Chapter Text
If Lucy were to give her morning a rating, it would have a 5/10. Half way between good and bad, her morning was just getting started. For better or worse. On the good side, it was her first day joining the Mid-Wilshire station as an officer and she was already one arrest up. On the bad side, she was one arrest up because some idiot with shit self-grooming decided to threaten her with a gun and rape when he saw her pushing her car down the street. Overall, there was room to improve.
After dropping the perp off, Lucy made her way to the locker room where she quickly changed into her uniform and pulled her hair back into a regulation bun. Briely, it occurred to her that she should look for her boyfriend, Nolan, but she resisted the urge. They were a secret for a reason. Besides, the man was in his forties, twenty years her senior, he’d find his way somehow.
Once her uniform and duty belt were properly secured, Lucy quickly made her way through the halls and into the BullPen. All the other officers were seated in neat rows, talking casually amongst each other. They were gathered for morning roll-call and assignments. Waiting patiently for their CO to arrive. Supposedly, Mid-Wilshire had the youngest captain on record presiding over the precinct, a woman named Zoe Andersen. When Lucy had found out, she had felt a spur of excitement. Maybe she could get the Captain alone, ask for some pointers, woman to woman…
Unfortunately, when Sergeant Grey, arrived - thankfully after Nolan- Lucy was assigned to some guy named Tim Bradford. Instead of a badass woman in charge, Lucy got, an all American boy with somewhat of a permanent glower. Meanwhile the boys got the badass ladies on the force. John went to Bishop, a no nonsense woman who assessed him with a look that said she was not impressed. And Jackson got Lopez, both of which were currently competing for a detective tap. Lucy was robbed.
As the day progressed, Lucy’s daily rating went lower and lower. First, Tim was a hard assed menace that made her carry all their gear. Next, she wasn’t allowed to drive, which would have been fine if Tim didn’t decide to make her walk several blocks in LA heat wearing long sleeves as she attempted to get her bearings. All while insulting her judiciously about her upbringing and intentions for becoming an officer in the first place. Last but not least, he berated her for not repeating his down right racist rhetoric to the impatient drivers of the faded yellow truck behind them. All to be rounded out by a foot chase down the streets of downtown, following some mentally addled Harvard alum as he searched for his overheating son. To say Lucy was having a hard day would be an understatement… Well, at least she’s not Nolan, he saw someone die.
It’s when she’s heading out to meet John and Jackson that she saw her… Lucy’s eyes widened as she took in the older woman’s profile. A captain’s badge rested on her hip, paired with a tight fitting blazer and skirt. Lucy gulped, recognition taking over. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Lucy shuffled in place for a moment as the memory came back to her. While, Lucy hadn’t had a fling in a while- usually she was quite monogamous- one night after a big argument with her parents concerning her career choice, she had gone out for a couple drinks. That’s when Lucy had met her. Tall, fit, confident, and whip smart with a low voice that had ghosted over her ear as they…
Lucy blinked away the memories of soft sheets and wandering hands that touched all the right places… Focus! Lucy chanced another glance in the Captain’s direction.. It couldn’t be the same woman, there was no way her luck was THAT BAD, but when she opened her eyes there was no doubt in her mind. Six months ago- before she found Nolan, before any of this started- Lucy had slept with Zoe Andersen, Captain and main oversight for all of Mid-Wilshire. Fuck. Lucy really needed that drink. Lucy rushed for the door before Zoe could see her. Before she could get fired and lose her job. Before she could do something stupid like ask Zoe for those pointers.
Lucy finally caught her breath when she hit the bar. It was their spot, her and the guys. It was filled with laughter and easy conversation as music blasted in the background. Lucy, Jackson, and John tossed back a couple beers while they unwound. John, ever unobservant, failed to notice the waitress who was relentlessly flirting with him. Lucy sighed in irritation as the woman flashed her secret boyfriend another sexy smile. She wanted to kick the bitch. ‘It’s not like you weren’t literally fantasizing about someone else on the way here’ an unpleasant voice said in the back of her mind. That was new. Lucy made a mental note to schedule a therapy appointment some time. Voices weren’t usually a good sign.
