustration.

“Put them back!” she whined and he smirked.

“Not 'til you answer the next question….” He quirked a brow, flicking her entrance with his index and middle fingers. “You review bodycam footage from a domestic disturbance arrest and observe a brief use of force during a takedown that the officer failed to document in their report. The suspect did not complain of injury, and the call was routine otherwise. What is your best response as the officer’s Sergeant?”

Leaving his digits hovering at her entrance, he circled her clit with his thumb, making her whine needily. “A: Document the oversight yourself and address it verbally with the officer.”

This time he leaned in and kissed her, devouring her and swallowing her surprised moan. He broke away just as abruptly as he started, leaving her breathless and a little stunned.

“B: Return the report and require the officer to document the use of force, then assess for policy vio—”

“That,” she interrupted eagerly, “That’s the answer. B.”

Tim raised his eyebrows, “Are you sure? You didn’t hear the rest of the answers.”

“I’m sure,” she growled, tugging at his head, “Put them back. Now.”

“I don’t think you’re in the position to be making demands, boot,” he punctuated his words by wrapping his arm tighter around her waist and shoving his hovering fingers inside. Lucy shouted at the sudden intrusion, the water sloshing around them as her body jerked.

“Nggh!” her hips moved on their own accord as she chased the release that was currently owned by her husband. “Just fucking tell me I’m right.”

“That’s a good girl,” he grinned letting out a dark chuckle that that was a stark contrast to the bright sunlight. Lucy’s eyes rolled back as her body began to tingle. “You’re right. Last question.”

“Argh,” she groaned grinding against him harder.

“Listen closely, boot. It’s a tough one,” he told her gently, “I’m gonna fuck you through it. And if you get this one right…”

He gave a come-hither gesture, dragging along her sweet spot. Her body trembled. “You get to come. If you get it wrong…”

He pulled out abruptly and she moaned in frustration, her hands sliding down towards his shoulders. “And I give you another question. And it’ll be harder.”

“Oh fuck me. Come on Tim,” she whined.

“I’m trying,” he leered, plunging back in, his thumb on her clit again. Lucy jolted and he held her tightly. “Come on. Eyes open, boot. And listen up. Show me why you’re the best rookie I ever trained.”

“God,” she moaned as he continued to caress her inner walls and he leaned back. Lucy let her hands fall from his shoulders to rest on his chest, Tim now being the only thing holding her upright.

“You’re the acting watch commander when a pursuit initiated by the 77^th division enters Mid Wilshire. The suspect is wanted for armed robbery and is believed to be armed. The 77th has three vehicles involved, and their officers are not familiar our division layout. Your officers are monitoring the pursuit but haven’t joined yet. The suspect is driving recklessly through residential streets at high speeds.”

He flicked her clit, pulling his fingers out and crossed them before plunging in over and over. Lucy’s back arched, her arms flailing a bit before digging into his pecs.

“They crash into a parked car in front of a high school. The suspect exits with a handgun visible in his waistband and runs toward the school’s open gym doors. A late-night youth basketball program is in session with a couple dozen teens and three adult coaches inside. You’re one minute away from the scene. As the acting watch commander, what is your immediate response, and what critical actions should you take as a supervisor in the first 5–10 minutes to protect life, assert command, and maintain compliance with policy?”

And if it wasn’t enough, after every two words he’d crook his fingers inside her, as if beckoning her arousal that continued to climb. By the end of the question, she was a quivering mess in his hold.

“What’s your answer?” he prompted her with another twist of his fingers.

“Uh!” she gasped, shaking her head slightly trying to clear the pleasure haze that had settled over her. “Um…” She cursed to herself. She was sure this was an acronym question. The LAPD (and Tim) loved a good acronym to remember what they were supposed to do in this scenario. The most important thing was first—

“Ah!” he rotated his fingers again, swiping at her clit and she jerked, splashing her face a little.

“Tick tock, boot,” he said huskily, flicking his thumb.

“Safety!” she called out suddenly as it came to her. “Public safety. It’s PRIORITY. Public Safety first. Set the perimeter, secure the school, try to avoid contact with the suspect. Resources. Request metro, air support and any other necessary support as well as contacting school police. Next, I declare myself incident commander…”

She gasped as Tim turned them and lifted her out of the water and onto the shallow sun deck of the pool. The water splashed around them as he remained standing in the deeper water, hoisting her hips up and slinging her thighs over his shoulders.

Lucy propped herself up on her elbows, her cover up and bikini top floating around her. The droplets of water on her breasts glinting in the sunlight.

Tim leaned in between her legs, licking a long stripe from her core to clit. “Keep going…” he said hungrily before he dove in, his mouth sounding obscene as ate her.

“Oh…oh my god,” she splashed trying to hold herself up but wanting to grab at Tim. He tugged her closer, giving sweet pressure on her pussy, as he fucked her with his tongue, his nose nudging her clit.

“Keep going, boot,” he warned, pulling away with a loud smack of his mouth, nipping at her inner thigh. “Or I stop.”

“Fuck,” she groaned. What letter was she at? “Uhhh…Officer safety!”

She practically sobbed in relief when his mouth latched on again. Deciding to forego the additional explanation, Lucy powered through the rest of the acronym. “Rapid notifications, Initiate containment plan, tactics and communication, and youth and community focus.”

“Atta girl, Sergeant Chen,” he praised against her skin and then his mouth was back. He reached around her thigh to pull back the hood of her clit and lapped around it, his own arousal evident his heavy breaths.

“Fuck, fuck…Don’t stop,” she thrashed.

He wrapped his lips around the exposed nub and Lucy shrieked, her body convulsing as he sucked and sucked and sucked.

And then she quaked. Tumbling over the edge in a symphony of light and sounds that she wasn’t sure was her crying out or the nerves exploding in her head. Her eyes were squeezed as tightly as her legs around his head and her body shook with the force of her release.

Tim’s mouth softened as he carried her through it, releasing her clit, to gently lap at her folds. Lucy’s legs relaxed as she came down, and Tim slowly eased them back down into the water as she caught her breath.  

“See?” he said smirking as she raised her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun, “You’re going to pass this thing with flying colors.”

“Ugh,” she said flopping her head back letting it splash gently in the water, “I’m brainless.”

Tim grinned, pushing himself up on the ledge to smack a kiss against her lips. “Glad to be of service.”

Lucy slid her arms around his neck, holding him close, Tim’s arms bracketing her body as he hovered over her. “Thank you for…training me.”

“Any time,” he said quietly and pushed back up, preparing to pull away, but Lucy held firm.

“Nuhuh…I want you inside me now,” she murmured, tugging his bottom lip between hers then releasing it, before crushing them together again in a heady kiss. Lucy loved kissing him. It was always clear that Tim enjoyed it, and he always gave as good as he got. His mouth always hinting at what else it could do to her body. It was intoxicating. And it always left her wanting more of him.

Her hand was already reaching down to tug at his swim trunks and Tim’s joined to help her, kicking his suit down his legs.

“I want your cock, and my body wants your cum…” she continued huskily, licking into his mouth, exploring his depths with her tongue as their hands rubbed his dick against her folds, slicking him with her arousal.

“Oh really?” he said, his playful tone quickly turning to a hiss as he sank into her wet heat, pausing for a moment. She always received him readily, but it had been a few days, and he was already keyed up from their little study session. He needed to get himself under control.

“Uh huh,” she groaned, as he slid out almost completely. “We’ve gotta start practicing, since you’re so certain I’m passing.” She gasped when he snapped his hips forward, setting a steady rhythm, the water splashing around them, drowning out the sounds they were making.

“Fuck,” he grunted at her words and rocked deeper.

“Yes,” Lucy moaned, her legs squeezing him as she thrust back, Tim’s muscles straining as he held himself up while trying to maintain control. “Fill me up.”

She raked her nails down his back to grip his ass, digging her fingertips into his cheeks, feeling them flex with every thrust. Her abs tightened as she craned her neck to run her tongue along the vein in his neck, the one that always caused his eyes to roll back in his head. She was rewarded with a growl, Tim’s cock swelling inside her as her mouth latched on and sucked.

He cursed loudly, changing the angle of his hips to rub against her sensitive flesh as he pounded into her, determined to pull her over the edge with him.

Balancing on one arm, he palmed her face, crushing their lips together as the pressure inside them continued to rise. Lucy tugged his lip between her teeth, digging her nails into his ass again and the zing of pain sent him crashing, stuttering his rhythm as he shot into her.

His own orgasm triggered Lucy’s, and her pussy greedily sucked up every last drop of his seed, their cries loud in the yard as they rode the wave together.

Tim slipped on the tiled surface as his body finally emptied and he fell with a splash, only catching himself just before he crushed Lucy.  

He rolled off of her into the shallow water, dropping unceremoniously next to her. They lay there naked and glistening in the cool blue water, contented smiles on their faces. Tim’s hat had long since flown off Lucy’s head and rested a few feet away from them, both their sunglasses somewhere at the bottom of the pool along with Lucy’s bikini bottoms and Tim’s trunks.

Slinging an arm over his forehead as his body finally settled, he turned his head to look at Lucy, who was already looking at him, still smiling. Neither of them was quite sure how much time had passed, they always tended to get lost in each other, especially when they were intimate.

“You know…” she started, her smile cracking into a giggle, “you’re going to need to clean the pool.”

He snorted, pushing himself up to stand, before offering a hand to Lucy who took it, letting him pull her up.

“Don’t I know it. I don’t even know how much of you is now in this pool,” he teased as she finally shrugged off the wet cover up and bikini top.

“You’re one to talk,” she shot back raising a brow and he smirked, turning around to survey the rest of the pool.

“Touche. Thank god for chlorine.”

Chapter Text

Lucy was in agony.

She stood in the doorway of their closet in nothing but her bra and panties, shirt and jeans crumpled between her hands as she clenched her thighs together, watching her husband standing in front of the nearly floor to ceiling mirror that leaned against the wall of their bedroom.

Her man had court today.

Which meant he was in a suit and Lucy couldn’t jump his bones.

But watching him, she really, really wanted his hands on her right now, because they were putting his tie on.

And his fingers were driving her insane.

She could see the flex of the muscles in his biceps and back as he folded it over and threaded it through. His fingers long and dexterous, a constant reminder of what he could do with them.

Of how they felt when they were on her…or in her.

He pushed and tugged the knot tighter and then she remembered the nights when he’d knotted the ties around her wrists and their bedposts (she’d never been more thankful that he’d purchased a solid wood one from restoration hardware).

He caught her eye when he turned to grab his suit jacket that was lying on the bed and smirked knowingly. “You okay?”

Lucy shook her head a bit and glared at him. “It’s not fair how hot you look in a suit. I don’t even like ties, and yet you make it look hot.”

“Really?” he raised a brow at her, shrugging on the jacket and adjusting the lapels and collar. “You don’t like ties?”

She shrugged, walking towards him and tossing her clothes onto the bed.  “Not particularly. I actually prefer it when you go tieless…like at the gala. But watching you tie the tie...” she ran her fingers from the knot down the silk fabric to grab it around the middle, her eyes darkened as she remembered his damn hands.

Tugging, she pulled him down towards her, Tim going willingly and sliding his hands around her waist. Their faces were close, lips nearly touching, and his parted in anticipation as she spoke against them. “Tying it…does something to me,” she took his mouth and he groaned into hers, eagerly granting access. Their tongues tangled, their passion taking over in a way that was going to lead to them completely losing track of time.

“Mmm…” he groaned reluctantly, pulling away just slightly, “If you don’t stop, I’m never making it to court.”

“Would that be so bad?” she mumbled suggestively, pushing up on her toes to kiss him again. Tim let himself linger for a moment, letting out a little moan as his body responded to her rubbing all over him, but sense unfortunately won out.

“It would if I had to be a mall cop,” he countered and she grumbled in frustration, knowing he was right and yanked him to her for a brief short kiss and grudgingly slipped off him, straightening out his jacket and tie before turning to her own clothes.

Tim chuckled, grabbing his watch from his valet and placing it on his wrist. Taking one last look at his appearance, he ran his fingertips through the sides of his hair and buttoned the top button of his suit jacket before turning back to Lucy.

“I love you.” He told her, pecking her lips. “I’ll see you at work?”

“Mmmhmm. I love you, too,” she replied, “Don’t forget your coffee mug.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” he said as he strode to the door, “And you don’t forget to eat your yogurt please.”

“It was one time!”

He smirked, “Can’t have you hangry and horny. Celina won’t know what hit her.”

“The horny part is your fault,” she grumbled after his retreating back, watching his physique move with confident ease beneath the luxurious charcoal grey fabric. 

Lucy always had a high sex drive. It was one of the things that she had been happy about once she and Tim and started sleeping together because he seemed to “match her freak” as he liked to say. He was always up for trying anything at least once and they’d done more together than any previous partners they’d been with.

But she’d gotten her IUD removed a few weeks ago and as her period reverted back to raging levels, and her ovulation also suddenly reached new heights. It was as if her body had synced up with her mind and realized they wanted to start trying to have children soon.

And right now? She wanted Tim…all the time.

Not that he was complaining. In fact, he was the one who initiated their little morning tryst before they’d hopped in the shower.

But it seemed she still couldn’t get enough of him, if the slick between her thighs was any indication.

Lucy could feel Celina’s eyes on her as she drove. In fact, she could feel Celina’s eyes on her since roll call. She hadn’t said anything, but she kept looking at her as if trying to decode something.

After the fifth time, Lucy couldn’t take it anymore. “What?”

“Nothing,” Celina said, smiling and shifting her gaze out the window and then back at Lucy, still smirking.

Lucy furrowed her brow, “What?”

“Nothing,” Celina shook her head, but still gestured towards Lucy, “It's just, uh, you're kind of…glowing.”

“I'm what?”

“Your aura, it's...” Celina wracked her brain for the right words, “You’ve…well for anyone else I’d say they had sex…but I already know you and Tim have a lot of sex. So unless you guys are suddenly having some new type of sex that you’ve never had before, which seems impossible—”

“Celina!” Lucy interrupted her, face slightly red from embarrassment.

“Right, yeah…sorry. I just…you do have this glow about you that you haven’t had before…”

Lucy glanced at her, frowning. “What are you talking about? I’m not glowing,” she scoffed.

“Uh yeah, you are.” She pulled out her phone and quickly tapped a few times, then placed it on speaker, listening to the ringing.

“What’s up?” Alison’s voice sounded through the speaker.

“Was Lucy glowing this morning?” Celina asked immediately and Lucy sucked her teeth at her.

“I’m not!”

“You totally are.” Alison shot back quickly through the phone. “What new kinky shit did you guys start doing?”

“Oh my god!” Lucy’s eyes darted around, “We had normal sex this morning!”

“Ah ha! So you did have sex this morning!”

“We have sex every morning!” Lucy practically yelled and then promptly slapped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she’d said.

Alison barked out a laugh over the phone and Celina looked over at her in shock.

“Of course you do,” Alison cackled.

“Seriously? Every morning?” Celina asked her incredulously.

Lucy cringed inwardly. “Not every morning. Just…most mornings.”

“Okay so, if it’s just normal sex as you say—“

Alison cut Celina off, “Girl stop that you know their sex is never normal!”

“I’m just saying….is…is there something else you’d like to share with us?” Celina asked Lucy, who looked at her in confusion before turning back to the road.

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on…you know you can tell us,” Celina urged, raising her brows with a smile and gently nudging Lucy.

“Yeah,” Alison added, catching on, but surprisingly calm, “seriously, I mean, you can trust us with your secret. We're your besties.”

Lucy kept her eyes on the road, feeling her face flush. There was no way she was telling her friends that the reason she was “glowing” was because she was ovulating…and horny. She could only imagine Alison’s words (Oh my god, you’re a bitch in heat!) and Celina’s immediate gushing (Ahh…are you guys trying to get pregnant!?)

“No, I-I know. I know that, but, seriously, nothing—nothing is going on.”

Celina didn’t look like she believed her and they could hear Alison’s scoff on the phone, but neither woman commented. Fortunately for Lucy, a call came in over the radio and the two officers quickly dismissed their conversation, Celina hanging up the phone and grabbing the radio to attach themselves to it.

The morning had been busier than expected, and Lucy had been distracted enough that by midday when they found themselves back at that station, Lucy felt somewhat normal.

Celina was booking their suspect and then was going to meet Alison by the food trucks for lunch. Lucy was dropping off some paperwork for Grey and planned on meeting up with them afterwards.

Everything was shot to hell when she turned a corner and her breath caught.

Tim.

She would’ve cursed the world if he hadn’t looked so unfairly attractive.

Lucy watched him from the end of the hall, feeling everything that she’d suppressed earlier that day come rushing back. Her gaze was transfixed in a way that would’ve been highly inappropriate had she not been his wife (she overlooked the fact that there was one reason it was still highly inappropriate…work).

He was chatting with Officer Stevens, still in his suit from court. The sharp lines of the tailoring drew attention to the breadth of his shoulders, a cobalt blue tie that made his eyes pop, and an easy power in his stance that made her stomach, and thighs, clench.

God, the way he wore a suit should be fucking illegal.

He laughed at something Stevens said, head tilted back with a full unguarded grin that made her heart flutter. With a casual familiarity, he clapped the other man on the shoulder, still grinning as he turned away and unknowingly towards Lucy.

Finally, he looked up and his gaze met hers. “Hey!” he said happily, still grinning as he walked towards her.

Lucy didn’t respond and Tim’s frowned in concern. “Are you okay? You seem…”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence because Lucy glanced around the hallway and suddenly grabbed him by the tie, yanking him forward. “Whoa!” he exclaimed catching himself before he fell into her and allowed himself to be dragged behind her.

They quickly arrived at the door to the Metro Liaison office that stood vacant since Tim decided to leave Metro.

 “Lucy...wha…where?” He looked around in confusion, but she still didn’t respond.

Instead, she threw the door open, pulling him after her and shutting it behind him. She turned the lock with a snick and shut the blinds.

And then she was on him.

Her arms flew around Tim’s neck yanking him down to her as she devoured his mouth and Tim got on board quickly, matching her fervor with his own as he licked into her mouth.

But reality set in for a quick minute and he raised a hand, breaking away for a moment with a low moan. “Babe…babe hold on, what’s gotten into you? We’re at work,” he hissed.

“I know,” she moaned quietly, rubbing her chest against his. “But I’ve been so fucking hot all morning. I thought I’d gotten past it, but then you showed up in this fucking suit and it got me so wet again.”

She felt a rumble in his chest as her hands ran over it, past his belt buckle, only to rub against his growing length.

“Luce….” Tim groaned, his voice sounding like a protest, though his hips thrust into her hand.

“Quick babe…I need you…” she breathed against his mouth before capturing his lips again and Tim relented. The dam holding back his passion for her came crumbling down and he let his hunger surge forth. Their mouths clashed with lips and tongues and teeth, low moans sounding throughout the silent room.

Needing air, they broke away breathlessly, her hands fumbling to unclasp her duty belt, while he worked at his own buckle. Setting her belt aside, Lucy shoved her pants and underwear down, stepping out of only one leg before turning around to face the desk.

Placing her palms flat on the surface, she raised her pantless leg to rest her knee on the surface, leaning forward to present her glistening cunt to him.  She peeked back at him in anticipation. Tim groaned at the display she made, reaching into his briefs for his cock, fisting his erection.

He dragged it against her lips a few times, coating himself in her arousal, relishing in her low moan. “You’re gonna have to be quiet if you want my cock,” he said huskily.

She nodded quickly, pulling in a breath and biting her lip as she waited for him to give her what she wanted. He entered her easily, Lucy’s dripping pussy sucking him in and for a fleeting moment he wondered if the sounds from her sopping cunt would be what got them in trouble.

As soon as she clenched around him, all thoughts of anyone knowing left him and he fucked her hard, fast and deep, her ass jiggling as their bodies collided against each other.

“Fucck!” she moaned as Tim palmed her ass, kneading it as he pushed it a bit higher, his other hand reaching around to finger her clit.

Her hips bucked as she moaned again and he raised one hand, wanting nothing more than to spank her for talking, but his palm striking her skin would likely draw more unwanted attention.

Instead, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, adding slight pressure and pushing her head down so she was completely open and at his mercy.

“Quiet,” he grunted sternly as he pounded into her, putting a bit of his T.O. voice into the command, feeling her pussy fluttering around him in response. A few hairs from her neatly pinned bun slipped free and fell around her face.

She could feel him nudging at her cervix the depth of his thrusts feeling like he was in her damn guts and it was taking everything in her not to scream in pleasure as he ignited every nerve ending inside her.

Hearing sounds beginning to bubble up inside her, Tim lifted his hand from her neck, sliding it around her cheek to cover her mouth, muffling the moan that threatened to escape.

He clutched her around the pelvis, hand still on mouth and he lifted her effortlessly. He turned so he was now sitting on the desk, Lucy in his lap facing outward. They were still connected and she was still dripping around his length.

Always in tune with each other, they moved beautifully together, Tim scooting back and Lucy planting her feet on the desk on either side of him.

She started a steady pace, Tim’s hand returning to her clit, his other still over her mouth. He pressed his forearm against her womb, feeling his cock scraping against her front wall as she fucked herself down on him. Suddenly they were both struggling to stay silent as their world narrowed to a pinpoint.

Balancing on one hand, Lucy ripped his hand away from her mouth, “Make me come, and then I want you to finish in my mouth. I missed lunch,” she rasped. Tim growled, licking a stripe against her jugular, his finger fluttering on her clit in the way that made her body vibrate.

Lucy whined through her release, flooding his cock and pants with her juices, her hips stuttering on top of him. Tim wrenched her off of him, feeling his balls tighten as Lucy dropped to her knees in front of him, sucking his cock deep in her throat.

Only a few sucks and he was cumming, his hot seed spurting down her throat. He dug his teeth into his lip to stifle his moans, feeling her throat swallowing around the head of his dick.

She licked him clean as he softened, taking every last drop of them as Tim caught his breath.

“That…” he gasped, “That was so risky. And definitely not quick.”

Lucy grinned impishly as she finally stood up, wiping her mouth. “But so worth it.”

Tim rolled his eyes, but didn’t respond, which Lucy knew meant that he agreed as he tucked himself back into his trousers and reclasped his belt. Lucy adjusted her uniform, fastening her pants and picking up her duty belt. 

“I’ll be glad when my hormones get back to normal,” she grumbled as it clicked into place. “I feel a little out of control.”

“I kind of like you out of control,” he grinned, hooking his forefinger under her chin and urging her closer. “It’s horny Lucy on steroids.”

She rolled her eyes, a little sheepish smile tugging at her mouth as he leaned down for another kiss. They got lost in each other for a moment, what originally started off as chaste suddenly turning heated.

Lucy came to her senses this time, wrenching herself away from his lips. “Mmm… We should really get back to work and do... things.”

Tim raised a brow, cocking his head at her inarticulate word choice. “Things?”

“Yes, things like…crime,” she smirked, patting his chest. “We need to stop crime. You need to change. And then go find your rookie.” He raised his wrist to check his watch, eyes widening.

“Shit,” he said realizing the time. “I’ve gotta change and grab Penn.”

“Mmm…you do that,” she said flirtatiously, pressing up to peck him one last time, and then slinking past him to peek out the blinds and check if the coast was clear. Seeing no one, she unlocked the door, preparing to slip out, when Tim realized that her bun was in disarray.

“Fix your hair!” he hissed as she opened the door.

Lucy’s hands flew to her head, raking back the loose tendrils and hastily adjusting her bobby pins to secure them.

Tim followed her out, shutting the door behind him and fishing his phone from his back pocket. He barely registered Lucy’s hesitant “Hi” before a familiar voice answered.

“Hey,” came the reply.

He looked up to see Celina and Alison standing there, both wearing a smile that told him they knew exactly what he and Lucy had just been up to. 

He froze mid-step. “Hey…”

“We…uh…” Lucy began, glancing quickly at Celina, “We should get back out there. Are you ready to go?”

“Girl,” Alison cut in, one brow raised, “I hope you don’t we’re just going to pretend we didn’t--”

“You will if you know what’s good for you,” Tim hissed with a glare, daring her to finish her sentence.

“I gotta say…” Alison went on as if Tim hadn’t spoken, “I’m impressed. This was one I thought was off limits.”

“If you’re quite finished, I’ve gotta go change for patrol,” he rolled his eyes, glancing at Lucy.

“You should shower too,” Alison added and Tim cut his eyes at her. “What?” she said innocently, “I’m just saying! And Lina…crank up that AC so you won’t need to send Lucy here back to hit the showers.”

“Oh my god!” Lucy exclaimed, her face beet red. “Let’s go!”

“Are you sure you and Tim still don’t need to discuss anything in private?” Celina asked raising her brows.

“No…I think we covered everything,” Tim replied, deadpan and glanced at Lucy, who nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Ok, well, uh…you might wanna go…uh…wash your hands before we head back to the shop?” Celina suggested and Alison barked out a loud laugh.

“Oh my god!” Lucy exclaimed and stalked off towards the locker rooms, Tim following in her wake.

“I think we can safely say that those two have an exhibitionist kink,” Celina said watching them walk away. “You’d think by now, they’d stop putting themselves in situations where others can potentially bear witness.”

Alison snorted, “The kicker is…I don’t think either of them realize it.”

Fortunately, the couple had two uninterrupted days off following their impulsive tryst in the Metro office. The first was spent entirely in bed, barely coming up for air, tangled in sheets and each other.

Between slow, heated bouts of lovemaking, they dozed in and out or binged one of Lucy’s guilty pleasure reality shows. Tim playfully feigned disinterest as he always did, making fun of her for watching it, but it wasn’t long before he was just as invested and providing a running commentary in response to the dramatics.

It was indulgent and intimate, the kind of day they both needed to satisfy their hunger for each other.

By the second day, life had returned to normal. They spent the morning tackling all the household tasks they’d been putting off. Tim mowed, edged and weeded the yard, as Lucy sorted the remaining laundry that hadn’t made it to the washer that week and she scheduled their grocery order (they’d reduced the times they physically went to the grocery store, instead using the farmers market more often).

Later, after Tim showered and they had lunch, the two transitioned to meal prepping for the week. Lucy, wanting to make sure she used the ingredients she’d purchased the week before, had decided they’d spend the afternoon making dumplings.

They had been together long enough now that Tim knew the recipe and had even gotten pretty good at sealing them. The first few times they’d made them together he’d failed miserably and almost all his had burst.

Lucy had giggled at his irritation, unaccustomed to Tim struggling with something. But it had created an opportunity to see his tenacity because he was determined to get them right. Especially since they were something Lucy’s family used to make often.

He’d asked her to make them frequently after that first time, paying less attention to the filling and more to sealing. Eventually, he’d been successful at least by Lucy’s standards.

Aunt Amy had still been critical, but they were close enough. Enough so that Tim was on sealing duty when he and Lucy made dumplings because it was the part she enjoyed the least.