Lucy begrudgingly sipped her drink as John lamented the fatality he had to witness during the domestic case at the end of his day. She had heard it was brutal. A large man stabbed to death by his batshit girlfriend. Instead of focusing on her own problems, Lucy tried her best to be there for Nolan, who was currently blaming himself.
“Hey, listen to me. What happened wasn’t your fault.” She reminded him. “That guy was never going to admit a woman was kicking his ass. It wouldn’t have mattered if you had said anything to Bishop, and if – i… If she said any different, then she was flat-out wrong.”
Nolan considered her words, looking to Jackson who nodded his agreement, before sighing. “Thank you.” He said, looking at her for what felt like the first time all evening.
“You’re welcome,” Lucy replied. Thankfully, before she had to wrack her brain for more words of encouragement, the bar’s DJ announced their Karaoke spot. As Lucy and Jackson climbed the stage, she finally felt herself relax. At least if the world was conspiring against her she could sing it out, right?
The next morning, Lucy awoke to the smell of coffee and the feel of Nolan’s sheets. She was already dreading Roll Call where she might run into her. The Captain. Her… Lucy hesitated, scrambling for an appropriate term. Lover? No, that was gross. Fling maybe? But that seemed inappropriate knowing the woman was her boss. Oh well, she would think of some title or other to help her compartmentalise. Lucy groaned and fished around for a shirt, her fingers latching onto the soft blue flannel that Nolan sometimes wore. She quickly pulled it on and buttoned it part way up as she searched for the man. Following the scent of fresh batter.
John’s place was nice. A beachfront view in LA for free was impossible to find anywhere, but somehow the man had lucked out. When they had met in the academy, before they had started their relationship, Lucy swore the guy had some kind of main character syndrome. Because, who else could talk their way through an armed robbery with a gun to their head? As a result, she stuck close by. After all, if you’re stuck in classes all day, might as well make friends. Soon though, after their first meeting and some long nights studying together- some alcohol assisting- they fell into bed for the first time. Which was then followed by a second time. Then a third… and now they’re two months into whatever this was, and Lucy wasn’t sure where it was going but she knew it was at least comfortable. ’You really should consider why you like older partner’s so much, it’s getting to be a complex.’ The nasty voice in Lucy’s head sneered. She mentally rolled her eyes, forgoing confronting that hidden childhood wound. Nolan was a good guy, sweet, compassionate, perhaps a little naive about people sometimes, but he had a good heart. That’s what mattered, right? Lucy really needed to stop talking to herself.
She found Nolan setting up a table stacked with pancakes. Cups of orange juice in actual glass, instead of the cheap disposable cups she was used to, accompanied the plates. They ate in respective silence as they allowed their bodies to fully acclimate to consciousness before retiring to the seating out front overlooking the shore. Two months of sneaking around had earned them relative peace while they found their footing. It also allowed Lucy to avoid any possible misogynistic comments from her fellow officers. Nolan may chafe under the secrecy, but it wasn’t his reputation that would be ruined if it came out they were dating.
They were P1’s. Dating within the ranks of the force was strictly prohibited. Nevermind the fact her job was probably doomed now. Tim as he belligerent TO and the fact she had slept with the literal captain of the entire precinct did not good future make. Lucy debated telling Nolan, but his comment about Sergeant Grey finding out gave her pause. He was already uneasy about one secret, his girlfriend having sexual history with the Captain wouldn’t exactly ease his mind. It was a one night stand, it meant nothing. She reminded herself as she took his hand.
“I just don’t want to screw it up,” He said earnestly.
“Me neither,” Lucy replied.
Zoe was a blip, a moment of questionable decision making. Chances are, the woman wouldn’t even recognize Lucy. Or at least that’s what she told herself, but Lucy knew better. Because, while Nolan was certainly experienced and dedicated, there was something about her night with the Captain that made her heart speed up and other areas clench. Calm down before you have to change your panties. Her brain chided.
Lucy offered John a smile, forcing herself to focus on the present. No matter how good the sex was, it could never happen again. Zoe was her CO. And Lucy had Nolan. Nolan who was sweet and kind and the most loyal person she had ever met… She squeezed his hand reassuringly as they shared a satisfied look. Nolan was great, focusing on what they shared was the right thing to do. Plus, he wasn’t that bad in bed. Not Captain Andersen level, but not bad either. Lucy sighed at the voice’s persistence. She really did have to get that checked out.