“So you never told me what your plan is for this year’s football game,” Lucy said as she set filling in another gyoza wrapper, maintaining a watchful eye as Tim picked it up and began folding and pinching the edges.

Sighing, he set it down on the baking sheet, and picked up another wrapper, moistening the edges with water while Lucy prepared more filling.

“Well…my rookie was a star running back. So…I’m gonna make sure he answers the call,” He replied as he sealed.

Lucy snorted, “In other words, putting the fear of Bradford in to remind him there’s no other choice and then put him front and center?”

“That…and…Wesley is our ref…so I have Angela working that angle too,” he placed another wrapper down, moistening the edges as he waited for Lucy to fill it. “You know…this would go a lot faster if you made them too.”

“But how will you ever perfect the technique, if you don’t put in the work?” She smirked as he pinched yet another dumpling closed. “But don’t think I didn’t hear that you were encouraging your best friend to help us cheat through sexual favors.”

“You make it sound like a bad thing. She’s his wife. He’ll thank me in the end.” He placed another on the baking sheet, “And if you want to give her some more tips, it could really put us over the edge.”

”Tim!” she laughed, “You are completely ridiculous. I’m not going to do that.”

He grinned impishly, placing the last dumpling on the tray. “I’ve gotta do something! I might be team captain, but Grey made himself quarterback. He hasn’t played since college. And he’s family, but…he hasn’t made one pick up game that I’ve been at in the last five years. His arm better be as golden as he says it is for all the talking he’s doing.”

Lucy let out a laugh, grabbing a tray while Tim took the other and headed to the freezer. “You better not let him hear you talking like that!”

“That’s why I’m telling you in the safety of our own home,” he smirked, squatting down to slide the tray into the freezer, turning to Lucy to take the second tray from her. “I may have another trick or two up my sleeve. But you’ll have to find out at the game.”

“Oh really?” She said flirtatiously, “Well you better, because word on the street is Penn is done with football. And you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so you might want to be a bit nicer.”

Tim rolled his eyes, placing the dirty dishes in the sink and turning on the faucet. “I can’t suddenly start being nice to my rookie, Lucy.”

“Why not? It worked for me.” Lucy said, sliding in front of Tim to wash her hands, before dying them and opening the dishwasher for him.

“I wasn’t nice to you. I was in love with you,” he said plainly, rinsing the large bowl and placing it in the dishwasher rack. “If I started being nice to Penn people might think I’ve gone soft.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she chuckled, grabbing the sauces to place back in the pantry. “I’m just saying…it’s clear Penn doesn’t have a support system…and he already looks up to you. It wouldn’t kill you to extend the olive branch a little bit more.”

“We’ll see,” he said, closing the dishwasher.

“Oooo I know!” she said excitedly, closing the spice cabinet. “You could invite him over for breakfast one day this week! I’ll go in early. Keep up appearances.”

Tim just stared at her blankly, not at all interested in extending an olive branch to his rookie. Lucy bounced on the balls of her feet, hands folded beneath her chin as she looked at him hopefully.

“Come on, haven’t I softened you even a bit?” she said sucked her teeth, dropping her heels down to the floor. Tim just smirked and Lucy sensed the innuendo simmering beneath the surface.

“Don’t start,” she warned, pointing a finger at him. Tim grabbed it, playfully tugging her towards him. “I’m not fucking you right now. I’m still recovering from the past two days.”

He raised a brow, “Who said anything about fucking?”

“I’m not sucking you off either,” she shot back and he laughed, letting her hand go. “Just trust me, it’ll do wonders for him.”

“I’m sorry,” he shook his head, “What am I doing for Penn? Because this conversation just got totally derailed and now I’m confused.”

“Tim,” she said flatly.

“Fine,” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “Fine, I’ll invite him over. But I’m not making breakfast. I don’t cook for rookies.”

She just smiled, “Mmmhmmm…we’ll see.”

“I’m serious.”

“Of course.”

“Lucy! I’m not cooking for him.”

“Okay.”

Chapter Text

“That’s it baby, squeeze me,” Tim’s deep rasp bounced off the walls of the bedroom above the sounds of skin slapping together.

“Tim…” Lucy moaned, as she clutched the headboard, clenching pussy along his length, her body bouncing and breast jiggling with every thrust as he pounded into her.

“Oh…fuck…you’re so good at that,” he groaned, swelling with each pulse of her cunt.

She had woken him with her mouth on his cock, her own fingers deep in her pussy. Tim had gotten onboard quickly, the haze of sleep dissipating almost immediately as he sunk himself into her flesh, setting a steady pace.

He slung her leg over his shoulder, opening her wider for him and Lucy cried out as he drove even deeper, barely holding on. She fluttered around him, scorching him with her heat as he hit the spot inside her that made her eyes roll back, and swiped along her clit in the way that made her begin to ignite from the inside out.

Folding himself forward (thanking the universe that his wife practiced yoga and convinced him to join her regularly), he took one of her dusky brown nipples into his mouth, swirling and flicking his tongue with a focused attention that always pushed her to oblivion.

Lucy’s hands flew from the headboard to grip his hair, her strong leg curling around his shoulder and back, bringing him closer to her, his pelvis grinding against her clit.  

Her shout rang loudly through his hears bounced off the walls as she stiffened, and then shattered from her orgasm, her body convulsing through the aftershocks as he slowed his hips and his thumb on her clit. He let her leg drop from his shoulder, her knee brushing against his side as her foot dropped to rest on the bed.

We she had almost recovered, she bucked her hips slightly, slipping her arms around his neck, encouraging him to pick up his pace again. His hips snapped forward again and again.

“Come on, baby,” she husked into his ear, “I want you to cum on my tits.”

Curling one of her legs around his thigh, she planted the other on the bed surging her hips up against him, clenching her muscles to milk his cock.

Tim growled, pulling out of her roughly, still kneeling between her legs, stroking himself and feeling his insides heating as his orgasm bubbled up inside.

It was her hand joining his that sent him over the edge. She pumped with him, feathering her fingers over his head and he was gone, letting out a strangled moan as pearly white spurts landed across Lucy’s chest.

She ran her fingers through it, spreading his creamy fluid across her breasts and nipples as they both worked him through the last few spasms of his release. He groaned, watching through hooded eyes as Lucy lifted her hand, holding it above her lips, her tongue darting out to lick them clean.

“Fuck, Luce…” he grunted, falling forward to lick into her mouth, trapping her fingers between their tongues, his chest sliding against hers as they kissed.

A chime sounded in the distance, but they were too caught up with each other to notice. Then a moment later, Tim and Lucy’s phones both rang with a notification. And they sprang away from each other.

It was the Ring app.

“Shit!” Tim scrambled off of Lucy, quickly grabbing a towel from the end of the bed, and hastily wiping them both up. “Shit! It’s fucking Penn. I forgot he was coming over this morning.”

Lucy’s eyes widened as they both scrambled to the closet to grab clothes, while Tim opened their Ring app on his phone. He flung open his drawer to get a pair of underwear, simultaneously speaking into his phone.

“I’ll be right there, boot!” He barked tugging on a pair of jeans. Lucy had already slipped on her own jeans and was now pulling on a T-shirt.

“How the hell do I get out of here without him seeing?” She hissed, pulling a sock on.

“Just go to the garage, I’ll distract him at the door,” he said.

“Tim he’s been there long enough, and it’s his first time at our house. He’s going to be looking around. There’s no way I can get to the garage without him seeing me. And even if I went out first, then he’d be looking as I pulled away.”

“Well, what do you suggest then?” He asked crossing his arms as she opened their safe to grab her badge and gun. “Hop the fence and go out the Graham’s house?”

Lucy’s eyes lit up at the idea and Tim groaned, rolling his eyes. “I wasn’t serious Lucy. We could just tell Penn the truth. We’re married…I think we’re well beyond optics at this point.”

“No! Not until I rank up,” she hissed, just as the doorbell rang again. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she cupped his cheek and kissed him quickly, “I love you. See you at work.”

“I love you, too.” He whispered to her back as she hurried toward the patio doors, letting Kojo back inside, in the process. Tim approached the front door, fixing his expression with his standard scowl.

“You're late, Boot,” he said swinging the door open just as he heard the back door shut.

“Uh…” Miles frowned in confusion, “I’ve been standing out here for over five minutes, sir.”

Tim didn’t miss a beat though internally he realized his error. “You weren’t early either. Which means you were still late. Whatever time I choose to come to the door means nothing. Rookies don’t get invitations to my house.”

His inner voice, which sounded remarkably like Lucy was telling Tim that he was a lying liar who lies.

“Yes, sir. I-I apologize. I will confess that I, uh…I got caught up in wondering why you invited me to your house for breakfast. Am I about to get fired over bacon and eggs or something?”

It was slightly relieving to have something to focus on to aside from the fact that his rookie sort of interrupted he and Lucy’s morning romp…which would likely have turned into round two.

Stepping aside to let him in, Kojo barked at Miles, who startled for a moment, not expecting his boss to have a dog. Tim eyed him critically for a moment, knowing that the way a dog reacted would tell him much of what he needed to know about his rookie.

Miles recovered well, clearly only surprised by the fact that there was a dog in his presence, rather than being scared. He bent down, offering the back of his hand to Kojo who slowly came forward to sniff him.

“Hey there, boy,” he said gently, “How you doing? I didn’t expect to see you here. What’s your name?”

“This is Kojo,” Tim said flatly, “Kojo meet my boot.” The dog let out a bark that seemed to mimic a greeting—or maybe he was saying boot too—and turned to his side as a request for a pet.

Satisfied with what he saw, Tim walked towards the kitchen and gestured for Penn to take a seat at the counter as he headed to the refrigerator to grab the eggs and veggies. Kojo retreated to his bed in the corner.

Tim’s eyes widened at the strip of photos that he and Lucy had taken when they went to the Santa Monica pier a while back. Shoving it to the top of the refrigerator, he took out the ingredients, quickly shutting the door and turning back to Miles. 

“You're spinning. Stop spinning. All right? There's no jeopardy here.”

Miles sighed in relief, “Okay. Thank God. What's for breakfast?”

It was Tim’s turn to sigh as he placed a pan on the stove, turning on the burner, internally rolling his eyes at himself. Of course he was going to cook.

“Usually I’d say nothing, because…I don’t cook for rookies…” He tossed a pat of butter into the pan. “But…Look, the LAPD flag football team needs you, and I expect you to answer the call. So…you get an omelet.”

“That's kind of you, sir,” Miles said gratefully, his eyes mimicking a puppy.

“I'm not doing this out of kindness,” Tim scoffed, dumping a few scoops of the diced pepper and onions that he and Lucy had pre-chopped on their days off. “LAPD has gotten their ass kicked the last five years by that fire department. Now that I'm team captain, I'm flipping the script, and to do that, I need a ringer.”

He watched Miles expectantly, listening to the vegetables sizzling behind him and began cracking eggs one-handed into a bowl.

“I appreciate the offer, sir,” Miles started with a shake of his head, “but you know I don't play anymore. Football and I had a messy breakup, and it's just less painful if I let it go completely.”

“You understand saying no to me is a bad idea, right?” Tim reminded him, stirring the vegetables before adding the egg mixture to the pan.

“I thought you said there was no jeopardy here,” Miles frowned.

“I lied,” Tim said deadpan. “I could withhold your omelet. But instead, I’m going to give you 24-hours to reconsider your position.”

Silence fell and Miles watched Tim at the stove as he continued to cook their breakfast, plating up one omelet, before starting another. He turned to a canvas bag, popping out a loaf of bread, slicing four pieces off and popping them in the toaster.  

“Sir…did you…bake that?” Miles asked in surprise, nodding towards the loaf bag that Tim was placing back in the bread box.

Tim scowled at him, “What’s your point?”

“Nothing!” the rookie exclaimed, not wanting Tim to shut down on him. So he shut his mouth, content to observe as Tim plated the second omelet.

Suddenly, there was a loud motorized noise from behind one of the doors, that sounded suspiciously like a garage door. Miles turned towards it, hearing the sound of a car door slamming shut.

He opened his mouth to inquire about the noise but was quickly distracted by a loud gravelly whirling sound that was coming from the kitchen. His eyes flicked around trying to find the source, when his eyes landed on a large, high-end looking coffee maker.

Was his training officer grinding his coffee?

Sure enough, a few moments later, the pot began to percolate, gurgling and bubbling as the machine began to brew and Tim continued his task of assembling their breakfast.

Miles glanced around the home, noting that the house had the deep masculine wood tones that he associated with Tim, but also was lighter and brighter than he would have anticipated.

Then he started to notice other things that didn’t make sense.

A ceramic mug at the coffee station, decorated with honeybees.

A bouquet of daffodils on the dining table.

A part of heeled boots beneath the foyer bench.

The delay in answering the front door.

The garage door and car noises.

“Sir…” Miles started as Tim set the plate and coffee down in front of him, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

Silence.

Tim set his own plate down on the island, leaving a seat between the two. He took a seat immediately digging into his breakfast, slicing a piece of omelet, spearing it with his fork, and taking a bite of toast to follow. He turned his gaze expectantly on his rookie, nodding towards the food in front of him.

“Eat up boot. We’ve got a long day.”

“…Sir?” he picked up his fork and Tim sighed, taking a sip of coffee.

“What’s my rule boot?”

“Ummm…no personal talk—”

“Exactly,” Tim cut him off.

“—in the shop,” Miles continued, “But you invited me to your house…and cooked. I figured…”

“Well, you figured wrong, boot. Eat your breakfast.”

Lucy slipped out of the patio doors and grabbed a chair from their outdoor dining table, carrying it awkwardly towards the fence. Her duffle bag bounced along her hip, Tim’s green army jacket hanging dangerously over it, slipping lower on one side as it brushed against her.

Her hair was wild around her, not having had a chance to tie it back, or do anything to it really, before their morning had been completely derailed. She had no clue what she even looked like at this point.

Stopping in front of the fence she set the chair down and released a breath. Placing her hands on her hips she stared up at the wooden plank wall.

“Alright,” she said glancing back at the house before setting her resolve. She tossed her bag over first, Tim’s jacket and all, then toed off her Birkenstock clogs and socks and tossed them over.

Stepping on the chair she bent her knees and jumped, hooking her hands on the top, she ran her feet up the sides and pulled herself up. For a brief moment she was reminded of the Tough Mudder obstacle course Tim had signed all the T.O.s and rookies up for years ago (they hadn’t come in first, but they did beat the time of their peers of course).

She swung a leg over the top, quickly pivoting her body and bringing the other leg over to join it. She hung there for a bit, peeking down to see how far she had to go, and then let herself drop.

Her feet landed with a light thud in the dirt of the garden bed and Lucy winced, hoping that she didn’t ruin anything when she tossed her bag over. She gathered her belongings and turned to head to the patio to put her socks and shoes back on.

And promptly stopped in her tracks.

The Grahams were staring at her from their barbecue area just outside their house.

“Uhhh…hi?” She said smiling sheepishly walking towards them and placing her bag at the table.

“You know…” Mrs. Graham stared, smirking as she walked towards her. “I never thought I’d see the day that you were sneaking out of your own house.”

“Yeah,” Mr. Graham added, “We also thought that if we had kids this would be something they’d do in say their…teens. What are you up to brown eyes?”

 Lucy’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Umm…” she searched for an answer that didn’t sound as ridiculous as the entire situation currently was.

“You can tell us anything, sweetheart,” Mrs. Graham told her gently, “At this point we’ve seen—“

“And heard.”

Mrs. Graham shot her husband a look, “—enough. No judgment.”

“Definitely no judgment,” Mr. Graham laughed, slapping his leg and shaking his head, “you two give us more entertainment than All My Children!”

“Ted!” Mrs. Graham hissed, “Don’t mind him, just sit down and get yourself together.”

Lucy sat down at the table, immediately crossing her ankle over her thigh, putting one sock on, then switched to do the other before slipping her feet into her clogs.

“It’s nothing really—”

Mrs. Graham raised her eyebrows, “It’s something if you’re hopping fences at 7 am.”

“We lost track of time this morning, and Tim invited his rookie over for breakfast,” She leaned back and sighed. “But we’d like to keep our relationship off his radar, just until I rank up.”

“So, you snuck out of your own house,” Mr. Graham concluded, and Lucy nodded. “Welp, makes sense to me!”

Lucy breathed out a relieved laugh, her face still red. “Ok then…can I just…I have to go get my car.”

Mrs. Graham smiled, letting her off the hook, “Oh course sweetheart, just go on through the house. We’ll catch up with you later.”

Standing, Lucy pulled Tim’s jacket on then lifted her duffel bag to her shoulder.

“Thanks. I’ll see you guys later,” she said ducking her head shyly, before making her way into their house.

The older couple waited a beat to ensure Lucy wouldn’t be returning to the yard.

“Lost track of time,” Mr. Graham scoffed in amusement, “Those two were definitely playing hide the salami this morning.”

“Ted!” Mrs. Graham hissed, swatting her husband’s arm, then paused for a moment, considering something. “Do you think we should invest in a door for that part of the fence?”

“Timothy, I’m working with the Feds on a hitman assassin case, you and your rookie want him?” Angela corners him as soon as he makes his way inside the station after checking in at Harper’s police reform meeting.

“Hell yeah,” he said without hesitation, his face lighting up with interest. “Only it’ll just be me. Penn got himself voluntold to overhaul all our training videos.”

“Sounds riveting,” Angela said dryly. “Why don’t you go change and then I’ll meet you in interrogation? Laura’s here to watch the questioning.”

“Sounds good,” he tapped her shoulder and turned towards the locker room.

He barely made it two steps when her voice called after him in a smug tone that was unmistakably Angela.

“Oh, and don’t think we won’t be talking about the fact that you cooked for your rookie.”

 Tim whirled around, “How did you…”

Angela opened her arms wide, “Come on. I took one look at Lucy walking in your jacket and Birkenstocks and knew something went down this morning.”

Glaring at her and Angela merely raised an eyebrow, “Don’t give me that face. You owe me a home cooked meal and gossip time tonight.”

“I’m a grown man…and there’s a game on tonight. If you’re coming over, we’re hanging out like the guys.”

“Hate to break it to you, Timothy, but I'm not one of the guys. You're one of the girls, and girls want gossip,” she smirked and clapped her hands together, “So, go change and while you’re at it, plan a good menu because takeout won’t due.”  

Rolling his eyes, Tim didn’t respond, grumbling under his breath as he headed towards the locker room. He could still hear Angela snickering behind him as he walked away and make a mental note to let Lucy know that they’d be having another guest over that day.

The day continued to prove how unpredictable the job could be. Lucy called Tim later on that day, updating him on the missing person’s case she and Celina had stumbled on, which had hit a dead end by the end of shift. So, she was spending the evening at Celina’s doing research with her and Alison, while he and Angela were following cryptocurrency trails to hopefully locate their hitman assassin.

In actuality, Angela haphazardly researched, and reminded Tim, in no uncertain terms, that he was to provide her with sustenance. So, he poured her a glass of rum and then got to work preparing their dinner. He was currently pulling together the final touches on their meal (Chicken Milanese) while getting their dessert (Peach-Raspberry cobbler) into the oven.

She tossed back her second drink, closed her laptop and gave it a little shove, scoffing in annoyance. “I'm done. I can't cross-reference one more Bitcoin transaction.”

Tim hummed in acknowledgement, as shaved a few strips of parmesan on top of the arugula salad that rested on each chicken breast. “I’d probably be seeing numbers every time I closed my eyes.”

“You aren’t wrong,” huffing out a little laugh, she accepted the plate that he placed in front of her, eyeing it hungrily, picking up her cutlery. “You never disappoint. This looks delicious.”

“Yeah well, like I had a choice,” he shot back, handing her a glass of white wine before joining her. “If I protested, I wasn’t sure that you wouldn’t handcuff me to the stove and force me to be your chef slave.”

Angela grinned through her mouthful of food, “That’d be fun.”

“You’re insane, you know that?” he said, shaking his head and turning back to his meal.

“So,” Angela took a sip of wine, washing down the remain morsels and changing the subject. “Any luck getting Miles to join the flag football team? Seeing as you even tried being nice to him. Tell me did it work? Actually…did it hurt?”

Tim shook his head, giving her an unimpressed glare, “I’m not that bad. And no, it didn’t work. I even threatened a blue page later on.”  

“Ahh…returned to your old ways and it still didn’t do the trick?” she smirked, “A blue page is kinda harsh though don’t you think?”

“You sound like Lucy.”

“Your wife is a wise woman,” she raised her glass in a toast, taking another sip. “Speaking of…How the hell did she end up hopping a fence this morning?”

Tim choked on his meal, sputtering and coughing as he fumbled for his wine.

“How did you...when did…she told you?” he wheezed.

“Actually Mrs. Graham texted my mom, who called me. Then when I saw Lucy…she looked like she was doing the damn walk of shame.” She gave him a look, “What the hell were you up to this morning?”

“Same thing we’re up to most mornings,” he said bluntly. The drinks they had earlier had clearly taken effect and had lowered his filter, just the way she liked.

“I don’t get why she had to sneak out of her own house. Just tell Miles about it. It’s not like you’re just fucking each other. You’re married for gods sake.”

Tim shrugged, spearing another piece of chicken. “I know, but Lucy wants us to keep it under wraps until she ranks up.”

Angela raised her eyebrows, “Ranks up? She decided to go for detective finally? Nyla and I have been waiting for her to come back to her senses.”

 “Nuhuh…she’s taking the Sergeant exam next week,” he said smugly.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I didn’t see this before,” she snorted, shaking her head and taking another bite. “She’s just like you.”

“What are you talking about?” he scoffed.

“I’m serious…” she said adamantly, waving her fork in his face. Tim pushed her hand away, resisting the urge to stick out his tongue. “You don’t realize it, but there’s so many times where you two do the same shit. The way you walk, the way you stand, hell even the way you give orders.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he rolled his eyes.

“I’m just saying,” she shrugged, and he shook his head at her antics. “So are you two finally going to have some babies when she makes Sergeant? Jack and Emmy could use some cousins.”

“That’s the plan,” he said plainly, placing his wine back down. The timer dinged on the oven, and he got up to take out the cobbler while Angela sat dumbfounded. “Why do you look surprised? You’ve been hounding us for ages.”

She shook her head to clear it as he opened the oven door, “I know, I just didn’t expect you to finally confirm it.”

“Yeah, well…we both want kids and there really is never a perfect time. Plus, we knew it might take a bit, so she stopped her birth control,” he explained, placing the dish on the nearby cooling rack.

Angela did a double take, “She already stopped her birth control? Tim, I’m surprised she isn’t pregnant already! You two have more sex than literally all of us combined.”

“First off…that’s not true,” he pointed at her, rounding the island to sit back down and finish his dinner.

She gave him an unimpressed look, “You two literally just fucked in the Metro office.”

“Wha…you know about that?!”

“You were caught by Celina and Alison,” she said dryly, “You know Alison texted me as soon as you left them.”

He rolled his eyes, “Of course she did.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised she’s not already pregnant with the amount of sex you have,” She continued, scraping the last bits of her dinner onto her fork and taking a bite. The plate looked pristine.

“Just because we’ve been practicing—”

“Is that what you’re calling it?” Angela snorted and Tim glared at her.

“We’ve been taking…other precautions,” he told her, getting up from his seat and taking their plates to the sink.

“After all this time you two went back to condoms? I’m in shock.”

Tim smirked, “I said other precautions.”

Angela picked up the wine, “Please, what kind of precautions could you take?”

Tim didn’t say anything, just smirked to himself as he spooned some cobbler into two bowls, then reached for the vanilla ice cream. Angela’s eyes narrowed as she took in his expression. Then they widened.

“Oh my god. Are you pulling out like you’re sixteen?” She threw her head back and started cackling, “You do know that’s not effective at all, right?”

He waggled his eyebrows, setting the bowl and spoon down in front of her, “It is when I do it,” he said jokingly.

“You’re so dumb. You know it only takes one time,” she rolled her eyes. “It’s too bad the D.A.R.E. program didn’t include sex education because I would tell Grey to make you teach it for being an IDIOT.”

“Please, I know it’s not a sure thing, come on,” he shot her a look, “I’m actually concerned that you thought the pull-out method was something sixteen-year-olds did. I was not doing that at sixteen. My condom stash was well utilized, thank you very much. What were you doing at sixteen?”

Instead of a response, Angela took a huge bite of her dessert. “Nofin,” she said, her mouth full and cheeks stuffed.

Tim laughed, shaking his head. “We’re just not actively preventing anything right now, especially knowing that once she gets her results back it’ll take a while before there’s a role available.”

“That’s…actually smart.”

“I’m glad you had such faith in me,” he rolled his eyes playfully. “Plus, it’s fun to find new…preventative measures. Keeps things spicy.”

“Or messy.”

“The mess is half the fun,” he grinned, a bit of ice cream oozing out the sides of his mouth. “Tell Wes to stop being such a lawyer.”

“Shut up,” she shoved him, wrinkling her nose, “And wipe your mouth. You’re giving me too much visual insight into your sex life. I draw the line at witnessing fluid secretion.”

“You say this like you aren’t about to go home and make Wesley finish on you,” he said bluntly, then pushed his wine glass away. Time to cut himself off.

“At least this time he won’t complain about it,” she grinned, “He wanted to kill you guys the after I hung out with Lucy. He was exhausted that whole week.”

“Well, maybe you can do all the work this time,” Tim suggested, “We need to pull off a win against LAFD, so I need you to do your best work.”

Later the next afternoon, Tim and Lucy walked across the field to meet their other teammates from Mid Wilshire. Lucy was moving a bit slower than usual. She and Celina had tracked down the missing woman and her baby late the night before, but it ended with Lucy jumping through a glass window to “save a baby from a murderous Mother Theresa,” as Tim called it. Now, every muscle in her body was aching.

“You know,” she said as Tim unfolded the camping chair on the sidelines, “You still haven’t told me how you got Miles to play.”

He hesitated, placing the small cooler down beside the chair with a resigned sigh. He knew as soon as he said it out loud, she’d never let him live it down.

“Ummm…I have to be the star of the new training videos.”

There was a moment of silence and then Lucy burst into laughter, clutching her sides and doubling over.

“Oh I cannot wait to see those!” she wheezed, covering her mouth with her hand but unable to suppress her laughs.  

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. But he couldn’t help but smile at the picture of joy his wife made at his expense.  

Before she could say anything else, a little high-pitched voice called out from down the field.

“Titi Lucy! Unca Tim!” The couple turned to see Jack sprinting toward them, decked out in a kid-size referee uniform complete with sunglasses, a cap and a whistle that bounced on his chest with each step.

Tim put himself in Jack’s path, crouching low with his arms open like a linebacker bracing for impact.

“Oof!” he grunted when his godson slammed into him full speed, but he caught him easily, and scooped him up into his arms, “Hey, buddy!”

Lucy smile, reaching up to rub Jack’s back, “You gonna help Uncle Tim keep score today?”

He nodded seriously. “Uh huh. Daddy says I make sure Unca Tim don't cheat.”  Tim chuckled, shaking his head.

“Jack!” Angela’s voice called from further down the sideline, “Jack! Where’d you get off to? Wes, I thought he was with you!”

Tim shook his head, jostling Jackson playfully in his arms making him giggle.

“Come on, champ,” he said starting to walk, “Let’s talk to your momma about how she definitely didn’t she didn’t do her job last night...or this morning. You coming?” He asked, turning to Lucy.

She shook her head, “You go. I’m gonna give myself a minute before all the excitement hits. Still feeling the effects of playing superhero.”

“You gonna be okay?”

Lucy rolled her eyes, and waved him off with a tired smile, “I’m fine. I will be sitting here, sipping my water, wishing it was wine and cheering you on.”

Tim leaned down kissing her softly, giving her bicep a gentle squeeze before straightening. “All right. But just yell if you need me.”

“Give ‘em hell babe.” She told him as Tim turned and carried Jack towards the rest of the team gathered by the bench where Grey and Nolan were talking.

“You ready QB?” he asked, clapping Grey on the shoulder.

“You know it!” he replied with a grin as rest of the team jogged over.

“Hey, superstar, you ready to warm up?” Miles smirked as he approached Tim, clearly still proud of his victory.

“Don’t push it, boot,” Tim said flatly. “If we didn’t need this win you might be getting a blue page.”

Miles remained completely unfazed. He was riding this victory high over his T.O. for as long as he could.

“I wouldn’t smile so much if I were you,” Alison chimed in, crossing her arms, her high curly ponytail failing around her temples, “The game is just a moment in time. If we don’t cinch the win, your life might be ten times worse. And we both know he’ll make sure of it.”

“Yeah, and just because Wesley's the ref doesn’t mean we have this in the bag,” Angela added as she approached pushing Emmy in her stroller. “He won’t take bribes. I tried everything.”

 Tim gave her a look, subliminally reminding her of their conversation the evening before. “Everything?”

Angela raised an eyebrow. “Everything.”

“Mommy, Unca Tim said you didn’t do your job at night or this mornin’,” Jack suddenly piped up, still in Tim’s arms.

The group burst into laughter as Angela gave Tim a look that would kill any other man.

He set Jack down gently, patting his cap. “Hey Jack, why don’t you go find your dad so he can make sure you know what to do, huh?”

“Okay, Unca Tim!” he called back over his shoulder, running off and popping his whistle into his mouth, blowing one quick shrill sound that made them all wince. “Daddy!”

“This is almost as bad as when you taught him tit milk!” Angela hissed at him and Alison howled with laughter.

“Oh my god,” she wheezed, “You taught a toddler that?!”

“It was an accident!” he groaned. “One time!”

“One time for you, a hundred for us,” Angela muttered, rolling her eyes.

Tim threw up his hands. “That’s it, anyone who’s not playing, go away. We’ve got a game ot win.”

“Just letting you know, the kids are going with you after this, Bradford!” Angela called after him as she walked away, “Time for you to get some real practice!”

Chapter Text

“We’re here!” Lucy announced as Tim pulled into the parking spot.  Cheers sounded from the backseat as Jack urged Emmy to join in with his excitement. Their little innocent squeals sent a pang to his heart, and he smiled, twisting his body to rest his eyes on the two kids.

“Are you guys ready?!” He asked happily.

“Yeahhh!” They chorused and the couple laughed. The moment Tim switched off the car he could hear the kids starting to wrestle with their car seat belts to try and get out. Jack was particularly rambunctious and started kicking his legs, as if the movement would somehow catapult him out of the buckle.

“Ok hang on! Hang on guys,” Lucy said, as she and Tim hopped out. He unclipped Jackson who was sitting behind the driver’s side, catching him before he could launch himself out of his seat.

“Ok come back around with me so we can load up.” Tim said rounding the back of his truck as Lucy unbuckled Emmy, lifting her out of the car seat to sit on her hip.

The Mid Wilshire victory in the Flag Football game came with a day off for those who played. Grey, riding his quarterback high, announced that he and Luna would be hosting a family beach outing for the team. The group chat had taken off after that, everyone coordinating arrival times and what to bring.

Angela hadn’t been kidding when she told Tim that he’d be taking her kids after the game. She’d taken his keys from his bag while he was playing and transferred their car seats to his truck.

Once the game was over and the cheers died down, she handed him Emmy, reminding him that he owed her for the amount of effort she put in with Wesley to try and secure their win (enough so that she was too sore to play) and that she’d also saved his ass from a hit man assassin.

Tim had made a face and had then smugly reminded her that he didn’t have the car seats with him, to which Angela informed him had already been transferred into his truck, and dangled the keys in his face.

Lucy was already animatedly talking to Jack and planning what they’d make for dinner that evening (homemade pizzas), so Tim relented, yanking his keys from her, but told Angela whatever he was expected to bring to the barbecue would be on her. His only responsibility was to her kids and his wife.

Fortunately, they were well prepared and just as Tim had purchased a bassinet for when Jackson spent the night years ago, they also had a stash of bathing suits that he’d made Angela and Genny leave for the kids when they came over to use the pool. And one time when their nephews had spent the weekend with them, they’d decided to hit the beach and Lucy had gone overboard buying shovels and pails, a Velcro catch set, kids’ chairs and more to ensure that they had enough activities. Tim had teased her about it at the time, but right now he was incredibly thankful.  

“Bet you don’t think I went overboard now,” her triumphant voice sounded from next to him as he pulled out their one of their beach wagons.  “Also…who was the one who got two beach wagons just in case? You really want to say I’m the only one who went a little crazy?”

Tim rolled his eyes at his wife, who had Jack’s hand tucked in one of hers while Emmy still perched comfortably on her hip while her tiny legs swinging as they waited for Tim to set up the wagon.

“We go to beach now?” Jack asked, looking up at his godparents with wide, hopeful eyes.

“Yep, we sure are buddy, Uncle Tim just has to set up the wagon so you and Emmy can ride onto the beach!” Lucy told him, giving Emmy a playful bounce on her hip that made the 13-month-old squeal and clap in delight.

Lucy grabbed their beach bag of towels, swinging it into the other wagon, positioning it at the back. She crouched down and gently settled Emmy against it, allowing the bag to serve as a makeshift pillow. Emmy immediately grabbed at the nearest corner of the wagon, preparing to lean in and gnaw at it when Lucy placed a teething toy in her path which she accepted eagerly.

Jack’s face lit up, his hand releasing from Lucy’s as he bounded towards Tim. “I help, Unca Tim!”  

“You wanna help buddy?” Tim asked, unfolding the second wagon and locking the wheels with a quick stomp. He squatted down, so they were eye level, handing Jack a mesh bag of sand toys. “Okay, I’m gonna hand you some stuff, can you help me put it in the wagon?”

“Uh huh!” Jack nodded seriously, clutching the bag as if he had been entrusted with a prized possession, and then dropped it ungracefully into the wagon. He glanced up at Tim for approval, who grinned, handing him their beach mat allowing Jack to place it in the wagon.

At one point, Tim himself placed a particularly heavy bag of snacks in the wagon and Jackson wagged a finger at him. “No Unca Tim! I do it! You no do it!”

Lucy muffled a laugh from her place next to Emmy as Tim held up his hands, “Okay, okay, bud! I know you wanna do it all, but some of this stuff is really heavy alright? We can do it together.”

That seemed to placate the 3-year-old and in no time, they were all loaded up. Jack insisted that he wanted to pull the wagon, so Tim set up the pull handle at the front, while he pushed from the back. Together they rolled on to the beach, easily locating some of their people, the scent of grilling meat beckoning them.

“Hey, you guys are here early!” Luna greeted them as they finally found a spot to set up their stuff.

“Wait, Jack!” Tim exclaimed, scooping him into his arms before he could run off towards the water, “You know the rules bud. You can only go to the water with a grown up and you need your floatie too, okay? Plus, we’ve gotta set up our stuff first before we can go in. Can you help Aunt Lucy set up your playpen?”

“Okay, Unca Tim! TiTi Lu I help you!” He said eagerly, toddling over to where Lucy had already laid out the beach mat and was placing the popup playpen next to it.

Tim turned back to Luna who was smiling knowingly at him, “Sorry, I love that kid but he is a ball of energy.”

“Seems to me you’re handling it just fine,” she replied, smiling knowingly. “Wade told me Angela sent them home with you two after the game. I was surprised you were the ones bringing them though.”

Tim shrugged as he jammed the umbrella base into the sand, working it side to side to secure it. “We had enough stuff ready to go for them actually. A lot of it was from when Jack was first born, and then we just…overprepared.”

“Mmhmm…” she said, still smiling. “Well, I’ll let you guys get settled. You’re one of the first to arrive. Pro move getting here early with the kids before the chaos hits.”

“Yeah well…” Tim said as he placed the umbrella in its holder, “We’ve learned a few things coming here with Tyler and Austin.”

“Parenthood suits you,” she said with a grin, “I know these two are probably itching to go down to the water, so join us when you can! I’ll make sure Wade sets aside some food for you.”

“Thanks Luna,” he said, and with a wave to Lucy and the kids, Luna retreated back to the large area where Grey was manning the grill.

A few minutes later they were all done, their area looking more like an outdoor living room, equipped with a play area than just a regular beach set up. It was quite comfortable.

“I see your BFF has decided to milk her child free time, huh?” Lucy said dryly, making sure Emmy and Jack were settled on the beach mat for a few moments, so she and Tim could finally get settled.

“Are you surprised?” he replied with a snort, crossing his arms and grasping the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it over his head. He tossed it aside just in time to see Lucy shimmying out of her shorts and T-shirt to reveal a teal, sporty tank bikini. It wasn’t revealing but accentuated all her best assets.

“Not in the slightest,” Lucy snorted, “I’m sure you’ll remind her of these moments when we inevitably drop ours off at her house unannounced.” When she didn’t get a response, she looked up to find him staring at her.

“Tim!”

“What?” he blinked.

“Seriously?” she smirked, picking up Jack’s floatie and handing it to him, “You’ve seen me in less than this and countless swimsuits.”

“I can’t help it,” he said indignantly accepting the vest, “You’re hot. And I haven’t seen this one before.” He turned to his godson and began maneuvering his arms through the holes and buckling it.

“Isn’t TiTi pretty?”

“TiTi Lu booful!” Jack corrected adamantly, toddling over to her and patting her on the thighs. “Booful Uca Tim!”

“Where’d you learn that?” Tim gasped, impressed by the toddler’s vocabulary, “But yes, TiTi Lucy is beautiful.”

By now Lucy was blushing and she leaned down with a smile, ruffling Jack’s hair and giving him a kiss on the head. “Thank you, Jack Jack. That is so sweet.”

“I was gonna take him down to the water now, do you think she’s ready?” He nodded at Emmy, who was digging a shovel in the sand at the edge of the beach mat.

“Yeah,” Lucy kneeled down next to her goddaughter making sure no sand had made its way into her mouth, “She’s gonna take one look at her brother and take off.”

Tim held his hands out, “Give her here, I’ll take her with us. You relax for a bit.”

Lucy squinted up at him, “You sure?”

“Of course,” he nodded, “We’re gonna have fun? Aren’t we bud?” Tim and Lucy looked at Jack who was practically vibrating with anticipation, his little legs revving up in the sand, ready to take off towards the shoreline.

“Ya! Go Unca Tim!” Jack said jumping up and down, and Tim lifted Emmy into his arms, laughing.

“Okay, okay! I’ve made you wait long enough,” he laughed, “Let’s go!”

As if an invisible string had been cut, Jack took off towards the shore, sand kicking up behind him, his little legs not carrying him very far before he tripped and fell to his knees. Tim, already anticipating that he’d be on the move after he gave the okay, was right behind him, a laughing and shrieking Emma in his arms.

“Oop! Careful, bud!” he said, stopping next to Jack. The boy popped up unfazed, not bothering to brush his legs off and kept moving. Finally reaching the water, Tim placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder, stopping him from going too far. “Okay, stay with me bud. Let’s go slow, okay?”

“Okay, Unca Tim! We gonna go sloooowwww!” Jack yelled drawing out the word and exaggerating his steps, so he looked and sounded like he was moving in slow motion. Tim laughed and joined in, mimicking Jack’s gate, setting a babbling Emmy on the ground in front of him, holding onto her little hands.

The three of them waded a little further into the water until Tim told them to stop. The kids were in heaven, splashing in the shallows, running from the waves and then back towards the water when it receded. Tim kept a watchful eye on Jack and his hands always on Emmy, never letting them get too far.

He sat down and Jack ran and leapt at him with a childlike war cry that was pure joy. Tim held Emmy out of the way and allowed Jack to land on his chest with a playful “oomph!”

“I gotchu Unca Tim!” Jack said. “You gotta walk the plank!”

“I do!? What about Emmy?” He said, clutching his chest and pretending to fall back, keeping an arm around Emmy who was sitting at his side splashing the water as it passed.

Jack pointed an imaginary sword at him, “She go too! Arrrrggh!”

Lucy watched the trio in the water, affection shining in her eyes as Tim got up off the ground and began to pretend to walk the plank.

“You know I never thought I’d see the day where Timothy didn’t complain about being at the beach,” Angela interrupted her thoughts, and Lucy turned to see, her and Wesley approaching.

“Yeah well…I’ve worn him down over the years,” Lucy shrugged. “Didn’t even grumble when Grey announced it this time.”

“Please, that’s probably because he’ll never pass up any excuse to see you in next to nothing,” Alison scoffed from behind her, as she and Celina joined the others.

“Ali!” Lucy hissed, looking around.  

Alison rolled her eyes, “Relax, Penn isn’t here yet. Plus, you gonna tell me I’m wrong?”

“You guys are ridiculous,” she chuckled with an unserious scoff. Shaking her head, she got up to join Tim and the kids in the water as the others set up their stuff.

“I mean…I get it though…she looks hot,” Alison cocked her head admiring Lucy’s backside as she walked, the high waisted black bottoms and the tank top only accentuating her strong, hourglass figure.

“Ali!” it was Celina’s turn to hiss from her seat.

“What?” Alison said innocently, dropping into her chair, gesturing in front of her, “We all know she’s hot. Besides, you think I don’t do the same thing to him? He’s hot too. I don’t discriminate.”

“We know,” Aaron said dryly as he joined the group who greeted him enthusiastically, chorusing his name. It had been far too long since they’d seen him last.

“You still trying to get in their bedroom?” he asked her.

“Doesn’t have to be a bedroom, Aaron,” Alison said as if it was obvious. “And you should know that by now…but no. No invitations. A girl can dream though.”

“You are completely unhinged,” Wesley finally chimed in. He was used to Alison’s antics, but she never ceased to surprise him. “And I’m saying that as someone who’s married to Angela.”

“Watch it,” Angela warned, “I’ve put out more in the last forty-eight hours than in the past few weeks. I’m on a roll now, but I can take it away.”

“I’m done,” Wesley held up his hands in surrender, shaking his head, “It looks like they’ll be down at the water for a while. We should get some food before we can’t.”

“You’re speakin’ my language,” Aaron said, “Let’s see what Grey’s cookin’ up.”

Half an hour later, Tim, Lucy and the kids were back on the sand, while everyone else was off in the distance still eating and socializing with other folks from Mid Wilshire. Their group seemed to have doubled in size, though Tim and Lucy weren’t sure exactly who else had joined them. Not that it mattered much though, because both kids were ready to eat and if they didn’t get food in them soon, a meltdown was imminent.

Always prepared, Lucy had packed a spread for the kids, knowing they wouldn’t want to wait for anything from the grill. They picked at some of the dumplings she and Tim had made, along with some spring rolls, a pasta salad, and what she liked to call “mini kiddie smoothies” with spinach, apple and berries.

The kids devoured it. Then Emmy curled onto Tim’s chest with her cup of milk, while Jackson caught a second wind and tugged on Lucy’s hand.

“Come on TiTi Lu! Get yo’ bucket!” Jack urged, pointing to a bright purple pail with a yellow handle while waving his own blue and orange one that looked almost bigger than he was.

Lucy grinned and followed his instructions, glancing back at Tim who was watching them looking completely relaxed with Emmy tucked against him.

“You want me to go with him?” he asked quietly, nodding at Jack.

Lucy shook her head. There was no way she was disrupting this picture-perfect moment, “No, I got it. You two relax. Come on Jacks.”

“Waterrrrrrrrrr!” Jack shouted, breaking into a run towards the shoreline, dragging Lucy with him.

Tim’s gaze followed them as they hurried to the water, his lids growing heavier under the warm, comfortable weight of Emmy on his chest. Lucy and Jack made a few more trips to fill the remaining buckets, but he didn’t see them. Neither did Emmy. Both were fast asleep, lulled by the sounds of the ocean waves, seagulls and the voices of their happy family around them. Lucy paused during one trip, making sure to grab her phone and capture the sweet moment on camera. That one was going in a frame.

When the final bucket was filled, Lucy and Jack immediately got to work. Both kneeled in the warm sand, toes dug in behind them, as she showed him how to get the right ratio of sand and water, so the towers would stay upright once they turned it over in the mold.

After a couple of tries together, Jack’s confidence bloomed.

“I do it, TiTi! I show you!” he said, pushing her hands away with determination.

Lucy chuckled softly and pulled back with a smile, letting him assert his independence.

“Ok, you show me how it’s done, Jack!” she encouraged, sitting back on her heels.

He set to work as if he were a construction worker, mixing and pouring repeatedly, his little brow furrowed in concentration, his tiny arms shaking as he lifted the heavy bucket. Lucy leaned in to help steady it and he yanked it away.

“I do it!” He said indignantly.

“Sorry, sorry!” she held her hands up. “You’ve got it.”

He tipped the bucket over, tapping it as hard as his little hands would allow. Then he pulled.

It…was a valiant effort.

Not all of the sand made it out intact. Half of the tower was standing, and the other half hadn’t set properly and looked more like a crumbled relic. Jack’s eyes welled and his lipped shook as it jutted out in utter disappointment. As instant as his tears, his eyes turned fiery  and he leapt towards the structure, yelling as he smashed it angrily with his hands.

Lucy saw Tim beginning to move as Emmy began squirming on his chest as the sounds woke them from their nap.

“Hey! Hey now bud, it’s alright!” she soothed, picking him up and on to her lap. “That was really hard and you did great! How about we build it together? And hey!” she pointed towards Tim and Emmy, “Look who’s up and can join us now?”

Jack’s eyes followed her finger and his eyes lit up, “Sissy! Unca Tim! I build a sandcastle with TiTi! You help?”

“Who’s building sandcastles?” Wesley’s voice interrupted before Tim could respond.

“Daddy!” Jackson yelled, looking up to see his parents approaching. Abandoning his pails, he ran over, slamming into Wesley’s legs, while Emmy squirmed in Tim’s arms trying to get to Angela. He got up from his chair and walked over to hand her off to Angela.

“Nice of you to grace us with your presence,” he said dryly.

Angela smiled innocently as she took her seat with her daughter in her arms, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’ve been here. You guys were just having a blast down in the water, we didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Uh huh,” he replied, not buying it for a second. “Lucy and I are finally going to go get something to eat and actually see some people. They’ve both eaten but the way, and Emmy just woke up from a nap.”

“But Unca Tim!” Jack exclaimed, running up to him, “TiTi Lu and I makin’ a sandcastle! You gotta help!”

“We will, bud. Let us get some grub and as soon as we get back, we’re gonna build that sandcastle, okay? Promise,” Tim saw he little lip pout start and switched tactics, glancing at Angela, “You know what? Your Mama has never built a sandcastle before. Ever. What do you say you teach her how it’s done, and then you can show us when we come back?”

Jack’s eyes widened incredulously, “Mama, you neva done a sandcastle?!”

Angela cut her eyes at Tim, who grinned back at her. Two could play her game. Angela hated getting sand all over her. She turned to Jack and smiled, “No, baby, I never have. Can you show me how?”

“Come on!” he ran over and grabbed her hand, trying to pull her up. Wesley moved to take Emmy, before he could topple them both. “We gotta do it now! Unca! TiTi! Go away! I show Mama!”

Tim and Lucy stifled a laugh but turned to make a break for it while they still could.

“That was a dirty trick,” Lucy chuckled, shaking her head as they walked to the grill station.

Tim shrugged, “Turnabout is fair play. Ange never plays clean, so why should I?”

Sometime later, Miles arrived and hovered at the outskirts of their group. He still didn’t really know anyone at the station and felt a little awkward being social amongst his superior officers, particularly his T.O. who was kneeling in the sand with Lucy assisting Jack and now Leah with building a massive sandcastle, complete with a moat.

One would think it made him less intimidating, but then Tim looked up and saw him hovering.

“You gonna keep standing there, boot?” he sapped, a little exasperation in his tone. Lucy wacked him.

“TiTi! We don’t hit!” Jack reprimanded her and everyone stifled a laugh.

“Yeah, TiTi. We don’t hit!” Tim parroted, his eyes shining at her before hardening as he directed his next words back at Miles. “You can chill out boot. I don’t bite.”

“Hard,” Alison snickered just as Angela said, “Much.” And Tim shot them both a glare.

Celina took pity on Miles, nudging Aaron. Together, they shifted their stuff a few feet away from their Senior officers. Once they settled, she introduced the two officers.

“Thank you for moving your stuff over here.” Miles said gratefully, “Bradford might’ve had me over for breakfast, but he still never fails to make me twitchier than a squirrel in a room full of hound dogs.”

“It’s all good,” Aaron reassured him, then did a double take, “Wait…did you say Bradford, Tim Bradfrod had you over for breakfast? At his house? Willingly?”

“Well…yeah…” Miles replied slowly, “It was really only to get me to play in the football game.”

“Nuh-uh,” Aaron said, shaking his head in shock. “No. I didn’t get an invite to Tim’s house until well after I became a P2. The man has gone soft.”

Miles looked at him warily, “If this is his version of soft, then I’m a bit scared to know what he used to be like.”

“From what I’ve gathered,” Celina said dryly, “You don’t wanna know. Just be glad you have the T.O. Tim you do.”

He breathed out a short laugh and though his expression still said he wasn’t entirely convinced, he didn’t question it further. Instead, he talked Celina and Aaron into going for a swim.

The water was calm, and the tide was low, so they were able to go out further and still stand A few other younger officers joined them, from time to time, but didn’t linger. Then Alison appeared, making her way into the ocean looking like pure trouble.

“Linaaaa…” she called, sounding like pure trouble too.

Celina eyed her skeptically as she ran her hands through the water. Once Alison reached them, without warning she hopped on Celina’s back, sending up a splash of water as Celina yelped and staggered under the unexpected weight.

“Ali!” She yelled, curling her arms around her thighs to secure her.

“Please we’re in water,” Alison scoffed, “You three looked like you needed to liven things up out here. You gotta live a little.”

“So how long have ya’ll two been together?” Miles asked when their play argument had died down.

“We’re not together,” Celina and Alison said in unison and Aaron snorted out a laugh.

“Please this is the longest situationship you both have been in. You’re together,” he said with finality.

 The two women rolled their eyes, but didn’t protest further, Alison pushing off Celina’s back and swimming away and back again as Aaron set his sights on Miles.

“What about you, man? Meet anybody since you came to LA? Dating here can be…challenging as exhibited by the present situationship,” he said cheekily, earning a splash from Celina that he barely dodged.

“No,” Miles shook his head, “No, I was in a long term relationship when I got here. Actually, thought I was going to marry her. But…uh…she came out here around Valentine’s Day and unfortunately it was that very time that we realized that we’d grown a part.”

“Aw man, that sucks…” Aaron replied, “But…all the more reason to get back out there right? Gotta be in it to win it.”

“We aren’t prizes Aaron,” Celina rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know about that,” Alison leered at her, “I certainly feel like a winner.”

She yelped as Celina splashed her and the two men laughed.

“What uh…what about Rachel?” Celina suggested, “You two seemed to hit it off.”

Aaron held up his hand in protest, “Whoa-huh? Rachel? Lucy’s Rachel? No! I’ve been trying to get Rachel to go out with me!”

Rachel had come back into town unexpectedly a few months back, and rather than stay with Lucy (and Tim) as she might have in the past, she crashed at Celina and Tamara’s instead. What started out as a bit of an awkward situation, quickly turned out to be a great fit. Rachel and Celina had instantly clicked, their personalities meshing seamlessly and the trio fell into an easy rhythm. Within a few days, Rachel had folded in with Celina’s circle of single friends, joining casually on outings as if she’d always been there. She’d since moved out, but they still hung out often and Aaron had clearly taken an interest.

Celina gave him a sympathetic look, “Sorry Aaron. Rachel prefers tall guys.”

“Yeah, why do you think she dated Tim?” Alison added.

Miles gave them a startled look, “Hold up, Rachel dated Tim? My T.O. Tim?”

Celina nodded, pushing herself into a back float, “Uh huh. It was a few years ago…before she moved to New York obviously, but yep, they dated.”  

The rookie looked back at the shore where Tim and Lucy had just finished building the sandcastle with Angela and Wesley’s kids. Lucy ran over to their stuff and grabbed a football, calling what Miles imagined was either ‘think fast’ or ‘go long’ and threw the ball towards Tim who ran back a little to catch it.

The two moved closer to the edge of the ocean continuing to play catch and Miles frowned a little.

“So…when I was at Tim’s house…it seemed like…he has a girlfriend,” he started and everyone froze in the water, waiting for him to continue. Miles looked at them nervously, “He has this no personal talk in the shop rule, but everyone is here with their families…why wouldn’t he bring his girlfriend? Does he really never mix personal and work?”

Alison started hollering and Celina glared at her.

“Sergeant Bradford…likes to remain as professional as he can on the job,” Celina explained.

“Yeah but…we aren’t on the job right now.” He shrugged a bit confused, “I mean…that’s gotta get disappointing for a woman, right? You’re dating a guy and he refuses take you anywhere.”

“Well…” Aaron was trying to figure out what the hell he could say to divert Miles’ line of thinking. Alison was still cracking up.

“And then there’s him and Lucy,” Miles continued, and Alison started laughing even louder, “Does his girlfriend know he hangs out with her the way he does?”

“Of course she does,” It was the first time Celina was able to respond with something truthful. She shoved Alison who had finally been able to stifle her laughter, but her body was still shaking.

“And she’s okay with it?” he asked skeptically.

“Oh yeah,” Alison said, clearing her throat, “In fact, she encourages it.”

Miles’ brow furrowed in confusion as he looked towards the shore, “I find it hard to believe that any woman would encourage her man to be that close to another woman.”

The others looked up to see Tim chasing after a laughing and shrieking Lucy. Finally catching her, he lifted her into his arms bridegroom style and ran towards the water.

Alison tried to stifle her laughter, pinching her lips together. Air continued to fill her cheeks as she tried to contain herself as she exchanged looks with the others. It was to no avail. Her cheeks deflated, a woosh of air rushing from her lips as a cackle burst through.

“Dude…do me a favor,” Aaron said over the noise, “Never go for detective.”

“What?” Miles’ eyes darted between the three of them, and then back to Tim and Lucy who were hugged up on each other several feet away, oblivious to the world around them. Tim leaned down, plating a lingering kiss on Lucy’s lips, mumbling something that made her throw her head back in laughter, while Tim looked on in adoration.

Realization dawned in his eyes, “Oh.”

“Huh, I guess they don’t care anymore,” Alison observed. “More eye candy for us.”

“I can’t believe it took you this long to figure out,” Celina said obviously.

“She’s his…he’s…they’re…” Miles stuttered in shock. “How did I miss this?”

“Yeah and knowing them I’m sure they were barely hiding it,” Aaron added, “And you were at the man’s house!”

“What…what do I do?” Miles asked slightly panicking, “I hit on her my first day!”

The volume of Alison’s laughter ratcheted up even higher and it took every ounce of self-control not to plummet face first into the water.

Aaron raised his eyebrows, “And you’re still in the program? Well that should make you feel good then. Means Tim thinks you’re good.”

“Well, what do I do with this?” he repeated urgently.

“Nothing,” Celina stressed. “Just move on with your life. Continue training. And then like Aaron said…never go for detective.”

Chapter Text

“So…T minus 24 hours. Are you ready?” Tim called out to Lucy from their closet. She was still in the bathroom getting ready.

“For the test?” She called back rhetorically, preparing her toothbrush while simultaneously flipping through her flash cards that were sitting on the vanity. “As I’ll ever be.”

“Well, I know you’re gonna crush it,” he said confidently.

Lucy rolled her eyes playfully, just as her phone chimed and she tapped to view the notification, “Yes, so you’ve said. But we’ll just have to wait and see if you’re right.” She frowned, seeing that it was a text to her and Tim from Angela. Beginning to brush her teeth, she opened her phone to read it.

“Tim…” Lucy started, walking into their closet with the toothbrush hanging out of her mouth, a foam ring of paste around her lips and her phone her in hand and a pile of her flashcards behind it.

“Yeah?” he asked, slipping his shirt over his head.

“Why is Angela texting us to confirm what day we’ll be taking the kids to the zoo?”

Tim rolled his eyes, sighing as he pulled on his grey, brushed cotton overshirt, “Because she blames me for all the sand that Jack got in trunks when they got back from the beach the other day. Apparently, it’s my fault that he spent the entire walk back to the car pointing to his butt and asking strangers if they wanted to see the treasure in his booty.”

Lucy snorted practically doubled over in laughter. Dropping her phone and flashcards, she ran to the bathroom to spit out her toothpaste. She rinsed her mouth and the brush, placing it back in its holder, “Oh my god. Did you teach him that?” she called out, walking back into their bedroom.

“No!” he said emphatically, handing her back her fallen then paused, “I mean, we did talk about pirates when I was pretending to walk the plank. So…maybe?”

“Tim!”

“What?!” he shrugged, “Listen, she continues to make us watch her kids, so she’s gonna continue to deal with whatever knowledge we impart. Besides, it’s not all bad. I was teaching him about penguins too.”

“That’s probably how the zoo came up,” Lucy rolled her eyes, “You do know that right? So you really have no one to blame but yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he waved a hand. “I’m just keeping a tally. I swear, Genny didn’t even milk it this much.”

“Thank goodness Alison isn’t interested in having kids,” Lucy said, clasping her watch as she headed out of their room, “Could you imagine?”

Lucy heard his snort of laughter in reply as she left the room, letting Kojo in from outside. She bent down to scratch at his fur, giving him a strong pat before heading to the kitchen, the dog following behind her.

She pulled out their travel mugs and her water bottle, opening the tops on each one. Bringing her water bottle to the refrigerator, she pressed the water dispenser to fill it, sending a moment of silent gratitude for Tim indulging her in purchasing the whole house water filtration system.

Suddenly her phone chimed. Rolling her eyes she picked it up, fully expecting to see some sassy exchange between her husband and his best friend. But when she saw who the message was from, she frowned.

Lt. Grey: I need to see you as soon as you arrive at the station.

He had sent it to her, Tim and Nolan. Setting her phone down, she grabbed the coffee pot, filling their travel mugs just as Tim walked into the kitchen, his own device in hand.

“Did you see this message from Grey?” He asked, heading over to the refrigerator to grab her oat milk creamer.

She took it from him with an appreciative smile and poured a little into her mug. “Yeah, any idea what it’s about?”

“No clue,” Tim shook his head picking the creamer back up, replacing the cap and placing it back in the refrigerator, “I’m getting the notification the same time as you.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we were basically ready. Come on, you can quiz me in the car,” she said, grabbing her mug and water bottle as Tim sighed grabbed his, heading towards the mud room and out to the garage.

Tim rapped at the doorframe of Grey’s office, Nolan and Lucy, right behind him. Grey looked up from his reports and gestured for them to come in.

“You wanted to see us sir?” Tim asked as they filed in, standing in front of his desk.

Grey dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him.  His expression wasn’t happy. Actually, dread was written all over it and the feeling began to bubble up in each of their stomachs.

“I wanted you to hear it from me first,” he sighed, clearing his throat. “As of today, Seth Ridley will be returning to the FTO program.”

Silence.

The three officers blinked as they processed Grey’s words.

“Are you serious?” Tim snapped, “The guy nearly got Lucy killed.”

Lucy shook her head, trying to process what she’d just heard. “This can't be happening. I mean, sir…he lied about having cancer and a host of other things,” she threw her hands up, “The wildfire!”

Grey held up a hand, “Unfortunately, we don’t have enough concrete proof related to the wildfire. Only that the call was made. He’s asserting that there wasn’t enough time to report and by the time he was going to, you were already there.”

Tim sighed, “So what you’re saying is legally, he was only fired because he refused to follow a lawful order to take a blood test. The fire has no bearing in this.”

“Exactly,” Grey nodded, “And now, Ridley claims that he was duped by his oncologist into believing he was sick when he wasn't. He sued the city for wrongful termination and medical discrimination.”

Nolan finally chimed in with the question they were all wondering, “Well, why doesn't the city fight it?”

“Bad publicity, a weak case, a sympathetic plaintiff, take your pick,” Grey shrugged, “Point is, he's back, and we need someone to train him.”

Lucy shook her head, raising her hand to pass, “Well, I don't want him. I’m not a TO anymore.”

“Relax,” Grey smirked, “You're off the hook. The button's on Nolan.”

Nolan sucked in a breath, exchanging glances with Lucy and Tim, before nodding his acceptance. “Understood.”

“He can still be washed out for cause,” Grey reminded him, “but every infraction has to be documented. Otherwise, he'll just launch a fresh lawsuit alleging retaliation.”

“Yes, sir. Understood,” Nolan said.

“I’d advise you to skip roll call today,” Grey suggested, “Ridley is not likely to receive a warm welcome and I’d like to avoid any unnecessary confrontations for now. Once you’re changed, find him and head right out. Standard patrol today.”

Nolan nodded, “Yes, sir.”

Grey dismissed them and the trio walked out of his office and headed for the locker room.

Lucy wanted to scream. She wanted to find Seth fucking Ridley and rage at him. “I can’t believe this is happening. The city really believe that the oncologist duped him after he was the one who refused the fucking blood test!”

“Listen,” Tim stopped her with his hands on her shoulders, “Once a liar, always a liar. He will slip up again. And we know better this time, alright?”

“Right,” she said distractedly.

“Hey,” he squeezed her a bit, “Don’t let this get to your head. You’ve got bigger fish to fry than Ridley, so keep your head in the game and you’ll be fine. Plus, Nolan’s got him.”

She smiled gratefully, reaching up to squeeze one of his hands. “I know. Thanks.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” he grinned. “I’ll see you at roll call.”

They parted ways into their respective locker rooms and Tim caught up with Nolan who was already in his uniform pants and white T-shirt.

“Hey Nolan,” he said, setting his bag down and getting the older man’s attention while opening his locker. “I wanted to talk to you a minute before you have to head out.”

Nolan turned to Tim briefly, “What’s up?”

Tim looked around for a moment and then leaned in, his voice lower. “Listen…I know you have your way of training, but this one is different…”

“I know—” he started, but Tim cut him off.

“No, you don’t. Your first ever rookie was by and large a success,” he said firmly, “You are about to get someone who failed, but was able to game the system and worm his way back in. That alone can be emboldening.”

“So what are you saying?” Nolan asked, uncertainty woven throughout his tone.

“I’m saying…you can’t allow him to think that he’s off the hook just because you’re usually the nice T.O.”

Nolan looked offended, “People think I’m the nice T.O?”

 “Well you certainly aren’t the mean one,” Tim pulled a face, then shook his head, “Listen, the point is, he needs to know that the amount of scrutiny is going to be even higher. He needs to know that everything is going to be documented. Your usual empathy is not going to work here. Precision is the only acceptable performance from him. You keep that in mind and you’ll be fine.”

It was highly possible that Nolan had broken into a bit of a sweat at Tim’s intensity and the weight of expectations when it came to Ridley. Still, the advice was sound, so he nodded. “Understood. Thanks.”

Tim nodded and turned back to his locker, opening it and pulling out his clean uniform. Changing was almost relaxing these days, the motions a habit after so many years of doing it.

He was just securing his vest when he heard Miles’ familiar southern drawl.

“Morning ya’ll! It’s hotter than a Billy goat in a pepper patch out there!” Miles said cheerfully as he walked into the locker room.

Tim exchanged a glance with Nolan, shaking his head at his rookie’s colorful greeting.

Miles frowned in confusion when he saw a uniform hanging outside the nearby locker. “New rookie?”

Tim looked over, seeing the uniform hanging and sighed, walking over to him.

“No,” he said, “I need to talk to you…”

Before he could say anything else, a hush fell over the locker room and Miles eyes looked past him, hardening.

Tim whirled around to see Seth walking in, his standard innocent little smile on his face and bright eyes.

“Good morning,” he said simply.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Miles sneered and then turned his eyes on Tim, “What the hell is he doing here?”

“I’m back in the FTO program,” Seth said, and Miles seethed as he stared at him. It was Tim placing his hand on his shoulder that made him stop short of replying.

“Boot,” Tim shook his head, “Just get changed. We’ll talk after roll call. Just…don’t engage.”

For a moment it looked as if Miles wanted to protest and Tim could feel the tension in his shoulder. Then he released a breath, his muscles deflating as he turned back to his locker and began to go through the motions of getting ready in silence.

Tim’s eyes darted warily towards Nolan, not bothering to lay them on Seth who moved quietly past them to where his uniform was hanging.

Lucy walked through the bullpen, heading towards the roll call room. Her hand fidgeted at her belt, her nerves getting to her that had everything to do with the fact that Seth was back amongst the ranks. Her mind was whirling in a way that it really couldn’t afford to right now. The Sergeant’s exam was tomorrow. She was supposed to be making it easily through her day. Light calls. Low stress.

She scoffed. Lucy totally jinxed herself by even thinking of that plan. It was probably why she didn’t even bother telling Tim about it. He would’ve reminded her that every day is unpredictable and planning on low stress would actually invite it.

Imaginary Tim was right.

Shaking her head she was about to step into the roll call room when she saw Tamara entering the bullpen. What was she doing here? Immediately pivoting, Lucy headed towards her.

Things had been a bit cooler between them since the last time Tamara had been in the station. They still had their scheduled dinner, but there had been an undercurrent of awkward tension that they all felt. The fumes of their argument still fresh in their minds…Tamara blatantly reminding them that they weren’t her parents. It was almost as if they didn’t know how to act around each other anymore. And instead of addressing the elephant in the room, they opted to give each other space. So texts had been less frequent over the past several weeks. And they hadn’t seen Tamara in just as long.

“Hey,” Lucy greeted her enthusiastically, accepting the hug that Tamara offered in greeting. “I didn't know you were stopping by today.”

“Hi. Yeah, I gave Seth a ride,” Tamara told her and Lucy visibly deflated, acknowledging it with a simple ‘oh’ as Tamara continued, “He was nervous about the reception he was going to get.”

Lucy bristled lightly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, “Yeah, I mean, he should be.”

“Promise me you'll hear him out?” Tamara’s eyes softened with her ask, “Seth is very vulnerable right now, and he needs a friend.”

Lucy raised her eyebrows feeling as if she was talking to a completely different person. Granted, this was the first time Tamara had ever been open with her about having interest in someone. It was uncharted territory. Especially when that someone was a pathological liar.

“I was never his friend. I was his training officer,” Lucy reminded her firmly, “And he--it doesn't matter. I mean, Nolan's going to be training him, so we probably won't even cross paths that much, so...”

“Can we all have dinner tonight, away from work, so you get to know the real Seth?” Tamara’s eyes turned pleading, “Please, just hear him out. And just please make sure Dadford’s nice?”

It was the first time in weeks that their interaction felt even somewhat normal. And Tamara was family, how could she deny her? “God, I would only say yes to you,” she relented with a sigh.

“Thank you,” Tamara sing-songed and Lucy turned away to head into roll call, letting her know that she’d text her the details.

Tim was going to kill her.

Lucy was having a minor meltdown after seeing Tamara and was currently ranting to Celina about all things Seth Ridley.

“He is a danger to any case he works on and any cop he works beside. I mean, he had to have seen that coming.”

Celina shrugged, her hands firmly at 10 and 2, “Oh, well, if he did and came back anyway, maybe it says something about how dedicated he is to the job.”

“Oh, no! No. No, no, no,” Lucy shook her head, huffing out a little laugh, “This is an ego thing.”

“Well…What does Tamara say?”

Lucy groaned, already mad at herself for getting roped into this. “Actually, she puppy-eyed me into having dinner with them.”

Celina clucked her tounge “You fell for that?”

“I know, I know,” she whined, dropping her head down. “I had to. It was the first time she really talked to me in weeks.”

“Does Tim now?”

Lucy faltered, “I—ugh. Shit.” Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed her husband.

“Hey,” his voice sounding through the speaker never failed to maker her feel warm and fuzzy inside, despite the news she was about to break.

“Hey…soo…Tamara came to the station this morning…” she started, trailing off, unsure where to go next.

“Really? How’d that go?” he asked warily.

“Um…so I might’ve…Tam asked if we could have dinner tonight,” she finally said, biting her lip.

“Okay…” he said slowly, “That’s normal, but you sound like there’s a catch. So what is it?”

“Ummm….Seth will be there,” she said in a rush.

“What? Why?” Miles replied before Tim could and the two female officers winced at the offense in his tone.

“Hey, Miles!” Celina chimed in to greet him.

“Wait, you're—you're cooking for him?” Miles asked somberly.

“There were puppy eyes,” Celina added, nodding towards the phone with a smirk.

“First off, we are not cooking for him,” Tim corrected through the speaker, and Lucy could hear the disdain dripping from his voice. “We’ll order take out.”

“Tim!” Lucy admonished, “We can’t do that. We have to cook. Maybe I’ll make my lasagna!”

 “Hell no! The boot doesn’t deserve three meats and four cheeses,” Tim scoffed, immediately rejecting that idea. “I’ll pick up some pizza.”

Lucy rolled her eyes, lightly swatting Celina who was trying not to laugh.

“We can’t just give them pizza, Tim! Tamara needs to know we made an effort!”

Tim snorted, “Why don’t you see if the kid can whip something up? He’s the one who’s supposed to be getting back in our good graces after all. I’m surprised he hasn’t told her he’s a Michelin star chef or some shit.”

“Oh my god,” Lucy sucked her teeth at the phone, but she couldn’t keep the affectionate grin off her face at his antics. “You are so ridiculous. It’s for Tamara. We wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.”

There was a pause. And then a sigh and Lucy grinned in triumph. “Fine. Tell her 7. But he’s only getting beef.”

“Fine. Thank you,” she ended flirtatiously and a secret smile, knowing that later on he’d also be telling her that she’d owe him for this. Celina glanced over at her and rolled her eyes.

“I don’t even want to know what the smile and tone means,” she said turning her nose up. “I will say it’s a good thing you and Tim outed yourselves to Miles at the beach. Because you two would’ve totally given yourselves away with that little exchange.”

“Shut up,” Lucy giggled, blushing a little, “We were only like that because he knows we’re together.”

“Are you going to invite him then?” Celina asked, “He seemed pretty hurt that you guys were cooking for Seth and not him.”

Lucy shook her head, “No. It would just make things even more awkward than they already will be. Especially when—and he’ll deny this if you ever ask it—Tim actually likes Miles. So we’ll plan another dinner and invite him,” then her eyes brightened, “Oh! What if you and Alison joined us for tonight?”

“Ehh….” Celina screwed up her face uncertainly.

“Please?!” Lucy begged, nudging her shoulder, “A buffer would be super helpful. For both of us. And…and I’m making lasagna! You love my lasagna!”

“One meat lasagna, though?” she asked skeptically.

“I’ll add two, it’s fine. Tim just joking….sort of,” Lucy dismissed with a wave, “Anyway…please?”

“Ugh, fine,” she sighed, “If anything, Alison will appreciate the entertainment.”

“Thank you,” the older officer said gratefully.

“Tim. We are not using jarred sauce,” Lucy deadpanned with her hands on her hips as Tim tried to place it in the cart. “We have perfectly good homemade sauce in the freezer that we spent an entire day making because the flavor would be worth it. And you were right. So we’re supposed to use it.”

“I’m not wasting my grandma’s sauce on that kid,” he grumbled, placing the jar in the cart, “Plus, we only have a couple of hours before they’ll get there, so we gotta make it quick.”

Lucy rolled her eyes, letting him take over pushing in hopes that if he kept his hands occupied, he wouldn’t put as many unnecessary items in the cart. Usually, she was content to do the pushing and watch him put the items away, but today he was on a level of petty that she needed to curtail.

He’d bought dried lasagna sheets instead of the fresh ones like they’d usually get, and when they got to the meat aisle, they had a whole argument about the leanness of the beef. And then when Lucy tried to also put ground pork in the cart, he huffed and put it back.

“Do you want Tamara to know that you put in minimal effort when she tastes it?” She crossed her arms, “Because she’s probably already going to be able to tell with the noodles.”

“Fine.” He acquiesced, picking up the container of meat and placing it back in the cart.

“I have never seen this level of pettiness from you,” she observed wryly, “You’re like a third grader.”

“The boot almost got you killed. And could’ve almost gotten Tamara hurt,” he shot back, stopping to grab some ricotta, “Excuse me for not feeling very hospitable.”

She sighed shaking her head, “Would you please be on your best behavior tonight? For me? For Tamara?”

“I will try,” was all he could promise, “As long as he doesn’t say or do anything stupid.”

Lucy rolled her eyes to the heavens, “Only the universe can help me now,” she said as Tim continued to roll through the cheese section, “Can you at least get some fresh mozzarella?”

“What do you take me for?” he gasped in mock offense, “It might be simple, but we need to be able to eat it too.”

“You are going to be such a role model for our kids, you know that?” she shook her head.

Tim turned back to look at her over his shoulder and only smirked.

“Are you gonna be able to deal with store bought dessert?” she asked, a glint in her eye, knowing that store bought desserts drove him insane unless they came directly from a bakery. The man had a serious sweet tooth—which was why he always worked out so hard—but he was even snobbier about his dessert than his other meals. “I see a pack of cookies over there with your name written all over them.”

Tim glowered at her, knowing she had him and Lucy smirked at him, raising a brow, “He doesn’t deserve one of your yummy baked confections, does he?”

“He definitely, doesn’t,” he grumbled.

“You two are so funny,” the couple whirled to see Luna Grey standing behind them, grinning as she placed a block of cheese in her cart.

“Luna!” Lucy exclaimed, quickly walking over and giving her a hug, Tim quickly following suit.

“Hey Luna,” Tim greeted her as he pulled away.

“I didn’t know you guys shopped here,” she said as they all stepped back to their carts.

Lucy shrugged, “Rarely, but we have an impromptu dinner tonight, and so we needed to get some stuff quickly. If we go to the one by our house, this guy would take too long.”  

“I’m particular about my ingredients,” he defended.

“I get it,” Luna replied, though neither were sure who she was agreeing with, “Wade gets very selective about his barbecue meats.”

“That’s why you bought him meat last Christmas?” Lucy asked in surprise.

“Oh he raved about that gift,” Luna confirmed before Tim could respond, “Bought a whole subscription. But anyways, enough about that. Are you here for something special?”

“You may have heard…” Lucy sighed, “Seth’s back.”

Luna looked sympathetic, “Yeah I heard about that one.”

“Well, apparently he and Tamara are…dating?” It took a lot for Lucy to even get the words out. It felt sour in her mouth. Tim just looked grumpy.

“Oh,” Luna raised her eyebrows, “Well that’s…interesting.”

“Yeah,” Tim replied, “That was our reaction. With a side of, you can’t date him.”

“Yikes,” Luna winced, “That probably didn’t go over well.”

“That’s the understatement of the year,” Lucy said with a grimace. “Reminded us that we aren’t her parents.”

“Ouch,” she winced again.

“Yeah,” Lucy sighed and Tim wisely stayed silent, sensing that this was a moment Lucy needed. They’d had conversations about it, but both were in uncharted territory. They should’ve gone to Luna a long time ago. “Things have been…awkward since then, but we haven’t actually talked about it. Or…anything really.”

“Well…parenting is hard,” Luna said wisely.

Lucy snorted ironically, “That’s what Smitty said. But is that how we’ve been treating her…like we’re her parents?”

“Hold up,” Tim interrupted, “Smitty's got kids?”

“Tim that's beside the point,” Lucy said with a tired sigh.

“Listen,” Luna interjected with a hand on both of their forearms, “Tamara is family for all of us, but especially you two. So yeah, sometimes that looks a little bit like parenting. It's hard to remember a time when you two weren't protective of her. And given everything she's gone through, you can't just let that go. And I think that it was likely just in the heat of the moment. Because that girl? She loves you,” Lucy’s breath hitched, Tim placed a comforting had on the small of her back and Luna rubbed circles on their forearms as she continued.

“And honestly the fact that she feels safe enough to disagree, to argue with you, but still knows that you two are in her corner, despite a little awkwardness…that speaks volumes to what you've built with her. So, you can be upset about her decision, but she's doing what any young person does when they're trying to become their own person. I'd say it means you're doing something right.”

They let her words sink in for a moment. “Ohh I’m so glad we ran into you,” Lucy breathed shakily.

“We definitely needed to hear that,” Tim told her gratefully.

“Always happy to help,” she smiled, “Hang in there. I’ll see you guys soon. And good luck tonight.”

With a final squeeze to their arms, Luna returned to her cart, pushing it the rest of the way down the aisle, before disappearing out of sight as she turned.

Tim lifted his wrist to check his watch, “Oh shit, we are not going to have enough time to make lasagna now. Should we order pizza?”

“No,” Lucy said, “I’ll spatchcock a chicken and you can cook it on the grill. And then we can also do some veggies. And then I’ll roast some potatoes.”

“You had me at spatchcock,” Tim smirked teasingly, “Sounds dirty when you say it.”

“You are completely ridiculous,” she laughed, gently shoving him before taking hold of the cart. “You know what that means.”

Tim waggled his eyebrows, taking hold of the cart and allowing her to walk ahead of him to grab the ingredients, “I do. You’re still hot saying it.”

Lucy bustled around the kitchen, tossing the grilled vegetables in a light vinaigrette, placing them in a serving bowl. Then she transferred the potatoes into a dish. Celina and Alison sat at the island, watching her flit nervously around the kitchen. Tim was finishing the chicken on the grill.

“Girl. Relax. Everything is almost done,” Alison tried to calm her down and poured her a glass of wine. “Here, have some wine.”

“Ugh, I can’t even think about that right now,” Lucy said wringing her hands, “This is so weird. Isn’t this weird?”

“I mean…it’s a little weird,” Alison shrugged, “But it’s just dinner, right?”

Tim walked in with a platter covered in foil, setting it on the counter. “So, what's the game plan?”

“We're going to eat, be pleasant…” Lucy started, placing the platters on the dining table.

“…and find an excuse to duck out early.”

“Lina!” Alison cackled while Tim glared at her, “I am impressed! It seems I have rubbed off on you after all. Would you like me to stage an allergic reaction? I even know how to make myself turn red on cue. Perhaps a fit of hysterics?”

“Ali!” Lucy yelled as Alison popped an olive in her mouth.

“What?” she said innocently, her mouth full.

 “No, no allergic reaction…” Celina shook her head, then seemed to have second thoughts, “Okay, well, only if I do this signal.” She tugged at her earlobe and Alison nodded just as the door opened.  

Lucy groaned anxiously, and Tim placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her. “Everything will be fine.”  She nodded, taking a deep breath as Tim let his hands drop, and Tamara announced their entry.

“Hi, we’re here!” she called, and then she walked into the kitchen where they all were.

“Hey!” Lucy walked up to greet her with a smile, giving her a quick hug.

“Thank you so much for doing this,” she whispered into her ear.

“Yes, anything for you,” Lucy replied pulling back to look at Seth as Tamara went over to give Tim a hug hello.

“I got you flowers,” Seth said to Lucy, awkwardly holding the bouquet out to her before glancing at Tamara and then correcting himself, “We—we got you flowers.”

“Oh,” Lucy took them hesitantly, “Thank you. Um…you guys can have a seat. We…we’re about ready to eat.” Seth nodded and he and Tamara headed towards the dining room.

Lucy handed Celina the bouquet who took it and examined the flowers critically before giving them a whiff.

“What are the chances he took these off a grave?” she whispered to them.

Alison sputtered, almost spitting her wine out. “I’m so proud,” she wheezed.

Lucy merely groaned, and Tim grabbed the tray of chicken, “Come on. Let’s just get this over with,” he said quietly and walked into the dining room, the trio following closely.

Dinner started out as awkwardly as Lucy had expected and as Tim had feared. Once Lucy told everyone to dig in, the platters and bowls were passed in relative silence. Forks and knives scraped and clattered on the plates. Thank goodness they had at least put music on earlier that evening, so the room had at least a bit of warmth to it as it played softly in the background.  

Unable to take it anymore, Tim was the one to break the silence, placing his fork down and wiping his mouth. “So T…we haven’t caught up recently. Have you been up to anything new these days?”

Tamara began nodding as she finished chewing, a smile lighting up her face as she looked between Tim and Lucy who sat at either end of the table. “Um yeah actually…I've been volunteering with this great organization that's focused on building trust with mentally ill homeless people.”

“What?” Lucy said with a surprised smile, “That sounds perfect for you.”

“Yeah. Seth's going to join me one of these days,” Tamara told them, clearly trying to earn brownie points for him. Lucy’s smile dimmed a little, but she didn’t say anything.

“Really?” Alison drolled skeptically, sounding like someone playing detective (despite being an actual detective) and Celina kicked her. “Ow!”

“Yeah,” Seth answered, clearing his throat. “It seems like a great cause.”

Before he could continue, Tamara reached for the wine and a glint on her finger caught Lucy’s eye and she grabbed her hand, “Oh, wait. Hold on. What is this?” Tim quickly put his fork down his eyes shooting to Tamara’s hand, as sense of dread filling his gut.

Seth scrambled to explain, “What—that's not what it looks like.”

Lucy’s eyes flared as she held up Tamara’s hand, “This looks like an engagement ring.”

“What!?” Tim burst out from across the table and Tamara wrenched her hand away from Lucy.

“Tamara, are you crazy?” she fired at her.

“Yeah, I mean dude, how old are you anyway?” Alison chimed in and the young couple glared at her, “What? I’m just saying…you don’t look old enough to even be drinking this wine.”

“I’m twenty-one,” Seth replied coldly.

“See?” Alison gestured towards him, missing Celina’s frantic tugging on her earlobe. “Barely legal.”

“If you were really serious about becoming a cop, you’d be focusing on that. Especially given the fact that this is your second go at it,” Tim spat.

“Sir…” Seth started, but Tamara interrupted him.

“We're not getting married. I mean, not right away, anyway” she said flippantly.

“Then what is the ring for?” Tim shot out at Seth, with a raised eyebrow, who was unfortunately right next to him.

“I-It's more of a promise ring,” he fumbled out.

“Oh really?” Tim scoffed, leaning back in his seat, “Because you do know that's what an engagement ring is?”

“I had a little bit of extra money—” he started to explain but Lucy quickly interrupted her in a tone that was rare to hear directed at anyone but a criminal.

“You had extra money?” She spat, “What, the ten grand from the city that you got in back pay after you were fired for lying on the job? Is that the money you're talking about?”

“Aren’t you missing a car too? Shouldn’t you have taken that money for a down payment so you can actually drive your so-called fiancé places, so she doesn’t have to pick you up?” Alison chimed in.

Tim blinked, “Wait…you don’t have a car?”

Tamara shoved herself up from the table, looking between Lucy and Tim with a hurt and disappointment that they’d never seen coming from her. At least not directed at them. “You know what, this isn’t even fair! You two went off and got married and you didn’t even think to tell anyone!”

“That is completely different!” Lucy roared, “We’d been together for a year! Hell by everyone else’s standards we’d been together for years already! You barely know each other!”

“Hold on…” Seth interjected, “You guys are married?”

Everyone ignored him and Tamara plowed on, shaking her head, “I knew…I knew you already made up your mind! You weren't going to give him a chance.”

“T, he has had so many chances,” Tim said, and Lucy interjected quickly, her hand jabbing angrily in Seth’s direction.

“You know, he's lying to you, the same way he lied to me the whole time!”

“We are leaving,” Tamara said firmly, and Seth stood, preparing to head out with her. “Thanks for dinner guys. Glad to know I can always count on family,” she said sarcastically, hitching her purse higher on her shoulder, she and Seth left the table which was silent until they heard the door slam shut.

Tim’s eyes flew to meet Lucy’s which had grown wet amidst the door slam, “What the hell was that? Is she out of her mind?!”

Lucy shook her head a little frantically as if the motion would change what just happened. “I can’t believe she agreed to marry him.”

“I can’t believe that little fucker had the audacity to ask her!” he ranted, “He just got fired, I don’t think he’s in any position to be someone’s husband. He’s barely in a position to be a cop. He doesn’t even have a car!”  

“Do you think he’s ever even had sex?” Alison said and Lucy visibly shuddered, “Is this like one of those born-again religious things where he needs to get married so he won’t feel guilty about losing his virginity?”

“The kid lies for sport, you think he’d care if God knows he had sex before marriage?” Tim shot back.

“Tim,” Lucy admonished, turning her nose up at the thought.  

“And what happened to your damn allergic reaction, huh?” Tim pointed at Alison accusingly as she took a sip of her wine.

“Nuhuh, don’t put that on me Bradford,” she shot back at him, setting her wine glass down and piling her thin braids on the top of her head and securing them with a scrunchie. “Lina here was supposed to give me a signal.”

“I was giving you the signal!” Celina threw up her hands, rolling her eyes, “I was tugging on my ear like I was the one having the damn allergic reaction, but you were too busy insulting the guy--”

“He deserved it!” Alison defended herself.

“Ugh, what are we gonnna do?” Lucy groaned, slouching in her seat and throwing her head against the backrest.

“Are you gonna be sick? You look a little green, girl,” Alison squinted at her, “I wouldn’t blame you. Thinking about prepubescent sex would make me sick too.”

“There’s nothing we can do, unfortunately,” Tim sighed, “Even if I want to punch his lights out…the kids a cop and it’s like she said…we aren’t her parents.”

“We’re the damn closest things she has to them!” Lucy banged her fist on the table making the dishes rattle.

“Yeah and kids are gonna make dumb choices. Didn’t you get a nose ring when you were in high school?” Celina reminded her.

“Yeah, but that’s a piercing that I can remove, not committing myself to some idiot for a lifetime, like she’s the fucking main character in The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Lucy grumbled, and Tim rolled his eyes. He hated that damn show and all the insufferable characters. If Conrad didn’t get everything he wanted in the end he was never trusting Lucy to pick another show again.  

“Celina is right though,” Tim said and the younger officer’s eyes flew to him in surprise. That was as good as praise on the job. She puffed her chest out a little as he went on, “And it’s like Luna said too. She’s doing what’s expected at this age. Figuring things out for herself, testing boundaries and all that. Unfortunately, I think we’ve got to let her make her own mistakes.”

“That was when we thought she was only dating him,” Lucy shot back, then raised her eyebrows, “You’re telling me your really ok with letting them go through this whole marriage thing?”

“Oh absolutely not,” he replied, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest, “But when I think about it, there is no way that he’s not going to show her his true colors before they get down the aisle. Guys like that can’t keep up the façade for long. Look how quickly he crumbled under your scrutiny.”

“You think?” she asked uncertainly.

Tim nodded, standing and beginning to clear the table, “Mark my words, T will figure him out.”

“And if she doesn’t?” Celina asked, rising to help him and Tim hesitated, before placing the platter down.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Alison snorted, “I like having boy Bradford for a Sergeant.”

“Well, if we play our cards right, we’ll be having girl Bradford for one soon also,” Celina added, and Lucy blushed.

“I gotta take the exam first,” she said, then let out a frustrated moan, “Ugh this was not what I needed leading up to tomorrow. I never should’ve agreed to dinner tonight. I need to study.”

“Speaking of…I think we’re going to take our dessert to go so you can spend the rest of the night decompressing,” Alison waggled her eyebrows at the couple, rising from her seat and slipping her shoes back on. “Time for you to work your magic, Bradford. Normally, I’d offer to stay and supervise, but I’m turning over a new leaf.”

Tim rolled his eyes didn’t hesitate to package up a few of the pastries that the self-proclaimed “non-couple” had brought. Within a few minutes, the two were heading out the door, bidding Lucy good luck on her exam.

The door shut firmly behind him and Tim turned back to face Lucy, who was now placing the last container in the refrigerator. She was preparing to head to the sink when Tim walked over, taking her hands into his.

“Stop,” he said softly, “Alison is right.”

Lucy huffed out a little laugh, “Did you seriously just say that?”

A little half smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Somehow she is always oddly accurate when it comes to our sex life….You need to relax.”

She shook her head then nodded at the dishes, “No…no I need to finish clearing this up and then I need to get some last-minute studying in.”

“Luce…” he sighed, still holding her hands, “More studying is the last thing you need. Ok? You’ve been studying nonstop up until now. You can overprepare.”

Lucy snorted, “No, see now that is an idea that lazy people created.”

“No,” Tim shook his head, “I've seen it happen, okay? You get in your own head. You just need to trust yourself and then let it go. And if you can’t trust yourself, trust me. Do you think I’m a lazy person?”

“Of course not.”

“Do you think I’d steer you wrong?”

She cocked her head as if she couldn’t believe he was asking her that question, “No.”

“Then…” he tugged her closer, dropping a kiss to the column of one side of her throat, “Trust me…” he kissed the other side, “When I tell you…” he kissed her gently on the lips, “You need to relax your mind.”

“Hmmm….” she smiled softly, sliding her hands up to encircle her arms around his neck, “And you’re gonna help me huh?”

“You bet your sweet ass I am,” he grinned, bending his knees, sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her into the bedroom. The dishes could wait.

Chapter Text

Lucy was warm.

Not warm like the heat of the sun beating down on your skin or the cocoon of a soft blanket, no, this warmth was from the inside. A low simmer that was nudging at her consciousness as it grew to a blaze.

Her eyes blinked open as a sudden jolt of pleasure shot through her body and she looked down to see that the covers had been shoved aside, and Tim had taken their place. His body settled between her legs, and his broad shoulders pushed her thighs wide. He had spread her folds with his fingers and was currently licking pass after pass between her lips.

“Tim…” what was supposed to be a question, came out as a breathless moan as he circled her clit with his tongue. Her juices mixed with his saliva dripped down her thighs to her ass, a testament to ‘time to rise’ ministrations. Some mornings he liked to coax her to consciousness, slowly drawing her out of slumber and then dialing up until she reached a blissful crescendo.  It seemed today was one of those mornings.

Her breath hitched as he slowly entered her with his fingers, twisting and curling in the way that always made her gasp, her hand flying to his head to hold him in place. She braced another hand on his shoulder, rocking against his face, his hungry groans and smacking pants mingling with her cries.

“Oh my god,” her mouth falls open and her body jolted, her eyes squeezing shut as she feels herself beginning to fall apart.

And then he was gone.

Lucy’s eyes shot open in surprise, and she involuntarily tried to squeeze her thighs together, desperate for the friction that abandoned her. Tim shoved her thighs apart before she could utter a single word, hoisting himself to his knees and working into her without warning. She keened at the sudden intrusion, her body jerking off the bed, hands clutching at whatever part of him she could grab.

“Describe the LIVEN system of a supervisory response to an in-progress emergency,” he said firmly, each word shaking as their bodies collided.

She blinked in surprise. “Huh?” she asked unintelligibly as her breasts shook with their movements.

Tim wasn’t having it. Giving the side of her as a firm smack, and ignoring her cry of pleasure, he spoke again, his gaze hardening. “Focus, Chen. Liven system of a supervisory response to an in-progress emergency. Go.”

Smack!

His forcefulness never failed to send a thrill through her and the command propelled Lucy into a response. “Locate, Isolate, Verify,” her pitch grew higher as his fingers landed on her clit, feeling her body thrumming with the need to come. She dropped her hands to her breasts, rolling the nipples as he thumbed her clit, distracting herself from the question as she hissed a loud, “Fuckkk.”

Smack! Her body jerked at the sudden strike on her ass and a gush of wetness flooded his cock, making Tim grunt, but he only glared at her, “If you don’t finish it, it’s wrong. Answer the question, Chen.”

She wanted to sass back, buck her hips and tell him that if he didn’t finish her, it was wrong. But she decided to play his game.

“Evacuate,” she breathed, tweaking her nipples and practically sobbing in relief as he began to move again, “Negotiate, nggggh or Neutralize.”

“Good girl,” he praised, thumb moving faster on her clit as he angled his hips in the way that made her see stars. “Very good.” Tim’s voice cracked and Lucy’s pussy clenched around his swelling cock at his praise.

She couldn’t respond. Her body was vibrating. For a few moments there was nothing but the sounds of skin slapping, low groans and breathless cries. Then he leaned down to capture a nipple, replacing one of her hands and swirling his tongue over its peak just the way she liked, bracing a hand on the bed as he sank into her heat again and again.

Stars burst behind her lids as the combined sensations of his mouth, hands and cock sent her tumbling into oblivion. She came with a shout that bounced off the walls, her pussy vice like around Tim’s cock that had his hips stuttering and a groaned curse releasing from his lips as he spilled his seed deep inside her.

Tim’s mouth released her nipple, traveling up to find her mouth, their tongues dueling to prolong their passion. He thrust lazily until they finally came back to themselves and rolled them so she was on top of him. They groaned in unison as his softening cock finally slipped from her and Lucy relaxed onto his chest with a contented hum, the mess they made not fazing either of them.

“Feel ready now?” He murmured against her hair and Lucy snorted, throwing a hand over her.

“As I’ll ever be,” she shrugged, then lifted her head to rest her chin on his chest. “Although now that’s yet another acronym I won’t be able to think about without imagining your mouth on me.”

He grinned wolfishly, waggling his eyebrows, “Effective though, wasn’t it?”

Lucy swatted him, “You tongue in my ass is forever ingrained beside OODA. Effective? Yes. Smart? Not so sure.”

“You’re gonna rock it, babe,” he told her confidently, just as their alarm clock went off. Lucy pushed up to give him a quick kiss before rolling out of bed as Tim reached over to shut off their alarm.

“Impeccable timing,” she said, sashaying into the bathroom, “One might think you planned this.”

“Just wanted to be sure you started the morning off right, heading into your exam,” he called after her, rolling out of bed himself, “I’m gonna make you some breakfast and then I’ll take a shower while you eat.”

“Mmm good call,” she giggled, spitting her toothpaste out and rinsing her brush, “I’d definitely be late if you got in here.”

Forty-five minutes later they were both sitting at the kitchen island finishing up their breakfast. Their phones sat between them, both message apps open, but silent. Tim sipped his steaming coffee, while Lucy chewed the last piece of melon that he had cut for her. Tim had done what he could to distract her (and himself) the prior night, and this morning, but now that the bubble had completely dissipated, the only thing lingering were the remains of their fight with Tamara.

“Still nothing on your side?” Tim asked her.

“Ugh, no,” Lucy groaned, picking up her phone and checking her messages again as if she could make Tamara respond by sheer will. “I’ve sent her a dozen texts and nothing. What about you?”

He shook his head, “Same, but listen…you can’t focus on this now. You’ve gotta get to your exam.”  He stood up, grabbing their dishes and placing them in the sink as Lucy shrugged on her slate grey suit jacket.

Tim turned back just as she was flipping her hair out of the collar and paused, raking his eyes over her as he gave a low wolf whistle. “Can I just say…you look hot.”

She blushed a little at his appreciation, “Let’s just hope this helps on the oral.”

“It’d help on mine,” He grinned, pleased with his own joke and dodged her swat.

Lucy rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth lifted as she tucked her phone into her bag. “Alright, let’s go before I’m late and then all this is for nothing.”

“Keys, coffee phone,” Tim said automatically, handing her travel mug.

She patted her pockets, also making sure her badge and firearm were secure on her, “Yes, Daddy.”

“Mmmm…I like the sound of that,” he nudged her as he, following her toward the door. “Better be careful, you keep throwing out these phrases and you’re never making it to your exam.”

Lucy sat out at the food trucks, poke bowl in front of her, waiting for the others to join her. She was still slightly shocked. The exam itself had gone by in a blur. It was almost as if she’d had an out-of-body experience. The hours of preparation, the unique, yet effective quizzing methods from Tim, all condensed into what felt like mere minutes. She walked out of the building, exhausted and relieved, but generally feeling good. Now the wait began.

“Well?” Angela said, plopping down in front of her. “How’d it go?”

Lucy let out a sigh, “I mean, I think I did well.”

“Well you’re in better shape than most,” the Detective replied, unwrapping her sandwich, “Everyone else I know walks out feeling like the bombed. So you already are in the win column.”

Nyla, Alison and Celina arrived together, balancing trays of tacos, chips and salsa and drinks. They claimed the open seats, Nyla dropping into the spot next to Lucy, while Alison and Celina settled across from them with Angela appropriately seated at the head of the table.

“So…are we looking at our newest Sergeant?” Celina asked eagerly as she dug into her lunch.

Lucy let out a laugh, shaking her head and picking up her fork. “I have no idea. I told Angela that I think I did well, but we’ll just have to wait and see. And even still…it usually takes about six months to even land a position. And waiting for one at Mid Wilshire might take forever.”

“How long do the results take to get back?” Alison asked, “I remember the detectives exam took a few weeks I think.”

“Yeah,” Lucy nodded, “I’d like to think that we’ve gotten better with the advent of technology, but it still is going to take like 4 weeks to get them back. Ugh and in the meantime, I get to do four days of night shifts.” She stabbed her bowl, spearing a piece of salmon and cucumber.

“Why on earth are you doing the nightshift?” Nyla turned her nose up as if disgusted. If there was one thing that woman liked, it was sleep and nightshift was in direct opposition of her schedule. The detective avoided it at all costs.

“I owed Morton a favor…this is her cashing in,” Lucy explained.

“Godspeed,” Angela said with her mouthful. “How on earth are you two horndogs gonna survive that?”  

Lucy rolled her eyes, “We’re not animals Angela.”

Alison and Celina immediately began to argue, but Nyla spoke up over them in exasperation. “How many times are we going to have this argument, only for you two to prove us right?”

“Seriously…” Alison agreed, “Do we need to remind you about flashy flashcards?”

The other women practically hollered with laughter remembering the time Alison had come over to the couple’s house finding their front door unlocked, Lucy and Tim both shirtless and Tim holding pile of flashcards. Needless to say, the detective merely sat down and crossed her legs and stuck her hand under her chin, while the couple scrambled to put their shirts back on.

“Bet that wasn’t all you two got up to either,” she smirked, “Did he drill you while he drilled you?”

That caught everyone off guard, and the three women all choked and wheezed in various stages of eating. Nyla was the worst, and she banged on her chest, coughing to dislodge the food that nearly got stuck in her throat.

“That’s it,” Celina glared, once she could speak again, “You are no longer allowed to talk while people are eating. You’re gonna kill someone.”

“What?” Alison said innocently, taking a bite of her taco. “Like you all weren’t wondering it too.”

“Anyway,” Nyla shot her fellow detective a look, “Tim told us about dinner last night…”

Lucy groaned and Angela chimed in, “Have you heard from Tamara?”

“No,” she replied, “Nothing. Tim and I both sent her a bunch of messages, but she hasn’t said a word.”

“She didn’t come back to the apartment last night either,” Celina added.

“And they’re really engaged?” Nyla asked.

“There was a diamond ring,” Lucy shrugged, a bit defeated, “I mean…she survived on the streets. I really thought she had better instincts than this.”

“She does have good instincts, Luce,” Alison reassured her, “and they will kick in.”

“When? Before she's walking down the aisle?”

“It’s going to fizzle out,” Angela said confidently, “They’re too young and he’s too dumb for this to actually last.”

 “I hope you’re right,” Lucy grumbled, worry in her voice, “Because somehow she shares the same stubborn streak as Tim and me, and that’s enough to make her double down on something.”

Before anyone could respond Lucy’s phone began vibrating from where they sat on the table.  She picked it up, seeing Tim’s face smiling back at her. She answered just as Celina’s phone pinged with a notification.

“Hey you,” she smiled into the speaker as she answered.

“Hey,” his voice sounded tight, and stressed. Nothing like she would have normally expected on the heels of her exam.

Lucy frowned, “What’s wrong?”

“Um…There’s been an incident. I’m okay,” he reassured her, “But Seth got shot. In the leg. He’s at Shaw Memorial.”

She reeled back in shock, her hand flying to her mouth, “Oh my god. Okay, um…did—did you get in touch with Tamara?”

“I did,” he confirmed, “I sent her a text, and she called me right before I called you. She’s heading here now. He’s been in surgery for a while. Penn and I just got here. We’re waiting for news, but…it was bad.”

“Alright, I’m on my way,” she said hanging up and turning back to the group who was waiting expectantly. “Seth was shot.”

“Holy shit,” Alison exclaimed, “Is he okay?”

“I’m not sure, but Tim said it was bad.”

Tim pocketed his phone, heading back to take his seat next to Miles in the waiting room as they waited for news, the hospital bustled around them as nurses and doctors fired off assessments as they triaged incoming patients. Miles shifted every few minutes, huffing and shaking his head. Tim glanced at him and sighed.

“What’s on your mind, man?” he asked finally, sensing that the rookie had to get something off his chest.

Miles glanced at him and then looked away, eyes dropping to the floor, “I feel like such an ass. I could have taken the high road with Seth, but instead I let my anger and my resentment get the better of me.”

“Well, he earned that anger and resentment,” Tim said bluntly. Did he feel bad about what happened to Seth as a human being? Of course. But it didn’t change the fact that he was a terrible person who had put people he cared about at risk.  At the end of the day, he was here as a fellow officer, but really, he was here for Tamara.

“I know,” Miles replied unconvincingly.

“Look,” Tim leaned forward, angling his body to face the rookie, “he's a bad person who did a heroic and selfless thing, which makes this complicated. You're allowed to feel bad on multiple levels here.”

Miles nodded, accepting the advice, though he didn’t look any less troubled just yet. Out of the corner of Tim’s eye he saw Grey approaching and got to his feet. The younger man saw Tim standing almost at attention and quickly stood up.

“What’s the word?” Tim asked.

Grey shook his head sadly, “There was too much damage…they…they had to amputate his left leg below the knee. Nolan’s with him now. He’s in the ICU.”

Tim blinked, letting his gaze drop to the floor as the information washed over him, hearing his rookie’s sharp intake of breath next to him.

“Tim!” He looked over to see Tamara rushing in, breathless and face flushed with worry as if she had run there.

“Hey,” he greeted, halting her in place with his hands on her shoulders.

“Wh—um…what happened?” she stuttered, eyes darting between the officers, looking every bit as young as her twenty-one years, “Is he okay?” Tim had only mentioned that he was hurt and at the hospital, not wanting to freak her out when neither he nor Lucy were there.

Squeezing her shoulders gently, his eyes softened as hers filled with tears. “He’s alive. He was shot…in the leg…but…they had to amputate.”

“What?” Tamara gasped, “Can…can I see him?”

“Of course,” Tim nodded, dropping his hands after another gentle squeeze, “Nolan’s with him now in the ICU.”

Tamara disappeared around the corner and Tim took his seat to wait for her return as Grey and Miles left to return to the station.

He’s uncertain of what he’d be met with after her visit was over. Thoughts were flying through his head about where they went from here. How would Tamara support Seth through this? How would they support Tamara? How was Lucy going to feel? How would he support Lucy? How would he support his boot? What the hell was going to happen next?  

Moments ticked by and Lucy arrived in a similar fashion to Tamara, worry painted across her face and firing questions at him. Tim answered them in stride, giving her the same update and watched as all the questions that he had began to run through her mind.

Before they could even sit down, Tamara was coming back out to the waiting room. She looked…wrecked.

The young woman immediately fell into Lucy’s waiting embrace. He heard Lucy’s whispered, “I’m so sorry,” into Tamara’s hair and watched as Tamara shook her head into her shoulder. Tim and Lucy exchanged a worried glance, unsure exactly what had happened during her visit.

Pulling back, Tamara wiped her face, brushing her hair back with her hands, “I-I know things have been weird, but...can…can I stay with you guys tonight? I just—”

“Of course,” Tim interrupted. “I have to go back to the station and change out, but if you two want to head home…”

“I can drive us,” Lucy offered, and Tamara shook her head sniffing.

“I drove here. I can meet you there?” Lucy nodded, running her hands up and down Tamara’s arms.

“Of course…babe, maybe you can pick up some dinner on the way?” she directed towards her husband, who nodded.

“Of course, I’ll pick up some Thai,” Tim suggested, and Tamara gave a small, watery smile at the couple’s instinct to nurture.

“Thanks. I just…I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Lucy pulled her into another quick hug. “You won’t be.”

Tim rested his hand briefly on Tamara’s should before looking at Lucy. “I’ll see you both at home. Text me when you get there.”

An hour later, Tim walked in carrying their dinner and a plastic bag full of ice cream. The lights were on, but the house was quiet, and he heard soft music playing out on the patio. Placing the ice cream in the freezer, he made his way outside.

Lucy was sitting at the table, absentmindedly spinning the stem of her wineglass while she watched Tamara play fetch with Kojo who was eagerly chasing down the ball she’d just thrown.

“Hey,” he said quietly, setting the bag down on the table before heading into their outdoor kitchen to grab the plates and utensils they kept outside. “How’s she doing, has she said anything?”

Lucy sighed, shaking her head as she began pulling out the containers. “No, she said she wanted to wait for you and then just started playing with Kojo.”

“What do you think happened?” he asked as they plated their meals—red curry for him, pad Thai for Lucy and Tamara.

“Honestly, I have no clue,” she shrugged, “I can’t tell if she’s just struggling with what’s happened to him, or if something else is going on.”

Before he could respond, Tamara was calling Kojo over and making her way to the table, sitting down in her usual seat where her plate was already waiting. Tim and Lucy remained awkwardly frozen, their gazes flitting between each other for a moment before they also took their seats. Tim was at the head of the table, Lucy to his right, across from Tamara who was on his left.

Finally, she looked up at them, “I’m sorry.”

“Tam…” Lucy started but Tamara held up a hand stopping her.

“No…please…let me just say this,” she said earnestly, placing her hand back on the table, “You guys were right. Seth…had been lying to me the entire time. He told me knew he didn’t have cancer.”

Tim leaned back hard against his chair as her words sunk in. He knew Seth had been lying, but to hear it confirmed by someone other than Lucy or himself, made it feel even more real.

“God, I can’t believe I was so stupid,” she scoffed at herself, eyes welling, “You warned me. And I just ignored it.”

“T…” Tim started but she went on as if she hadn’t heard him.

“I didn’t mean it when I said you guys aren’t my parents. I mean…you’re not. You’re like some weird parent, sibling, friend trifecta that I can never even begin to explain to other people,” they chuckled at her description, “But the point is…you are my family. That’s the only label that matters. And I’m so sorry I forgot that. I never wanna lose you guys.”

“You will never lose us, Tam,” Lucy rounded the table to pull her into a hug, both women sniffling with emotion.

“Seriously, T,” Tim added, resting his hand on her shoulder and giving hit a reassuring squeeze as they pulled back, “You should know by now…you’re stuck with us.”  Tamara smiled through the tears, rolling her eyes at him with a small, watery laugh. The weight in her chest easing a bit.

“Good,” she said quietly, wiping her face.

“Now, can we eat?” he said, breaking the moment with a small grin, “I got ice cream in the freezer, because I figured that no matter what happened, it was gonna call for ice cream.”

Tamara let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she picked up her fork, “I’m not twelve, Dadford.”

“Hey,” Tim protested, jabbing his fork at her, “I do believe you were the one who told me that ice cream is a universal solution. I’m just doing as I’m told. Plus, I’ve got just the movie to go with it.”

 “You know…Angela said you were one of the girls once and I didn’t really think anything of it, but now…” Tamara chewed thoughtfully, her eyes lighting up with delight, “You really are one of the girls!”

Lucy threw her head back barking out a laugh, her mouth full of Pad Thai. She quickly raised her hand to her lips as Tim glared at her and Tamara grinned, clearly proud of herself.

“She’s not wrong, babe,” Lucy agreed, “Look at all the women you have around you all the time? You made friends with your best friends’ mother. You befriended my best friend.”

“I hang out with the guys!” he said indignantly, his mouth turned down in a frown as he tried to think of the last time he got together with Wesley…or James…or Nolan. Actually, Penn might have been the last guy he hung out with.

“Just accept it,” Tamara smirked knowingly, wiping her mouth with the cloth napkin from her lap.

“Oh, he’s not accepting it,” Lucy grinned, “He’s currently wracking his brain trying to figure out which of his guy friends he can arrange an outing with so he can prove us wrong. But unfortunately, the one he has the most in common with is his rookie. And that goes against everything he believes in.”

Tamara snorted, “Sure, except if said rookie’s name is Lucy Chen.”

“Just for that, I’m eating all the ice cream,” Tim grumbled, spearing a piece of chicken and scooping up some rice with it, “Even that nasty lactose free shit. It’s all mine.”

“Tim!” Lucy yelled at him in shock over her bowl of ice cream. She had been preparing to take a bite when she heard a little boy say, ‘My daddy is…a liar,’ on the screen.

Lucy was appalled on Tamara’s behalf and turned to look at the young woman, expecting to see a similar expression on her face, but she cracked a smile.

“Oh my god, of course you would put this on,” she laughed when the title card for Liar, Liar, displayed on screen.

“Listen, we can let her wallow and give energy to some asshole who doesn’t deserve it, or, we can help her move on,” Tim gestured towards the screen where Jim Carrey’s character was walking his son through his office and lying to everyone in sight.

“You are the worst,” Lucy replied, though her voice was teasing. She wasn’t that cut up about Seth, aside from the simple fact that she felt sorry for him as a human and former officer. She was only trying to be more sympathetic for Tamara’s sake.

The trio settled in to watch the film with their respective desserts, lactose-free, salted caramel swirl for Lucy, birthday cake for Tamara and rum raisin for Tim. A small bowl sat beside him to collect the raisins he would inevitably pick out. Lucy never failed to tease him about it, and after years of watching the ritual, she’d started making him his own batch of plain rum ice cream.  They were all out today, so she was just going to have to endure his raisin-picking.

An hour into the film, Lucy’s head was resting in Tim’s lap and she was slumbering deeply, the weight of the worries and stress that she’d been under between her exam and their argument with Tamara finally relieved.

Tamara watched as Tim stroked her head gently, his gaze flickering between the TV, Lucy and her. At one point he caught her staring and smiled.

“She’s been exhausted lately, with the test coming up,” he explained quietly, still stroking Lucy’s head.

“Are you sure it wasn’t you wearing her out?” she accused, and Tim’s jaw dropped.

“I thought we were past you making jokes about our sex life?” he rolled his eyes and Tamara snorted as if it was the most ridiculous idea she’d ever heard.

“Tim…you guys broke a bed. There is never a world where I’m not making jokes,” she shot back, then shuddered suddenly realizing her mistake, “Maybe I shouldn’t stay over.”

“Oh please,” he tilted his head, giving her a look, “I just told you she’s exhausted.”

“Like that’s stopped your middle of the night antics. Your walls are not soundproof remember!”

“Come on,” he threw his free hand up, “What the hell do you do at your own apartment anyway? I know Ali isn’t quiet.”

Tamara looked at him smugly, “She thoughtfully bought me noise cancelling headphones and also adheres to the no sex in common spaces rule.”

Tim scoffed, “Yeah right, I find that hard to believe.”

“Honestly, your poor kids. They’re going to need so much therapy.”

“Why does everyone make us sound like we lack self-control?” he said in a huff and Tamara looked at him deadpan.

“Broken. Bed.”

“And anyway,” Tim said desperate to change the subject, “tomorrow she starts four days of night shifts. She needs as much sleep as possible.”

“Ew, four days?” Tamara wrinkled her nose, “That sounds awful.”

“Yeah,” Tim sucked in a breath, “fortunately she hasn’t had to do too many of them since her rookie year, and they were always one offs.”

Tamara hummed in acknowledgement, her eyes drifting back to the screen, but she wasn’t really paying attention. Tim watched her closely, noting that her mind was preoccupied with something.

“Am I…” she started, and he waited for her to continue, “Am I being insensitive? I mean…Seth had his leg…amputated,” she choked on the word as if she couldn’t believe she was saying it. “Shouldn’t I be more…understanding?”

She looked over at Tim to see him staring back at her in disbelief. He raised a brow at her as if saying ‘you’re really asking me that question?’

“Right,” she said dryly, “You probably think he deserved it.”

“Okay, I’m not that bad,” Tim countered, in mock offense, “Do I think he’s a piece of shit for what he did to you and to Lucy and who knows how many other people? Absolutely. I wanted the kid to turn over a new leaf because he was tired of being a lying asshole and it was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t wish this on him. Or anyone. It’s a hard way to learn a lesson. It’s okay if you’re conflicted. I would be surprised if you weren’t.”

“Yeah,” she said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

“I wouldn’t dwell on what happens to him next. That’s up to him. He’s alive. So the universe decided that this could be his second chance. It’s up to him to decide what he does with it. That’s not your responsibility.”

“Thanks, Tim,” she said appreciatively, and he merely nodded, giving her a little upside-down smile that was his trademark.

“I think it’s probably time for us to head to bed. I still have shift in the morning, but I’ll make pancakes before I leave,” Tim said, sliding out from under Lucy.

“I think I’m going to stay up for a bit,” Tamara replied, watching as Tim lifted Lucy into his arms as she’d seen him do countless times, “I can let Kojo out before I turn in.”

“Thanks, T,” with one last smile, he turned to head out of the living room, Lucy cradled in his arms. “Night”  

Chapter Text

Tim trudged into the station, aviator sunglasses shielding his eyes and a travel mug filled with the strongest coffee they owned. He was running on fumes. It had been one night of Lucy being on night shift and he was ready to go find someone and pay them to take over for her. He couldn’t sleep without her next to him, so he texted her at midnight. And apparently the shift was dull because she responded nearly right away and then they spent the next three hours either on the phone or texting between calls.

Inevitably, their exchanges turned spicy until she had to shut it down, reminding both of them that she was still on duty—to which he replied that it never stopped them before. By that point it was 3 am and she was the one who reminded him that he had to be up for work in 3 hours.

He grumbled at their situation, knowing that it was temporary, but no less annoying. Now he was alone, exhausted and horny.  He didn’t even have it in him to finish himself off, because these days it was only fun if Lucy was there to watch. So, he willed his erection away and tried to relax his mind enough to sleep.

After tossing and turning, he was finally able to fall asleep, only after coaxing Kojo—who was in the middle of a deep slumber in his own bed—into getting up onto their bed. The warm pressure against his back lulled him right down, but by that point it was already nearly 4am.

He missed his wife and it’d barely been twenty-four hours.

“You look like shit,” Angela said, falling into step beside him as he headed towards the locker room. “And grumpier than usual this morning. Who pissed in your cornflakes?”

“I’m fine,” he grumbled, looking no less grumpy than a moment ago.

“Sure you are,” she said wryly, “Celina mentioned Tamara stayed with you guys the other night. Shouldn’t you be happier? You guys made up with your eldest.”

Tim rolled his eyes, “Yes, all is good now. And I told you, I’m fine.”

“No, he’s not,” Alison’s voice piped up from next to them as she sidled up on his other side. Tim closed his eyes, silently begging for strength from the universe to deal with his and his wife’s best friends. “Lucy started night shift last night, and I bet that pinched face is cause he didn’t get any this morning.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Angela raised her eyebrows, examining her friend, “You didn’t see him when she went away to UC school. Now that I know this whole thing started then—”

“Shh!” he cut her off, looking around to make sure no one heard them.

“Or what about their last bet that had them breaking shit in a hotel room?”

“Seriously, do you two ever stop?” He groaned, lifting his mug to his lips and taking a sip.

“The day we stop is the day your sex life takes a serious dive and I don’t think you want that to happen,” Alison said with a grin.

“Although if they wanna have kids, you should probably get used to going without,” Angela pointed out, “They kinda put a damper on things.”

Alison snorted before Tim could even reply, “Somehow those two are gonna shock us. I’m calling it now. Instead you’re gonna hear from one of their kids how mommy screams like a—"

“I need to go. If I fuck around with you two any longer, I’m gonna miss roll call and I’d like to see my wife first,” he said in a huff, breaking away from the two detectives to head to the locker room.

“See now that’s the fucking around that’s gonna make you late to roll call,” Angela quipped, pointing at Lucy and dissolving into laughter at her own joke, Alison joining in.

As if it were planned, his wife materialized, already dressed in plainclothes, causing Tim to stop in his tracks and the two detectives to laugh even harder.

“What?” She said glancing at them curiously, but still absently, more focused on her husband who was looking delicious in his grey sweater. “Mmm…hi,” she said huskily, running her hands up his arms to encircle his neck as he leaned down to greet her.

“Hi,” he replied but it was muffled by her mouth. As soon as their lips met, they were gone. Lost in each other and clearly forgetting where they were. It had been over twelve hours since they’d seen each other properly and they clearly weren’t going to waste a second on propiety. Lucy pressed her body against him and Tim groaned into her mouth, almost sagging in relief as he finally got to feel her.

“What did I tell ya?” Angela commented as she and Alison stood off to the side, arms crossed as they waited for the couple wit come up for air. “Late.”

“Yup and so not our fault,” Alison agreed with a nod, “you know…there’s a metro office that I happen to have on good authority has a pretty sturdy desk.”

With an annoyed groan the couple broke their kiss but remained embraced, foreheads touching.

“I don’t think I wanna know how you know about that,” Lucy replied then found herself distracted as she looked up at Tim with a frown. “Are you gonna be ok today? You look tired.”

She cupped his cheek running her thumb along his jawline and Tim placed his hand on top of hers while cupping the back of her neck with his other. 

“You’re one to talk,” he pointed out, taking note of the dark circles beneath her eyes, “Are you alright?”

Lucy gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”

Tim gave her a pointed look, “We said we wouldn’t lie to each other.” She was reminded of aftermath of the wildfire when she kept insisting she was fine until she wasn’t.

“I just…” she sighed, leaning into him again, “Nightshift sucks.”

“It does,” he agreed touching his forehead to hers.

“Bradford, as touching as this is, if you don’t haul ass to change, you are in danger of being late to roll call for the very first time and I don’t think you want me to make the reason why public, do you?” a deep voice made them both jump away from each other, and Tim swiveled to see that Angela and Alison had been replaced with Grey who was wearing a smirk that rivaled their best friends’.

“Ummm…” Tim was at a loss for words, but the embarrassment and tinge of pink on his face said more than he’d be able to put into words, and Grey just laughed, shaking his head.

“I’ll see you in 10. Get some rest, Chen,” with a clap on Tim’s shoulder and a tap to Lucy’s arm, their Lieutenant walked past them, and around the corner.

The couple turned back to each other and smiled softly, still reluctant to part, despite being caught making out at work. By their boss.

“I should go,” Tim said halfheartedly, pulling himself out of her embrace as if it physically pained him to do it, “I made a frittata and left it cooling on the counter, so you have something either for now or later. I figured you wouldn’t want pancakes again.”

At that, Lucy’s stomach rumbled, and he smiled at her accompanying blush. “You’re the best. I’m starving,” she leaned in for a kiss which he accepted readily.

“Alight, if I don’t go now, I’m never gonna live it down,” he groaned, rolling his eyes to the ceiling, “I’ll see you at shift change. I love you.”

“I love you too, be safe, babe.”

She’d said it before, and she’ll say it again. Nightshift officially sucked.

After devouring the frittata, some toast and the bowl of fruit Tim had also left her, Lucy had shed her clothes, threw on Tim’s worn LAPD shirt and practically fell into bed.  

Where she lay wide awake.

Groaning she rolled over to face Tim’s side of the bed, blowing out a breath. She was so ready to sleep. Her body was practically begging for it. The room was pitch black-- thanks to the blackout shades Tim insisted on—and the house was quiet. Everything was primed for her to drift off.

Unfortunately, Lucy’s body was also begging for something else.

Someone else.

There’d been a dull throb at her core, a low buzzing beneath her skin since they’d kissed that morning. As if all her senses had been ignited because they recognized that her other half was in her presence.

She had tried to ignore it, squeezing her thighs together and trying to shove aside the pulse of arousal that seemed to be a continuous reminder that her husband wasn’t there.

After so many years waking up with Tim, Lucy was not used to going to bed alone. One of the highlights of her day was crawling into bed with him and finding new ways to make each other fall apart before they succumbed to sleep. And then they’d wake up and do it all over again—in bed, in the shower. It had clearly become such a habit that her body craved it. Craved him. And now it’s been a day…two days…she wasn’t exactly sure, since time felt like it was all blending together. But the deprivation was getting to her.

That minor make out this morning did nothing more than make her ache for him even more.

Rolling over onto her back, she huffed out another breath, her head lolling to the side to look at Tim’s nightstand. She pulled her lip between her teeth thoughtfully as she stared at it. The toys he usually liked to use on her were in there. A few different types of vibrators, plugs, his favorite scarf to gag her with. The things she used on him were in her nightstand. 

Lucy shivered recalling a night he’d plugged her ass, stuffed her pussy and then tortured her clit with the little bullet vibe while he tongued her nipples. She was so overstimulated that she became a sobbing mess, exploding all over their sheets. She’d lost count of the number of times she’d come that night, but she did know that she passed out and didn’t wake up until the next morning.

The memory solidified her decision, and she rolled over to Tim’s side, pulling open his drawer and rifling through it in the darkness. Her hand landed on her favorite glass dildo. It was nowhere near close to Tim, but it was sleek, felt deliciously cool sliding in, and it curved just right.

Pushing the covers down, she bent her knees, spreading her legs wide to expose herself in the darkness. Rubbing the toy near her entrance, she gathered some of her wetness that was already seeping out, bringing it up to her clit like Tim would.

Her other hand joined in, using the ‘v’ of her fingers to spread her lips and give better access. She circled around her clit, letting the toy’s cool glass glide over the glistening pick that surrounded her nub.

Planting her feet firmly, she brought the cool glass to her opening, plunging it inside. Her hips lifted to meet the thrust of her hand and reap the benefits of the curvature of the toy. It scraped against her font wall as Lucy pumped the dildo, her moans seeming to almost echo in the room.

It felt good. She felt herself growing wetter, her nerve endings were activated and she felt the buzz throughout her body as she pleasured herself, but Lucy could already tell that she wasn’t even close to an orgasm.

She even let out a, “Fuck, yes, fuck me,” a couple of times, just to try and dirty talk herself to the finish line, but all she felt then was the distinct absence of a response.

No deep rasp in her ear.

No passionate growl.

Not an order that was punctuated with a slap to her ass.

The room was too quiet. Her hands, too small. The toy that she usually loved just wasn’t hitting it. Not when Tim’s hand wasn’t the one driving it inside her. Not when he wasn’t at least sitting and watching her, egging her on with his words.

With the dildo still shoved between her legs she rolled over, tugged the nightstand open again and finding one of their smaller vibrators.

A constant buzzing filled the room as Lucy switched the toy on high and immediately bringing it to her clit. Her hips jumped at the shock of arousal that hit her, and she cried out in relief, moving the dildo again feeling body grow warmer and wetter with each motion.

“Tim…” she moaned but was met with silence and she felt herself drifting from her peak.

With a frustrated growl she threw the glass aside, keeping the vibe on her clit. She flung her free hand to the side, fumbling on her own nightstand, moaning in triumph when she found her phone.

“So what is it like dating in LA?” Miles asked Tim as they patrolled. His training officer was particularly grumpy that morning, but he’d thawed towards Miles in the past few weeks, so he was willing to try his luck.

“How would I know?” Tim shot back, “I don’t date.”

“Yeah, but…” Miles shrugged, keeping eyes on his surroundings, “You’ve lived in LA your whole life. And you haven’t always been in a relationship.”

“Why do you even wanna know?” Tim glanced over at him, cringing inside at the fact that he was even entertaining the question.

“Well, I was just filling out, you know, a profile or two…online,” Miles told him, looking slightly embarrassed.

“A dating profile?” he scoffed, sounding every bit like the grumpy old dude from up like Aaron accused him of being. “Back in my day we just went to bars.”

“Yeah well…it’s kind of tough nowadays when everybody’s online.”

Tim looked at him incredulously, “What are you talking about? I still get hit on when I go out and I’m—” he faltered for a moment, “with someone. Anyway, you mean to tell me you go out and don’t pull anybody with all that Southern charm?”

“Honestly, I haven’t gotten out much since I’ve been here,” Miles admitted, looking out the window and squinting against the glare of the sun, “First, I was still with Camilla and then you don’t really leave room for much of a social life.”

“Well that’s on you,” Tim said bluntly, “It’s up to you to manage your social life. If you think a dating app is the only way to do it that’s your prerogative.”

“I don’t know…maybe nothing'll come from it,” Miles said doubtfully, watching as Tim began navigating towards the deli that they agreed to go to for lunch that day.

“As long as you don't put down that you're a cop,” the rookie whirled around to look at him in surprise.

“Why not? It's what I do.”

Tim rolled his eyes, “Which would be fine if you were an accountant or a realtor. Look, people have very strong opinions about cops. Some people hate us, won't give you a chance. And some people love us too much, which is just as bad.”

“Yeah, well, we had badge bunnies back in Sugarland—” Miles smirked, feeling some of his swagger return, “I mean, not that I have any personal experience with them because I was with Camilla for so long—"

His T.O. wasn’t having it and cut his eyes at him, “Look, it shouldn't be on your profile.”

“All right, well, I'll take it ou—” he was interrupted by Tim’s personal phone ringing from the holder on the dash. Looking over he saw that it was Lucy and frowned, she should have been sleeping by now.  Dread began settling in his stomach and he quickly tapped to answer.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asked quickly.

“Tiiimmm….” Her breathy moan filled the car and his eyes widened comically, feeling the sudden burst of arousal that went right to his crotch. There was no mistaking her tone. Tim’s heart was thrumming against his chest as his fingers frantically tapped the red button on his phone to end the call.

Quickly checking his mirrors and seeing no one behind him, he jerked the shop off to the side of the road, haphazardly parking a couple of blocks from the deli. There was an awkward silence that consumed the small space, the humming of the engine the only sound filling the shop.

“Sir…” Tim refused to look at his rookie, staring straight out the windshield but could hear the shell-shocked tone in his voice. He couldn’t fucking believe this.

“Not a word boot,” he cut him off, “Go get lunch. I will find you.”

“Yes, sir,” he exited the shop faster than Tim had ever seen him move since he’d been on the job.

He watched the rookie move briskly in the direction of Delancy’s Deli and took a breath to gather himself. Picking up his phone, he redialed Lucy and brought the phone to his ear as she picked up almost instantly.

“You hung up on me,” she pouted, and Tim could picture her bottom lip poking out before she tugged it between her teeth. It did nothing to will away his growing erection.

“Lucy,” he said sharply, a bit of T.O. creeping into his tone, “I’m on patrol and my boot was in the shop. You should’ve been sleeping. I thought something was wrong.”

“Something is wrong, Tim,” she whined, though it sounded more like a moan, and he could just make out a faint buzzing in the background, “I can’t sleep. And I’m horny. And nothing’s working. I get so close and then it goes away.”

“You called me in the middle of shift so, I could…what…” he looked at the shop cams that were running, “Talk you through it?!” he hissed, closing his eyes, thankful that the camera angle wouldn’t pick up on his current situation. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Yessssssss…I need your voice, babe,” she said breathlessly and he could hear a rhythmic motion on the other end and cursed.

“I’m still in the shop. And I’m near Delancy’s,” he protested, looking around the busy street. He was near their go to deli in one of the busiest areas. There wasn’t anywhere he could get to for privacy. “And weren’t you the one reminding me that we shouldn’t even be texting stuff like this last night?”

“I don’t care what you say,” she told him, her breath hitching, “Just keep talking to me. Tell me something…anything. I need this ache to go away so I can sleep.”

It was her begging that did him in and words tumbled out of his mouth before he even realized it. “My boot is starting to date again. Created a new dating profile and everything. Then had the audacity to ask me for advice.”

He could hear her steadily moaning on the other end and imagined her hips bucking against her hand while she rubbed the vibe over her clit, her juices seeping out around her and making a mess of their sheets. She made such a goddamn beautiful mess. His breath came in slow pants as he tried to remember where he left off, “Um…I told him I don’t date.”

“Yess…fuck…don’t stop baby, I’m almost there—” she panted into his ear and Tim grunted.

“Then I said not to put that he’s a cop on his profile because it was fucking ridiculous—”

“Fuck! Yes!” she cried out, rustling the phone where he imagined it laid next to her as she writhed on the bed with her hands between her legs, “Fuck, I’m coming, keep talking to me!”

“Shit, Luce…” He growled, hearing her mewling in response and he guessed another gush of juices flowed around her hand. He was hard as a fucking rock. “That’s it. I’m on my way there. I have 30 minutes until lunch is over, and it’ll take me 10 to make it there and back.”

“That’s only 10 minutes to fuck me Tim.”

“Well you better be ready, cause I sure as fuck am,” he said through gritted teeth, placing the phone in its holster and placing the shop in drive. “Ten minutes babe.” He hung up before she could reply and pulled away from the curb, contemplating switching the sirens on, but knowing that would be an abuse of power. He did, however, call in for his lunch break.

Tim disabled the alarm as soon as he pulled up to the curb and after securing the shop, he entered the house with a bang. Wasting no time, he made a beeline for their bedroom, removing his duty belt along the way. His bodycam had already been switched off and left in the shop.

Entering their bedroom he saw Lucy sprawled on top of the covers. She was in his shirt, which was bunched up over her breasts, her naked body ready and waiting, though she appeared to be dozing. Her favorite glass dildo was on the bed beside her, and the vibrator right next to her hand. Her phone lay dark next to her shoulder.

He stalked to the bed, dropping his duty belt in the nearby chair, and unfastened his pants. Lucy began to blink herself back to consciousness at the noise.

“Tim?” she said, sounding slightly uncertain. As if she didn’t believe he was really there. “You really came?”

“We said we’d never lie to each other,” he said huskily, wrapping a hand around her ankle, “I sure as hell wouldn’t choose now to start.” He yanked her leg, pulling her closer to him, ignoring her yelp of surprise when she flopped on the bed closer to him.

He ran his hands up her legs, squeezing her thighs as he shoved them apart to get a look at her cunt. His mouth watered as he watched it glisten, still wet and swollen from her earlier activities.

“God, you’re fucking gorgeous,” he groaned, “And these fucking thighs.” He squeezed them hard, pressing his fingertips into the flesh, knowing he might leave a little bruise later.

Letting go for a moment, he shoved his pants and underwear just down below his ass, his cock finally free of its confines. He took himself in hand, running his fingers over his slit, to gather the precum that was collecting.

“Are you ready for me baby? We don’t have time for me to be gentle,” he asked her and Lucy nodded wordlessly, biting her lip.

Tim ran his cock through her folds, feeling how slick she was, how ready she was for him, and wasted no time burying himself deep inside her.

Lucy cried out as he set a relentless pace, pulling her thighs around his waist, locking them around his. He settled his thumb against her clit, and alternated between breasts with the other hand, tugging and flicking her peaked nipples.

Their bodies slapped together, the sounds of flesh meeting flesh and the animalistic sounds that released from their mouths filled the room. Lucy gripped the sheets, whining as he hit her spot again and again, her pussy squelching as she grew wetter with every drag of his thumb across her clit. She tried to fuck him back, wanting to feel him fall apart.

“Come on, baby, fill me up” she urged, “Fill me up. And then suck it out of me so everybody knows you’re mine.”

“Fuck!” Tim shouted as orgasm came over him without warning. His mouth fell open as his cock swelled and his hips jerked. He painted her walls, feeling his head nudging her cervix as he released, Lucy’s voice still coaxing him through completion.

His body finally settling, Tim dropped his head against her calf to catch his breath. He blinked down at his wife, who was staring at him through hooded eyes, but slowly, she raised a brow as if she was challenging him.

Suck it out of me so everybody knows you’re mine.

With a groan, he reached down, pulling his softening cock out of her, and catching some of their fluids with his hand so it wouldn’t stain his uniform. Lucy ripped her shirt off handing it to him, so he could catch anything remaining. He took it with his clean hand, swiping it quickly along his dick, and brought his soiled and to her lips.

Lucy took his fingers into her mouth just as Tim dropped to his knees, slanted his mouth around her gaping pussy and sucked drawing a shout from Lucy, his fingers falling from between her lips. Taking the opportunity, Tim’s hand traveled down to her breasts to pinch her nipples, her gasps spurring him on.

He ate her ravenously. Tonguing her folds and sucking and nibbling at her clit. He was as relentless with his mouth as he was with his cock and Lucy found her self bucking against his face uncontrollably as her back bowed. Knowing he was rapidly running out of time, he crossed two fingers and slid them into her hole, come hithering in the way that would send her crashing.

It didn’t take long before she crying out his name, her orgasm flowing into his mouth like a fountain, and he drank every drop just as eagerly as she’d welcomed his.

She came down with a whine, and then a yelp when Tim pulled away with a final smack of his mouth.

He raised his hand to check his watch.

“Fuck.”

He jumped up, pulling his pants and underwear with him, quickly shoving his dick away and refastening his pants.

Lucy raised herself up onto her forearms, shirt bunching even more at the neck, her chest still rising and falling in short little bursts. “What? What is it?” she asked, her voice a little strained.

“That was fifteen minutes,” he said frantically, leaning over to land a kiss against her mouth, “I gotta go. Sleep well!” He tossed over his shoulder as he grabbed his duty belt and practically ran out the door, Lucy’s giggles following in his wake.

“So Sarge…” Tim closed his eyes as heard Alison’s voice coming from behind him. He silently begged the universe that she wasn’t there to give him shit.

“Your rookie told me they are officially scarred for life,” she said, an unmistakable grin in her voice.

No luck then.

“It wasn’t my fault.”

“Sure,” she agreed, “But then he told me you dropped him for lunch and were late coming back.”

“Still wasn’t my fault. My call ran long,” he said flatly, finally turning to look at her. She didn’t need to know that ‘call’ was actually a ‘house call.’ He’d never hear the end of it.  

“Mmmhmm…” she said wryly. “I’m assuming your call was similar to the one I arranged for you in Sacramento. And then what?”

Fuck. Those extra five minutes probably gave him away. But Tim refused to give in.

“None of your business,” he shot back.

Alison barked out a laugh, shaking her head, “You two should come with a warning label.”

“Are you done?”

“Oh not in the slightest,” she replied, still laughing, “You guys have been providing me with entertainment since day one.”  

The elevator pinged just as Tim was about to respond and Lucy stepped off, looking refreshed in her white shirt, grey pant length suit jacket, jeans and boots. If Tim didn’t know she was waiting for her results, he’d have said she was already a Sergeant. She certainly looked the part.

“Well, well, Mrs. Bradford,” Alison said coyly, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re glowing.”

“Alright, Ms. Ponds, goodnight,” Tim said pointedly, dismissing her as the elevator reopened.

With a gleeful laugh, Alison let him off the hook and allowed him to push her into the elevator, calling out as it closed, “We’ll talk later!”

Rolling his eyes, Tim turned back to his wife, who was watching him with a smile. “Hi,” she said a little flirtatiously.

“You’re in trouble,” he replied.

“I’m sorry!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. But then she stopped herself, “Actually wait…I’m not really sorry. I slept like a damn baby afterwards. Besides, you didn’t have to come home!”

“There was no way I was going to be able to work after taking a call like that unless I came home, and you know it,” he gave her a look. “That’s okay though, you know I love a little payback.”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed, but Tim merely smiled, hoisting his backpack further up on his shoulder as he leaned down to steal a lingering kiss. “Don’t worry, Luce. You know I’m good for it,” he said huskily, winking at her and pressing the elevator button without looking.

Kissing her again, he pulled away just as the elevator chimed. “Love you. Have a good shift.” He backed into the elevator while smirking, making Lucy even more suspicious as she watched through narrowed eyes as the doors closed, wondering how the hell he’d get back at her.

Chapter Text

Lucy wasn’t even an hour into her second shift, but already she found herself wondering how she was going to survive the next few hours and the remaining two nights.

She met the other officers who had dubbed themselves The Dream Team and suddenly heard Angela’s voice in her head, ‘You give yourself a name, you’re going to jail.’

Lucy certainly hoped it wouldn’t go that way for them, but she cataloged it for later. She sipped on her black tea as she rode solo for the night, hoping that she wouldn’t need anything stronger for a while, but the night was too quiet.

Her phone pinged with a notification. Tim. God, she was missing him. She might have slept well after their little afternoon tryst, but it did nothing to quell her longing for him.  If anything, it only made it worse.

She scoffed a little at their co-dependent tendencies. It wasn’t like they hadn’t differing days off before, but there was always the promise of seeing each other at the end of the day. Of going to bed together and waking up together. Nightshift was a different beast, For the next four days they were two ships passing in the night.

It sucked.

Pulling over, she lifted her phone out of the holster to open the notification.

Tim: Missing you…The house is too quiet.

She snorted out a little laugh before typing out a reply.

Lucy: Is that your way of saying I’m loud?

A moment later her phone rang, and she swiped to answer. “I am not loud thank you very much,” she said with a smirk in her voice.

“Not loud,” Tim explained, “Just…you make noise. Like humming in the shower or talking to Kojo…or to me. Or when you’re waking up but don’t want to in the morning and you toss and turn and inevitably whack me in the face.”

Her jaw dropped, “Excuse me, that was one time! As if I’d have a chance to toss and turn when you’re pawing at me every morning.”

“I don’t hear you complaining,” he shot back, a smile in his voice and Lucy rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn’t wrong.

“I don’t hear you complaining either. And we both know that’s when I’m the loudest,” she sassed, then groaned when she heard Tim’s deep chuckle through the phone. “Ugh, now that is on my mind and I still have almost my whole shift left.”

“You started it,” he replied, and she could hear his grin through the speaker. “Besides, I still owe you some payback.”

Before she could reply a call came over the radio, “Pending units, 911 unknown, 2468 Stanley. Hang up on callback. Pending units.”

“I gotta go babe, that’s right near me,” she told him quickly and Tim didn’t hesitate, merely told her to be safe and hung up. They may have been co-dependent, but they both knew that the job came first when they were on duty.

Most times.

She grabbed the radio, “Control, 7-Lincoln-19, I'm right around the corner. Attach me to that.” Placing the receiver back in his holder, Lucy pressed her foot a little harder against the gas pedal.

The next two hours were a series of calls and wasted time that at least kept her mind off the man waiting for her at home, between “The Dream Team’s” lack of response and every call being a load of BS. At one point, she found them literally sleeping in their shops on top of a parking deck. Lucy was silently fuming but wasn’t going to be the one to narc on them by any means, but she found it hard to believe that the night Sergeant wasn’t privy to their antics.

Things had finally seemed to settle down for a bit and Lucy was regretting not packing a thermos with more tea because the fatigue was starting to get to her and she was feeling every second of the night shift.

She had finally made the decision to hit the nearby convenience store, and grab some underwhelming but much needed tea, when her phone pinged.

Tim.

He’d stopped texting her after she got her first call and Lucy had been wondering if he had fallen asleep, given their late exchange the previous night. She should have known he was still awake.

Pulling over, she stopped to open the message.

Fuck.  

Tim was standing shirtless in front of the mirror in their bedroom, his grey sweatpants slung so low their edges only peeked against his hips where the mirror cut off, emphasizing the ‘v’ of his appropriately named adonis belt.  

His bottom lip was pulled lazily between his teeth, and his eyes…his eyes looked like he wanted to devour her.

She couldn’t see his free hand, but from the positioning of his arm it appeared it was dipped beneath his pants, leaving it up to her to imagine what he was grasping.

She shivered as heat pooled at her core. She had been able to ignore it while responding to calls, even pushing it aside, attributing her discomfort to hunger and shoving a granola bar in her mouth. But now the feeling came rushing back, her nipples tightening beneath layers of clothing, her breath hitching at the obvious implication in the photo.

She was left wanting.

So this was payback.

Lucy immediately tapped his contact, pressing the call button and bringing the phone to her ear, not wanting the shop cams to pick up whatever he decided to say on the other end of the line.

It rang.

And rang.

And rang.

Lucy pulled the phone away from her ear, shock settling in her gut when the voice mailbox picked up.

“Is he serious?” she said hotly to no one, preparing to dial again when her phone chimed with another message from Tim and she tapped it in annoyance.

Her strangled whine got caught in her throat and she involuntarily squirmed in her seat.

Tim had lost the sweatpants in this photo, or at least it appeared he had. He’d zoomed out a little, the camera just catching the soft brown curls at his groin. This time, she could see his muscles flexing in his forearm and this time she knew what he was grasping.

As she tugged at the neck of her uniform, another text popped up.

Tim: It’s lonely here without you.

She glares at his message and shifts again in her seat as she types out her reply.

Lucy: Not funny, Tim.

Three dots popped up almost instantly.

Tim: I’m not joking, Lucy.

A voice note suddenly came through. Lucy’s thumb hovered over it, uncertain if she wanted to tempt herself even further. Curiosity won out and she tapped it, immediately bringing the device to her ear when she heard Tim’s deep groan and the repeated, unmistakably wet, squelching sound of his hand jerking his dick.

Lucy felt a rush of moisture between her legs and bit back her own moan as she pictured exactly what he was doing to himself at that moment.

“It’s not the same without you here,” he said his voice low.

Fucking nightshift.

“I even lit some of the five million candles you have around here, just to make it feel like you were home.”

Lucy glared at the phone and Tim’s picture, “I do not have five million candles.”

“But you were right,” he groaned, and Lucy imagined his slow strokes, his fingers running over the head of his cock before gliding down to the base. “It’s not the same without your voice. And it’s really not the same without your hot…wet…”

He cut himself off with a breathless grunt and the voice note ended. Lucy practically growled at the phone, her hand itching to undo her duty belt and stick her hand down her pants to do something that was certain to get her fired.

She tapped call again, jaw tight, frustration coursing through her veins. This time he declined her call.

Another text came through.

Tim: Payback baby.

Her eyes narrowed at the obvious taunt, and she shifted in her seat, fingers tapping against the steering wheel. Of course he chose now to get her back for the morning. Blowing out a sharp breath, she checked the time in the upper corner of her phone. Nearly half the shift gone and they were heading into the dull stretch of the night. And she hadn’t taken a break yet.

Their place was only fifteen minutes away, close enough that she could probably make it there in 12 and call in for a meal break. She looked out at the quiet street outside, the radio crackling lowly in the background as other officers checked in.

She glanced down at her and Tim’s message exchange again, his words and photo mocking her.

A split second later she’d made her decision, putting the car in gear and peeling off a little forcefully in the direction of her house.

There was a soft glow illuminating the windows when Lucy pulled up, picking up the radio to call in to dispatch for a meal break.

The clock had officially started. Thirty minutes and counting.

She switched off the engine and wasted no time stepping out and securing the vehicle. The night hair was cool against her already heated skin. Her senses were buzzing, nerves tingling with anticipation as she thought about what would be awaiting her on the other side of the door.

There was no way he hadn’t been tracking calls and timing his messages just right. Designing the precise pattern to entice her to do exactly what she was doing right now.

Her bodycam had already been switched off, and she unclasped her duty belt as she unlocked the front door.  

Tim had switched on a table lamp in the foyer, and the lights were dimmed in the kitchen, bathing the two areas in soft light that made everything feel intimate. She set her duty belt on the console table, bracing her hand against the surface to toe off her boots.

She pulled off her socks and stuffed them into her boots before unfastening her uniform pants and peeling them off, leaving them on the bench near the door.

Unbuttoning her shirt, she let it slide down her arms and then took off the white shirt and sports bra that was beneath it, leaving her clad only in her underwear. She bent down, picking up her uniform shirt again and slipped it back over her shoulders, the material rough against her pebbled nipples. Finally, she pulled the pins and tie out of her bun, shaking out the waves and letting it cascade over her shoulders.

She checked her watch again. Twenty-six minutes to go.

Taking a last look in the mirror, she smirked. Tim might know she was coming. But he didn’t know he was getting this.

Snatching her duty belt up she headed towards the back of the house to the bedroom. When she reached the door, she fluffed her hair one last time before opening it.

“Took you long enou—” the words died on Tim’s lips when he saw her standing in the doorway, looking like every damn fantasy he’d ever had of her in uniform since he finally admitted that she was objectively attractive.

“Is this what you were expecting?” she purred, sauntering into the room, breasts swaying beneath the sides of her shirt. She set her duty belt on the dresser and dragged her eyes over Tim who was lounging naked on their bed, the glow of the candlelight making him look mouthwateringly hot. His cock twitched as his eyes raked over her.

“It’s a whole hell of a lot more than I was expecting,” he grunted taking himself in hand, and stroking his cock just as she imagined in those pictures and voice notes. “You look like a goddamn fantasy.”

She checked her watch again. Twenty-three minutes.

“I wish I could say I had more time. But I only have twenty-three minutes until I need to be back in the shop. So…sit on the bench,” she instructed him still standing near the dresser.

Tim raised a challenging brow, “Do you really think you’re the one who should be giving orders here?”

Lucy smirked, tapping a finger against her hip, “I think if you were going to get off by yourself you would’ve done it already instead of fucking around on the phone. Face it, you need me just as much as I need you. Now,” she pulled her handcuffs from her duty belt. “Sit on the bench and put your hands behind your back.”

For a moment it looked like he was going to fight her on it, but she lifted her wrist and tapped her watch and he immediately scooted to the end of the bed, his cock bobbing as he settled onto the bench in front of Lucy.

He tucked his hands obediently behind his back and she lifted herself onto the bench, straddling his thighs. Reaching behind him, Lucy flicked the cuffs open securing each around his wrists.

“That’s better,” she murmured, sliding her hands around to his front. His lap was already slick with her arousal, and she wiggled around to seat herself more comfortably, trapping his dick between them.

“Shit, Luce,” Tim grunted, already pulling at his restraints, despite knowing that they wouldn’t release. These were standard issue. “You’re taking your sweet ass time for someone on a time crunch.”

She glared at him, checking her watch again and cursed inwardly. Nineteen minutes. She hadn’t thought this all the way through. Everything went out the window when it came to him.  

“You know,” she started raising up to hover over his lap and reaching down to grasp his cock, reveling in his hiss. “I could just take what I want and leave you here.”

Lucy rubbed his head against her entrance slicking him and their breath hitched in unison, dissolving into groans of relief as she finally sank her tight, wet heat down onto his length.

“Fuck,” he grunted as she began to move. Without his hands to join on the fun, she was in full control of getting them both off so her movements were less of a bounce and more of an intentional grind, her hips rolling in his lap, scraping her clit against his pelvis.

She clutched at Tim’s head, raking her fingers through his hair, pushing him towards her chest. “Suck me,” she instructed, and Tim immediately obliged, nudging her uniform shirt aside and pulling one of her achingly tight, dusky brown nipples between his lips and rolling.

“Ah! Oh god,” Lucy gasped, her hips grinding faster, squeezing around his cock, as his teeth grazed her pebbled bud. “Shit, Tim you feel so fucking good.”

“That’s it, Luce,” he murmured as he dragged his tongue across her chest to her other nipple and repeating his actions, “Take what you need, baby. You got me right there with you.”

Grabbing a fistful of his hair she yanked his head back, bringing her mouth down onto his in a fierce kiss. Tim moaned into her mouth, sucking at her tongue when she licked into his before diving back in for more. Their tongues dueled and he tried desperately to fuck up into her. He pressed his bound hands against the edge of the bed, the bench thumping with the force of his movements and the cuffs clanging as he tried to get leverage.  His arms hurt, but it was worth it to feel Lucy beginning to flutter around him.  

Tim hissed when the hand in his hair twisted and tugged to the point of pain that shot pleasure right through him and mingled with Lucy’s soft cries as she loomed closer to the edge.

Lucy ripped her lips away from his, her mouth falling open and her head dropping back to expose the long lines of her neck as she moved wildly above him. Tim swooped down with bravado, latching his mouth to her jugular and nipping.

Her response was as beautiful as it was instant, and Lucy’s body quaked, shouting Tim’s name and clutching his head to her as she continued to rock jerkily in his lap, flooding his cock and lap with her juices.

A rumble rose up in Tim’s chest as he watched her, letting her use him and use him until her tremors began to subside.

His cock was hard as steel, begging for release as her pussy began to calm around him. Tim leaned in, flexing his cock inside her, sending a shiver up her spine, “Hold onto me,” he growled.

Lucy’s arms immediately tightened around his neck, her breasts crushed against his chest as Tim planted his feet firmly on the floor and pressed his restrained hands more firmly against the bed, completely ignoring the strain he was putting on his arms.  He snapped his hips up off the bench, and Lucy shrieked at the feeling of him driving deeper.

It didn’t take long, only a few more sharp thrusts and he was spurting his hot cum inside of her, with deep, guttural moans. His body shuddered and spasmed until his balls were empty and he finally dropped ungracefully back onto the bench, Lucy falling forward to slump against his chest.

They wanted to stay there as long as they could, but duty was unfortunately calling.

With a sigh Lucy dug into her uniform shirt pocket and grabbed the key to the cuffs, reaching blindly behind Tim to find the lock.

“Were the cuffs really necessary?” Tim grumbled against her chest, pressing a kiss against it as he waited to be released. Her body shook as she chuckled.

“When you get handsy, I get distracted,” she said and with a flick, he was finally free. Tim slowly brought his arms around letting the blood flow regulate and trying to avoid any prolonged pins and needles.

“So what you’re saying is…I’m irresistible,” He slid his hands around her waist, watching as she shot him a look and then lifted her wrist to check the time.

“Shit, four minutes!” she hopped off his lap, wincing as their combined juices spilled out leaving a wet messy trail from Tim’s lap to the floor, “And I’m filthy.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he said cockily and she glared at him.

“I need you to help clean me up while I get back into my shirt properly,” she instructed him.

“Yes, ma’am,” he saluted her, rising from his seat and heading to the bathroom to get a warm washcloth while Lucy scurried out to the foyer to grab her discarded shirt and pants.

After Lucy was two minutes late to check back in with dispatch and recalling Tim’s tardiness after his impromptu detour earlier that day, reality set in hard. With the sergeant exam results looming, neither could afford even the hint of a reprimand. They both agreed that the game of taunting texts needed to cool down.

So naturally that meant Tim left Miles at Delancey’s for lunch for another two afternoons and sped home to help Lucy get to sleep.

He did, however, order a sound machine the morning after their nightshift tryst which Lucy discovered on her nightstand with a sticky note from Tim reading: I thought this might help you stay to sleep. Not me, but still a distraction. Plus, we can save it for the future😊. Love you.

He switched on the machine before leaving the house to go pick up Penn and Lucy found herself sleeping soundly through the rest of the day.

Tim channeled his remaining restless energy into training Penn, intensifying the Tim tests over the next two days. Luckily, the calls they caught created an opportunity for a teachable moment in real time. It was one of the things Tim loved so much about LA, even after years on the force…there was never a dull moment.

His and Lucy’s days off synced up when her nightshift purgatory ended, and Lucy spent the first day trying to correct her sleep pattern so they could get back into their normal rhythm. Tim kept her up as long as he could, even going so far as to delay any sexual gratification for later in the day because he knew the second she came, she’d be asleep. Instead, they walked Kojo, had lunch with the Grahams and went for a swim before succumbing to the call of their bedroom.

The second day was filled with nervous energy because looming on the other side of their day off were the results of the Sergeants exam. They spent the day trying to drive themselves to distraction, with sporadic success.

By the time they were back at work, Lucy was spiraling. The results of the exam feeling like a final hurdle to having everything she’d ever wanted. To finally be able to plan the next course of life together with Tim. The not-knowing was driving her crazy.

Riding with Celina actually offered a bit of a reprieve because being with Tim always reminded her that Tim was a Sergeant, which in turn reminded her of the Sergeants exam, sending her into an entirely new spiral.

The two stopped at the coffee cart, needing a little boost to get them through the day. Lucy ordered her usual Chai Tea Latte with oat milk, also grabbing a chocolate croissant, while Celina opted for a cinnamon hazelnut coffee.

“When do they post the results from the sergeant exam?” Celina asked, taking her cup from the side of the cart, and falling into step with Lucy who was fidgeting with the top of hers.

Lucy cursed inwardly, wishing her friend had better cop eyes when it came to her nervous energy.

“Today, supposedly. So my anxiety is at about a 12 right now,” Lucy rambled, “So thank you, for reminding me that my fate will be decided in a matter of hours. Every time I think about it, I feel sick.” She stared at her chocolate croissant, grieving the planned enjoyment that was now ruined.

Celina grimaced, looking apologetic, “Sorry, I should’ve realized that question might make you freak out a little.”

“Yeah, Tim’s been trying to distract me all weekend,” she said, taking a sip of her tea.

“I bet he has,” Celina grinned, and Lucy blushed, realizing how it sounded.

“Shut up,” she nudged her with her elbow, “Not everything is about sex.”

“If Alison were here, she would say, ‘I beg to differ,’ Celina shot back wryly, “And I’d have to agree with her.”

“So sue me, I’m hot for my husband.  And he’s just as hot for me,” Lucy shrugged, wanting to steer the subject far away from her sex life and the Sergeant’s exam.

She’d noticed Celina had seemed preoccupied that morning and guessed that her jumping on the Sergeant’s exam question was her own way of avoiding something.  

“What’s going on with you? You seem like you’ve got something on your mind.”

Celina glanced at Lucy and looked like she was going to reply, but then decided against it, looking away with a sigh.

“It's not that important,” Celina shook her head, taking a sip of her coffee, “No, nothing. I—"

“Celina I desperately need to talk about something other then my impending fate, so just tell me.” Lucy probed.

“I need help. I—” she paused, searching for the right words, eyes darting back over to Lucy who raised her brows, urging her to share. “Have you gotten a gift for Alison’s birthday yet?”

“Well…yeah,” Lucy replied as they approached their shop, and they both got in before continuing the conversation. Placing their drinks in the cup holders, Lucy started the engine as Celina booted up the computer, checking in with dispatch. “We got her a gift certificate to a spa for a massage and facial, and a pair of Rams tickets.”

“See!” Celina gestured towards her, “Now those are perfect gifts! Why didn’t I think of something like that!”

“Maybe because you guys are dating?” Lucy shrugged, “And you wanted something a bit more personal?”

“We aren’t dating,” Celina corrected her firmly.

“Girl, you are talking to the person who dated her now husband for essentially an entire year before we started sleeping together and still denying that we had feelings for each other.”

“We both agreed that this was casual.”

Lucy cocked an eyebrow at her, not buying it at all, “You two haven’t slept with anyone else. You attend all gatherings together. You coordinate when you sleep at each other’s places. And you’re stressing about getting a gift for her because you actually already know what you want to get, but it’s meaningful and you don’t think she feels the same way.”

Celina’s silence told Lucy she had hit the nail on the head. The radio crackled in the background and the younger officer eyed it, desperately hoping for a call to come in so she didn’t have to face her own reality. Lucy watching her with a knowing glint in her eye, happy that she no longer was the butt of this joke but realizing how idiotic she and Tim had been.

“Listen,” Lucy put a comforting hand on her forearm, “Ali and I haven’t talked about your relationship that much. She prefers to deflect and focus on mine—”

“If that ain’t the truth,” Celina snorted.

“But what I do know is that her relationships—if you want to call it that—typically don’t last long. But you two…I mean she transferred here.”

Celina gestured towards Lucy, “For you! You’re her best friend.”

“She didn’t transfer for me. She transferred because she had finally found a group of people who she could be herself with and you are a big part of that. Maybe you should think about why. And then talk to her. She’s not gonna do it. Stuff like this scares the hell out of Ali. It’s going to be up to you to make the first move on the emotions stuff and give her the safe space to be vulnerable.”

Lucy watched as Celina fell back against her seat, clearly stumped. Fortunately, the radio came to life at that moment, dispatch alerting them to a 211 at a nearby convenience store. Celina grabbed the speaker before Lucy could make a move, immediately attaching them to the call and flicking the lights.

“By the way…thanks for the distraction,” Lucy grinned as she accelerated.

Tim found Lucy pacing in the bullpen at the end of shift, anxiously checking her watch and then wringing her hands, glancing around the open space.

“Hey, you do know checking the time isn't gonna get that list posted any faster,” he said walking over to her and halting pacing.

Lucy sucked her teeth, throwing her hands up. She had waited all day, expecting that the list would be posted by midshaft, when Grey told her they’d been delayed, and the results probably wouldn’t be released until the end of the day.

It had made her shift even more unbearable, and she ended up attaching them to any and every call, all of which ended up being a complete waste of their time. False alarms, a disturbance at one of the local senior centers over a game of rummy, an altercation between a mime and some guy who got mad when he wouldn’t speak.

Now she just felt sick. Her anxiety was rolling around in her gut like a wave and it was taking everything in her not to run to the bathroom and release the contents of her stomach into the toilet. Pacing seemed to help. So, she paced.

“Ugh, what is taking so long?” she threw her hands up, “I mean, Grey should have posted the list like-- like, minutes ago.”

“OK, you know this,” he reassured her, placing his hands on her shoulders, “but it's gonna be okay, no matter what that piece of paper says.”

Lucy placed her hands over his and shook her head, “Yeah, I really can't handle that kind of blind optimism from you right now. And I’m about two minutes away from barfing. So…distract me.”

Tim raised a bow in question, rubbing his thumbs in what he hoped were comforting circles on her arms.

“Not like that,” she hissed, glancing around the nearly empty bull pen. “Just…I need to talk about something. Anything.”

“Uhh…well…” Tim looked around wide-eyed, wracking his brain for a topic to discuss.

“Oh!” Lucy exclaimed before he could say anything, “It looks like Celina is finally realizing that what she and Alison have going on is way more than casual.”

Tim snorted, “Took ‘em long enough.”

Lucy gave him a look, “Like we were any better. At least neither of us needed to be convinced tha—“

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Grey approaching and her nerves immediately spiked again.

“Oh my god, hiiii,” she rambled watching him stick a piece of paper on the glass of the roll call room window.

Grey turned around and held up his hands placatingly. “Breathe, Chen.”

Lucy automatically blew out a breath, winging her hands anxiously, her eyes darting between Tim and their boss.

“Yes, sorry. Oh, my God,” she turned her back on the results and Tim frowned, gesturing towards the wall wondering why she wasn’t moving.  

Lucy shook her head, “I-I don't think I can look.”

A small, sympathetic smile tugged at Tim’s lips, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and press a reassuring kiss to her head but it was not the time nor the place.

“Do you want me to look for you?” He said instead.

A war of emotions passed across Lucy’s face. Relief, hesitation, uncertainty, resolve. And her words reflected the path.

“Yes.” He began to move around her when her hands flung out against his chest and stopped him. “Wait, no!”

Tim gave her a little exasperated look but waited and Lucy changed her mind dropping her hands.  “Yeah. Yes, please. Thank you.”

Sighing, Tim brushed past her heading straight for the paper that hung ominously on the glass. He took a step towards it and then another, coming to a stop as he stared at the results.

“Lucy,” he turned back towards her.

She raised her eyes anxiously, “Yeah?”

He pointed at the paper, “Look.”

Her hand nervously picked at her side, as she stepped forward and Tim moved out of the way to let her have her moment.

1. Chen, Lucy

Tears sprang to her eyes as she realized that not only had she passed, but she’d come in first place. She felt Tim’s hand slide around her waist and reached down to old it in place.

“Typical A student,” he said brushing a kiss against her hair, not caring who saw them at this point. His wife had just killed it on the Sergeant exam. “Nervous you're gonna fail, even when you're top of the class.”

“I did it,” she whispered wetly, squeezing his hand.

“Of course, you did it,” he said confidently, and she rolled her glassy eyes up at him.

Lieutenant Grey stepped up towards them, “Congratulations, Chen. You'll be able to use those new credentials right away.”

Lucy blinked, exchanging a surprised glance with Tim, she had been fully prepared to wait months for a position. That actually had been the plan. “What? A Sergeant position is open here?”

Grey nodded, “On the night shift.”

Her stomach dropped. After four days experiencing nightshifts, it was not something she was interested in pursuing, nor did it fit any of their plans personally. Of all the things that could have possibly happened after getting her results, being offered nightshift Sergeant somehow never even crossed her mind.

Lucy sucked in a breath, flicking her eyes to Tim who was already looking back at her with a question in his eyes. She nodded, nearly imperceptibly and after a beat, turned to face Grey.

“Sir…” she worried her lip between her teeth, squeezing Tim’s hand that still rested on her hip. “Before I give you my answer…can we…speak to you in your office actually?”

Their boss’ eyes flicked curiously between the two, but he slowly nodded, “Yes, of course.”

The couple followed him across the bullpen and into his office, Tim shutting the door behind them. Grey rounded his desk, but didn’t make any moves to sit down, merely crossed his arms and waited expectantly.

Lucy took a deep breath, grabbing her courage from Tim’s steady presence at her side.

“Sir…I’ve had the nightshift recently and…it was…brutal for lack of a better word.”

“I’m aware of the frustrations of being on nightshift, Chen,” Grey replied, unimpressed, “But this is the only position open.”

“I know that,” Lucy rushed to explain, “I know. But…I just…I don’t think the nightshift position would be the right decision for me—us—right now. I’d remain in my current position until a dayshift position opens up.”

The Lieutenant leveled them with a curious look, arms still crossed, “Look, if you’re serious about becoming a Sergeant—”

“I am, Sir,” she said firmly, and Grey’s brow furrowed.

“Well then forgive me if I’m a little confused…” Lucy wasn’t surprised by his confusion. First, she was on the track for detective, going so far as completing the undercover academy only to come back and decide that she didn’t want to go the detective route. And now, she found the path to Sergeant and aced the test but wanted to wait. It almost seemed like she was afraid of taking the next step. But that wasn’t it in the slightest.

“Sir…” she started, looking over at Tim. His eyes met hers and he stepped closer when she gave him a nod, threading his fingers through hers.

“We wanted to wait to tell you with everyone else this weekend, but…”

“We’re going to have a baby.” Lucy finished for him.

Chapter Text

“Babe, are you almost ready? I’ve got most of everything laid out and they’re gonna be here any minute,” Tim said as he walked into their ensuite finding Lucy putting the finishing touches on her makeup. They were fortunate that she’d only dealt with nausea during her first trimester, and it never graduated to full blown morning sickness. But what didn’t dissipate at all was her sex drivee. So, when she should have been preparing for their guests to arrive, they were romping against the dresser, fresh from a hot shower where Tim had thrown a leg over his shoulder and eaten her out within an inch of her damn life.

“Yeah, I’ll be out in two seconds I promise!” she reassured him, swiping on a bit of gloss and rubbing her lips together. Tim splayed a hand across her stomach and planted a light kiss against her neck. Lucy’s eyes lit up, a radiant smile on her face.

“Careful, babe…you know I’m easy,” she quipped.

Tim snorted, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

The doorbell rang before Lucy could think of a clever response and Tim squeezed her hip, dropping another kiss on her neck.

“I’ll get the door and see you out there in a minute.” Lucy placed her hand over his and squeezed gently in gratitude before releasing him to go answer the door.

They were hosting the family gathering yet again, having decided it was perfect timing for them to announce the pregnancy to everyone.

Grey had nearly cried after they broke the news to him the week prior.  Lucy had gotten the results of the Sergeants exam and then automatically declined the offer of night shift sergeant, rendering him nearly speechless when she finally gave the reasoning. It took a lot to get Lieutenant Grey to that level of emotion, but then Lucy added that their baby was going to be lucky to have “Papa Grey” in their lives and they’d watched his eyes quickly well with tears. He’d ducked his head, and they heard a sniffle that he tried to play off, but there was no hiding the subtle swipe beneath his eye.

Lucy could tell he was itching to hug them, but the gesture behind those glass walls would have given everything away immediately. Instead, he’d congratulated them and agreed to keep quiet until they could break the news to everyone else.

The one thing they both agreed upon was that they wouldn’t do what they did when they first got together and then eloped, which is why they were announcing the pregnancy to everyone today. Besides, it wasn’t like she was going to be able to hide it much longer.

But there were a few people they needed to tell before they told everyone.

Tim opened their front door to find Angela, Genny and the boys and Alison waiting for him, arms filled with wine and desserts.  

“You took your sweet time, big bro,” Genny raised an eyebrow shoving the platter in his arms and crossing the threshold, the others following her.

Angela snorted, “Are you surprised?”

“Yeah,” Alison added, “They were probably…” she trailed off, clamping her mouth shut when Tim glared at her, looking at his nephews pointedly, “Ooo little ears.”

“Hey!” Tyler crossed his arms indignantly, “I’m not little, I’m in middle school!”

“I know, squirt,” Alison told him, cupping her hand around the side of her mouth to whisper to him conspiratorially, “But I’ll get in trouble with all the grown ups.”

“You are literally a menace,” Tim rolled his eyes, just as Lucy was glided down the hallway, in her yellow, boho jumpsuit with white floral pattern. It had a deep v-neckline that was cinched together with a tie, that hung down over her stomach, hiding the tiniest bump there that would only be noticeable if she pulled the jumpsuit tight around her midriff. Her hair fell in beachy waves around her face and she carried a radiant glow that was accentuated by her natural make up and gold jewelry. She looked gorgeous and Tim always found himself doing a double take when he saw her.

“Hey boys!” she greeted her nephews first, giving them both warm hugs, “The PS5 and the Switch are all ready for you, take your pick! We’ll call you when it’s time to come help with food.”

“Yeah!’ They cheered, making a beeline for their bonus room, calling out behind them, “Thanks Aunt Lucy!”

The adults watched them race down the hall before turning back to each other. Tim had already moved towards the bar, grabbing the ingredients for everyone’s go-to drinks.  An old-fashioned for Angela, vodka-soda with practically a whole sliced lime for Ali, an iced tea for Genny and grapefruit juice, seltzer and a twist of lime for Lucy to make it appear as if she was having a cocktail, and finally an iced tea for Tim--he’d save his splash of rum for later.

The ladies began to catch up as he mixed, Lucy setting them each up with a task to help them prepare for the arrival of the others. It was their excuse to get the three women to show up early. The couple rarely asked for help in preparation for their gatherings, except for those times when they cut shopping too close and didn’t have enough time to complete the preparations beforehand. This time, they’d completed their grocery order and farmers market run well ahead of time but left some of the side dishes unassembled just to give the trio something to do. Grey would be on the grill later as he always was.

Right now, Genny was slicing vegetables for the roasted vegetable orzo salad, Ali was shoving marinated shrimp onto a skewer to prepare for the grill, and Angela was halving some peaches to place on the grill for one of their many desserts.

“I gotta say, I’m surprised you guys needed this much help,” Genny commented, tugging out the core and seeds of a red bell pepper and dumping it in the scrap bucket Lucy placed on the counter next to them.

“You shouldn’t be,” Angela scoffed, rubbing her nose with her forearm to avoid getting any peach juices on her face. “You know they were rolling around in bed and lost all track of time. Also, you seriously gave me peaches to cut? Are you kidding? You know I can’t look at a peach since you practically tongue fucked it in the middle of the food truck courtyard during that weird bet.”

 “Angela!”

“Why are you lookin’ a me like I’m crazy!” his best friend gestured at him with the knife, “You were the idiot who decided to make that weird bet that had you both acting like degenerates.”

“Ew,” Genny wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I swear I love being friends with you guys, but I’ve learned more about my brother’s bedroom habits as an adult than I did when he was in high school and had that huge poster of Tiffani Amber Theissen.”

“Genny!” Tim practically yelled, shoving her iced tea in her face and lifting the tray of veggies from in front of her so he could begin seasoning them for the oven, “For the love of god, stop!”  Lucy and Angela were hollering in laughter.

“No shit?” Ali leaned forward in interest before anyone else could change the subject, “You had a thing for Kelly Kapowski? She was smokin’ hot. Short brunette with a great rack.” She eyed Lucy up and down, “I see you have a type.”

Tim shoved her drink in her face next, “Drink,” he growled, then turned to his wife, “Seriously, of all the people at UC school, why did you have to pick her again? I’m seriously trying to figure out how I can return these other two.”

“You know you love us, Timothy,” Angela winked and he scowled at her.

“Anyway, Genny,” Alison interjected, changing the topic, “how are things going with Noah? I hadn’t heard anything after I introduced guys.”

 “Hold on, you were serious about that?” Tim’s mouth fell open recalling the exchange Genny and Alison had back at Nolan’s wedding.

“Of course I was serious, Sarge,” Alison shot back, “I’m always serious when it comes to helping people get laid.”

Tim wrinkled his nose, hearing Lucy giggle next to him, “Gross Ponds, that’s my sister.”

“Hey!” Genny reached over and wacked him on the arm with the back of her hand. Tim flinched, mouthing an ‘ow’ and rubbing his arm at the light sting. “The amount of times I’ve had to listen to stories of your escapades? I’m lucky my ears haven’t started bleeding. So…deal with it.”

“Besides,” Angela chimed in wryly, “You’re one of the girls, remember? You gotta deal with the hot gossip.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” he practically whined, “I’m not one of the girls,” he scoffed.

“You are,” they chorused, and Tim huffed, turning his attention to chopping veggies for the salad.

“Now, spill it, Ginger, are you two still seeing each other?” Alison waggled her eyebrows, placing the last shrimp skewer on the platter and heading to the sink to wash her hands.

“I mean,” Genny shrugged, “There’s not much to tell. He’s hot…and fun. It’s perfect for me right now actually. He hasn’t met the kids—”

“Thank god for that,” Tim muttered, placing a watermelon on the cutting board and Genny glared at him, but pressed on as if he hadn’t spoken.

“And his job keeps him pretty busy. So we’re keeping things casual.”

Lucy huffed out a laugh, running her knife through juicy heirloom tomatoes and laying them out on serving platter. “Ali knows all about casual, don’t you?”

It was the moment of hesitation that made Lucy look up, seeing Alison worry her lip in a way she’d never seen before. It was almost as if she were…nervous? It was an expression that was foreign to all of them, including Alison herself. And that was when it dawned on her.

“Ali! Did you and Celina make things official?!” Lucy gasped and Angela fumbled the peach she was cutting almost slicing her whole finger.

“Are you shitting me? The queen of no strings is settling down?!”

Alison face held a tinge of red and she tried to hide her bashful smile by taking a sip of her drink.

“Nuhuh, Alison Ponds, you better spill,” Lucy pointed at her expectantly.

“Fine! Yes, Cellina and I talked a couple weeks ago and…made things…official,” Alison was clearly embarrassed, and out of her comfort zone, but laughed and accepted the congratulations, nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Lucy checked the time on the stove, realizing that they needed to get a move on before the others arrived.

She nudged Tim gently, raising her eyebrows and nodding that she was ready. Tim cleared his throat suddenly, making the trio look up, as Lucy began speaking.

“Umm…There was actually another reason we needed you guys to come over today…” she started trailing off for a moment while she made certain that they had their undivided attention.

“Well…” Tim interjected, sliding his arm around Lucy’s waits, spreading his hand wide over her stomach, Lucy’s hand covering his, “We wanted you to be the first to know….”

Tim and Lucy watched as realization began dawning in at different moments, but mere seconds apart. Their eyes lit up, but no one said anything, not daring to hope…

“We’re having a baby,” Lucy announced, and the reaction was instant. Screams erupted from their best friends and sister, all of whom jumped up from their seats, practically running around the island to engulf them in a hug. They looked like a giant human ornament as the five of them stood wrapped up amongst each other, Tim’s head sticking far out above them and the four women jumping up and down in excitement.

“Oh my god! Congratulations! This is so exciting!” Genny squealed, as they pulled away, “I’m finally going to be an aunt!”

“When did you find out? How did you find out? Did you know?” Angela fired question after question at them.

“How far along are you?” Ali tacked on before they could even respond. “Do you have names picked out?”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Tim held up his hands to stop the onslaught, “Okay we were hoping to wait until everyone got here to give you the full backstory, just because it’s kind of a long one.”  He turned to Lucy, tilting his head to signal it was up to her how much they shared now.

“I’m thirteen weeks today,” she said, splaying a hand across her belly, “And we have a couple of names that we picked out a long time ago, but we aren’t telling anyone until the baby is born.”

“You guys,” Genny whispered reverently, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as she her mind flashed through their lives like a flip book, reminding her just how important this moment was for Tim. “Timmy, you’re gonna be a Daddy.”

The other three women all found themselves blinking back tears as Tim’s own eyes grew red-rimmed and glassy at Genny’s words, laced with so much emotion.

“Yeah,” he huffed out a little laugh, trying desperately to keep it together, “Yeah I guess I am.”

Lucy slid and arm around his waist, beaming up at him and placing a hand against his abs. “You’re going to be the best Daddy.”

Tim looked down at her with a smile, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing his lips to her hairline. “And you’re going to be the best Mommy.”

“Oh god, my face you guys,” Alison interrupted the beautiful moment with a sob, fanning her face with her hand, “My eyes! My face does not do this! I can’t handle all this sweetness! Ugh and ew my hands are all shrimpy!”

Everyone burst out laughing as Alison hopped off her stool and went to rinse her hands at the sink.

“You know Mami is going to be pissed at you for not telling her first,” Angela pointed out grabbing a paper towel to wipe her eyes, her voice still wet from her tears. Tim groaned at the realization.

“Not to mention Mrs. Graham,” Alison added. “Oh and what about Tamara—never mind, I see why ya’ll eloped.”

Tim and Lucy just shook their heads while Angela laughed. To Tim and Lucy it just felt right to tell them first. Plus, Tamara couldn’t make it until later, it ended up working out. As long as no one found out much farther down the road, they’d be happy.

“Alright,” Lucy clapped her hands and shooed them a bit, “We did get you guys to come over early for the news, but we also actually did need your help with prep, so hop back to it! People will be here any minute.”

There was a thread of excitement in the house after that, a giddiness that they couldn’t hide even if they tried. The four women flung question after question at them as the finished the preparations on the food.

Had she had any morning sickness? Not really, just nausea. Angela and Genny had scowled at that.

Any fatigue? A bit more than usual, but nothing that was unmanageable so far.

How about sex? Alison had obviously asked that question and their silence sent her off hollering. Lucy wacked her with a spatula.

The group quickly assembled the side dishes, accompanied by joyful laughter as they carried the platters in and out of the backyard. Outside, Tim pulled the marinating meat out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature before grilling.

Their family soon began to trickle in and in no time the backyard was buzzing with warmth and laughter. The kids were running around, playing with the toys Tim and Lucy always made sure to set out, while the various seating areas filled as quickly as the drinks flowed. The monthly gatherings were always lively, because it gave a chance for people to connect that didn’t get to see each other often.

Miles, Tim’s rookie, had also been invited. He entered the yard with a touch of nervousness, looking a bit like a fish out of water at his T.O.’s house. Grey spotted him right away and called him over to the grill, citing their ongoing debate about who was a better griller. It immediately put the young man at ease, and he’d let out a visible sigh of relief as he headed towards their Lieutenant, but not before Tim shoved a beer in his hand.

“Here you go boot,” he said gruffly.

“Uhh…” Miles replied, still unsure whether to relax, “Thank you, sir.”

Tim nodded before pivoting to head back inside where Lucy was putting the finishing touches on the pasta salad.

“Did Tamara say when she’d be here?” he asked, taking the tray of roasted vegetables from her and scraping them into the warm orzo.

“She just texted me that she was on her way,” Lucy replied, opening the refrigerator to grab the feta cheese. “As soon as she gets here you can go get things ready.”

“Did you see Grey? I’m pretty sure he’s giddy,” Tim said, holding the spatula at the ready while Lucy crumbled the cheese over the pasta and veggie mixture.

Lucy let out a little laugh, “Luna told me they’ve already picked out their grandparent names, Papa and Lulu. He’s even going to have shirts made.”

Tim snorted as he stirred, “This is wild. It’s not like this is the first baby in our group.”

“Yeah,” she said smiling, “but babe, remember we’re all a lot closer now than we were then, and we’ve been through a lot since Emmy. Not to mention how invested everyone else seemed to be in our relationship.”

“Seemed?” he echoed dryly, “Try seems. If you recall I wanted to drop the news in the group chat and you reminded me that Angela and Celina would likely curse me if we tried that,” Tim shivered at the thought and Lucy laughed again, snatching the spatula from him to give the orzo one last stir, before covering it with plastic wrap.

“Hey!” Tamara’s voice rang through the house as she walked through the front door and Lucy and Tim exchanged a look.

“Well,” Lucy said, “I guess it’s about to be showtime.”

Kojo was a frenzy of motion the instant Tim finally let him outside. His tongue lolled out, his ears flapping wildly as he tore across the yard, a streak of brown and white and nothing but energy as he made a beeline for the kids playing in the grass. Tim and Lucy decided that he would be the messenger that day, but he zipped by so fast that the words on the little T-shirt he wore were a mere blur.

The kids squealed in delight, their laughter and high-pitched shouts of “Kojo!” echoing across the yard. Each call of his name only spurred him on, sending him racing around them in excited circles, the little nub at his butt wagging furiously.

The adults laughed from their spots around the yard, while Tim stood by to make sure Kojo didn’t end up taking one of the kids down with his energy.

After a few minutes, the whirlwind began to calm. As usual, once he burned through his zoomies with the kids, he’d play more calmly, letting them manhandle him in whatever activity they had going on, until ultimately, he tired from excitement and either found a spot to relax in the yard, or wandered back inside to curl up in his bed and recover.

“Kids and dogs,” Nolan said with a shake of his head, watching the chaos unfold on the grass, “If they ever figure out how to bottle their energy, I’d like a double dose.”

“Babe, I don’t think the world is ready for John Nolan, energizer bunny,” Bailey quipped, from her perch next to him on the arm of the outdoor sofa, her tone teasing as she rubbed his shoulder with the hand draped around him

“My knees creak just watching them all bounce around,” Mr. Graham added with a groan, rubbing his palms over the joints, “Oh, to be young again.”

“I don’t know what you mean, Teddy,” Mrs. Graham gave his hand a light pat, “I don’t feel a day over fifty.”

The group laughed at their exchange just as Alison came back outside, pointing behind her at the house, “Hey, what’s that monstrosity taking over your kitchen counter and where can I get one?”

Aaron had arrived at the house with a gigantic basket of luxurious items ranging from a Dyson Supersonic Air wrap to an Augustinus Bader full-sized skincare set, and even a voucher for a high-end spa. The basket was carefully balanced on top of a box that held a Miele coffee maker with silent grinder. Lucy was practically giddy at the contents of the basket, while Tim nearly lost his mind when he realized he would be able to grind his coffee beans in peace every morning.

“Oh that?” Aaron piped up from his spot across the yard, sunglasses over his eyes, “It’s the swag from the Vanity Fair party last a couple days ago. I have most of the stuff in there already, so I figured why not give it to these two and call it an early anniversary present?”

“Are you serious?” Nyla asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How often do you attend these parties?” Bailey asked him curiously, and Aaron shrugged nonchalantly.

“I don’t know. I usually have an invitation to something at least once a week. I’m just usually working so I don’t have time to go.”

Nyla leaned forward, eyes narrowing in mock outrage, “You mean to tell me you’ve been getting all this swag for years and we’re only just now finding out? The betrayal, Thorsen. I was your training officer.”

“Well…I…” Aaron stammered, shrinking a little under her ‘Triple D’ glare.

“You know there’s only one acceptable answer, Thorsen,” Tim called over from the table where he had finally sat down, once he was reassured that Kojo had calmed and started sniffing around the yard. He was highly amused at the fact that no one had yet to catch on to Kojo’s shirt and at Aaron’s discomfort.

“I will make sure you get the next one,” Aaron said quickly, suddenly feeling like he was back in long sleeves.

“Apology accepted,” Nyla leaned back in her seat, lifting her drink in mock toast before taking a sip.

“Hey Uncle Tim!” Austin called over from across the yard, now crouched beside Kojo, and scratched behind his ears. “Are you guys getting another dog?”

Tim’s brow furrowed, though there was a glint in his eye that betrayed him as he exchanged a knowing glance with Lucy. This was it.

“No, bud,” he said, trying and failing to keep the corner of his mouth from twitching.

“Yeah, Kojo is more than enough for us,” Lucy added with a similar glint in her eye, “Why do you ask?”

Austin looked genuinely puzzled as he pointed at their dog. “Well, his shirt says, I’m going to be a big brother…”

The backyard went still for a beat. The conversation and clinking of glasses seeming to pause. Then, one by one the realization dawned as the news sunk in.

Lucy’s cheeks flushed as she beamed, her eyes bright, while Tim laced his fingers through hers beneath the table, a small, quiet confirmation of what Austin had just inadvertently revealed.

Angela, Alison and Genny all traded knowing smiles from their various places in the yard. And Grey and Luna looked so giddy it was nearly comical, both practically vibrating with excitement while watching everyone’s reactions.

Suddenly, Mama Lopez and Mrs. Graham let out simultaneous shrieks of joy, leaping up from their chairs as if the fifty-year-old knees were suddenly thirty.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Ohh you two! It’s about time!”

The rest of their family erupted into cheers and joyous laughter congratulating them with a flurry of hugs and pats on the back.

“Was this why you wanted me to come over earlier?” Tamara asked, grinning from ear to ear as she pulled Lucy into a tight hug, before turning to Tim. “This is the type of thing you force me to miss work for! When I say life or death, something like this is about life!”

Lucy laughed, her cheeks still pink and her hand still entwined with Tim’s. “Well, we figured as long as you made it over here today, we were in the clear.”

“And if you didn’t make it,” Tim added, wrapping his arm around Lucy’s shoulders, and tugging her closer, their joined hands hanging over her chest, “we’ve got a big sis mug stashed in the cabinet that we would’ve put to good use later.”

Tamara gasped in mock offense, though her eyes were a little glassy with emotion. “Well, I’m glad you had a back up plan then,” she teased, brushing at the corner of her eye. “I didn’t want to have to withhold babysitting privileges.”

“We heard you guys loud and clear after we got married,” Lucy said dryly.

“Wait, wait, hold on,” Miles chimed in from the where he was standing at the far side of the table, his grin falling into confusion, “Ya’ll are married? I thought you were only dating!”

“Dude,” Aaron said, shaking his head and clapping a hand on his shoulder, “Seriously. Never go for detective.”

“Enough of that!” Angela waved them off, with an eager grin, “My brother from another mother is about enter parenthood and we have yet to find out how you found out!”

“Seriously, guys, we’ve been dying to know!” Genny agreed, clapping her hands together. “Spill!”

Lucy’s eyes softened as she glanced up at Tim, sharing a secret smile with him as they recalled the afternoon, they discovered she was pregnant.

“Well…” Tim started, “It was actually because of pickles.”

Flashback….

“Hey babe, I have lunch ready!” Tim called from the kitchen where he had just finished plating up their burgers and fries.

It was their day off and the two had just gotten back from a hike with Kojo. They’d ordered lunch on the way home which had arrived on their doorstep while they lost themselves in each other beneath the shower stream.

When they finished, Lucy still wanted to wash her hair so Tim had left her in the steamy stall to complete the rest of her routine while he got dressed and plated their meals.

Lucy walked into the kitchen, wearing one of Tim’s old LAPD sweatshirts, and a pair of leggings, her fingers rapidly tying off the end of her wet braid.

“Ooo perfect timing, I am starving,” her eyes lit up as she sat at the counter, Tim placing her plate with a veggie burger and stack of pickles in front of her, along with a seltzer. He sat down beside her pulling over his own cheeseburger and seltzer and placed a shared bowl of fries between them.

He lifted the burger to his mouth and took a huge bite, just as Lucy picked up a pickle and popped one into her mouth.

And promptly spit it out.

She sputtered and coughed, taking a huge gulp of seltzer, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Tim looked at her in concern, immediately setting his burger down and placing a hand at her back, rubbing gently as she wheezed.

“Are you alright?” he asked worriedly. “What happened?”

“I think the pickles are bad,” she told him, making a face at the small stack.

Tim looked at the bright green pile of pickles in confusion. They looked perfectly—and disgustingly—normal to him. Reaching over, he plucked one from the pile, and brought it to his nose, took a whiff and frowned.

“It smells fine to me.”

Lucy shook her head frantically, her hand over her mouth, “No, just test it, there’s something off.”

“Lucy, you know I hate pickles,” he deadpanned.

“Well, I need some sort of control test so I know I’m right!” she picked up a pickle and dangled it in front of his face, her expression adorably pleading, “Please?”

Tim sighed and rolled his eyes, but acquiesced, unable to resist her puppy eyes. He took the small vegetable from her and grimaced as he took a bite.

“It’s gross…” he said as he chewed, looking like he wanted nothing more than to spit it out, “But it tastes fine.”

Lucy frowned and picked up another one, “Are you sure?” She popped it into her mouth.

And spit that one out too.

“See!” she sputtered, grabbing the can of seltzer. “It’s not! Maybe it’s just because you don’t normally like them, so you think it’s supposed to taste that way. But I’m telling you, something’s off.”

Tim raised his eyebrows as he watched her, a thought that was nagging at the back of his mind slowly beginning to creep its way to the front. He loathed pickles— absolutely hated them. But he knew how they were supposed to taste. And nothing was wrong with the gross little pile that sat on the side of her plate.

“Babe…” he started hesitantly, just as Lucy turned her attention to her veggie burger, picking up one of the cut quarters.

She paused with the burger halfway to her mouth, “Yeah?”

“Do you think that there might be more to this pickle thing?”

She put her burger down, “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that you keep misplacing your keys when you used to be a stickler for putting them in the key bowl and now you suddenly lost your taste for pickles. Not to mention you keep jumping me.”

“I always jump you,” she frowned.

He raised a brow at her, “In the driveway for all our neighbors to see?”

She felt like the air had been knocked out of her chest, “Are you…are you saying you think I might be pregnant?”

Tim nodded, “I definitely think it’s a possibility, don’t you? I mean...think about it.”

Lucy let everything Tim had just rattled off sink in. She had been a bit more tired lately, but had just chalked it up to things, being busy at work during the weeks following her Sergeants’ exam and the nightshift. But then adding in her forgetfulness, and the couple of days when she wanted nothing but tropical fruit…it made sense.

Her eyes lit up, and a slow smile crept over her face. “I guess I should go take one of those tests we have.”

He grinned back, “Lead the way.”

Not even four minutes later Lucy was sitting on the toilet, sticking the applicator end of the pregnancy test beneath a stream of urine, while Tim stood near the vanity, his phone at the ready, timer already primed for three minutes.

When she finished, Tim started the timer as she capped the test, wiped it off with a bit of toilet paper and placed it on the vanity to finish cleaning herself before flushing and pulling up her pants.

“I can’t believe you put the pieces together before I did,” she said switching the faucet on and washing her hands.

“Luce, I pay more attention to you than I do myself. I even know your scent…which now that I think about it has been slightly different.”

She looked offended and lifted her arm to sniff her pits.

“Not there…” he said pointedly, “I didn’t really realize what it was, I just knew you were driving me crazy whenever I’d go down on you.”

“Oh, so it’s a good thing?”

Tim huffed out a laugh, “It’s a very good thing, trust me.”

The seconds ticked by and Lucy wrung her hands nervously. “Gah! I’m like nervous and excited and feel like I’m going to be sick. What if it’s positive? What if it’s negative?”

Tim placed his hands reassuringly on her shoulders, “Whatever it is, Luce…we’ll approach it how we always do…”

She raised a brow in question.

“Together,” a small smile tugged at his lips and Lucy pressed up on her toes to plant and soft kiss against his lips.

“I love you,” she whispered against them. He kissed her again in return. Gently, slowly, a reassuring affirmation of his words.

“I love you, too.” He replied just as the timer went off.

Lucy sucked in a deep breath and picked up the stick, turning it so they both could see it at the same time.

Pregnant.

Her eyes welled as every moment between them from the day their eyes met on the first day of her rookie year until now, replayed in flashes in her mind. Every challenge, every triumph, the big moments and the small, all had led them to this exact moment--the manifestation of their love and unyielding devotion.

 Lucy looked up at Tim just as the first tear fell down his cheek as it dawned on him that he was about to get everything he had ever dreamed of but never believed he would experience.

“Congratulations, Mommy,” he whispered, grinning at her through his tears. “Our baby is so lucky to have you as their mom.”

“Congratulations, Daddy,” she replied. “You are gonna be the best dad in the whole freakin’ universe.”

The tears fell faster and she reached up, wiping beneath his eyes, just as he did the same for her, touching their foreheads to each other as they grinned at each other in utter joy.

They were going to be parents.

FIN