Work Text:
The one where Lucy is sick
Tim knows something is wrong when Lucy doesn’t show up to work. He looks for her like he does every morning but she never shows up. He eventually has to leave for patrol and it’s killing him that he doesn’t know if Lucy is okay.
He pulls the shop over, and picks his phone up. He wants to call her but he doesn’t want to seem desperate. They were just starting to get close, and she trusts him but it’s still new. He texts her instead:
Tim: Hey. Are you okay? Is Emma okay?
Lucy: I’m sick.
Tim stares at her message and then he’s pulling out onto the road and driving towards Lucy’s apartment. He’s there within five minutes and at her door within two. He knocks on the door, and it takes a few minutes before Lucy is opening the door.
“Tim?” She says and she sounds terrible. Her eyes are red, her hair is messy and she has dark circles under her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“You are sick.” He says. She licks her lips which are dry and chapped. “Where’s Emma?”
“Daycare.” She says and she blows her nose before she’s coughing loudly. Tim raises his eyebrows a little when he hears a noise from Emma’s bedroom.
“Are you sure?” He asks. He moves past her and into Emma’s room where he sees the baby in her crib. Her face lights up when she sees Tim.
“Oh my god. It was just a dream?” Lucy asks. Tim turns around to see Lucy staring at her daughter in disbelief. “I thought I took her.”
“You are sick.” He says stating the obvious. “And dreaming up scenarios apparently.” Tim reaches over to pick Emma up who giggles excitedly. “Im!” She squeals. Tim looks over at Lucy but she has disappeared. Tim carries Emma out of her room to see Lucy pacing the living room floor.
“Lucy, sit down.” Tim says. Lucy does and Tim comes over and directs her to lay down. And then still holding Emma puts a blanket over her.
“What are you doing?” She asks and then she sneezes and coughs. “God my head hurts.”
“I’m calling Angela to pick Emma up and take her to daycare.” He says. “I can pick her up later.”
“Tim—”
“You are sick Lucy.” Tim says. “You don’t need to be worried about taking care of Emma.”
“But—I have to. I can’t just stop being a mom because I’m sick.” She says.
“Of course not.” Tim says. “But you take care of Emma all the time. Let me take care of you.” Lucy looks surprised at his words.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She says and looks at her daughter. “It’s probably too late but I don’t want her getting sick.”
Tim smiles and nods his head. He can set her up until he off work and then he could take care of her.
She deserves it.
To be taken care of.
No matter what.
***
Tim goes to the store after work and before he picks Emma up. He gets her a little dinner, and then gets everything he thinks Lucy needs. He picks Emma up who is very happy to see him and doesn’t let him go until she is buckled in her car seat.
“You have to be a good girl.” He tells her. “Your mama is sick.”
“Mama.”
“Don’t worry.” Tim says making sure she is in right. “Im will help mama feel better.” He gives her a soft kiss and shuts the door.
He carries Emma up in the carrier since he borrowed it from Lucy’s car and balances all the bags with his other hand.
He knocks on the door but when no one answers he tries the handle and it opens. “Lucy?” He says stepping into the apartment. “Luce?”
“Tim?” He sees Lucy stick her head up from the couch. “You are back.” Tim hums softly and sets the bags and the carrier down and gets Emma out.
“Yes.” He says. He sets Emma on his hip, and then carries the bags to the kitchen. “I got Emma something to eat. I can feed her and put her to bed.”
“It’s bath night.” Lucy says. “I can’t get off schedule—”
“Okay.” Tim says. “That’s fine. Let me handle it Lucy.”
“Tim— she’s not your responsibility.” Lucy says. Tim pauses and turns to look at her. Emma has her head on his shoulder.
“I want to help.” He says softly. “You aren’t alone anymore Lucy, you don’t have to do this on your own.”
“I appreciate it.” Lucy says. Tim smiles and helps her up from the couch.
“Go rest where it’s dark and quiet Lucy.” He says. “I got this.” She nods and starts shuffling towards her bedroom. She stops at the doorway and turns to face him.
“Thank you Tim.” She says. “For everything.” Tim nods and smiles at her.
“Anytime Lucy.” He says. “Anytime.”
***
Tim feeds Emma and gets her to the bath and gives her a quick bath. He wraps her up in a towel making her giggle.
“Oh you are full of it tonight.” He mutters. “We need to be quiet though.” Emma just smiles at him and he carries her out of the bathroom and to her bedroom. He dresses her, and puts a fresh diaper on and then sets her in her crib.
“Im.” Emma says looking up at him.
“Im is going to check on your mama.” He tells her. “It’s time for you to go to sleep.” Emma lays down but she’s still looking at him. Tim tiptoes out of the room, and then goes to knock on Lucy’s bedroom.
She calls out for him to come in and he pushes the door open. She sitting up in bed, and smiles when she sees him.
“Is she asleep?”
“She’s in her crib.” He says. “How do you feel?” Lucy shrugs her shoulders.
“Better. I think I just needed to rest.” She says. “I don’t know how I will be tomorrow.”
“One day at a time.” He says and he’s already planning on sleeping on the couch. He knows Emma gets Lucy up at night.
“Do you need anything?” He asks.
“Maybe some water and Advil.” She says. “My head is killing me.” Tim nods but doesn’t move.
“Do you want me to stay?” He asks. “For Emma.”
“Do you want to stay?” She asks and she has a hopeful look on her face.
“Yes.” He says. Lucy nods her head, and he relaxes a little.
“Thank you for taking care of me Tim.” She says. “I do appreciate it.”
“Of course.” He says. He doesn’t say what he’s really feeling in fear that will mess everything up but—
He does feel it. He feels a lot for Lucy, and maybe one day it would come out.
But for now—
He would take care of her and that’s all that really matters.
***
The one where Emma is sick
It’s exactly a week later after Lucy is sick that Emma gets sick. She calls him on his way to work and she sounds panicked. He feels dread settling in and he presses on the gas harder.
“Tim.” Lucy says her voice breathless. He hears Emma screaming in the background. “Do you think you could meet me at the ER?”
“What’s going on?” He asks. “Is Emma okay?”
“Emma caught whatever I had but worse.” Lucy says and she sounds scared. “She can’t breathe. She won’t eat. She just cries.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Tim promises her. He presses on the gas even harder, and he’s at the hospital within five minutes. He jumps out and rushes towards the ER where he sees Lucy holding an inconsolable Emma. She looks like she’s struggling to breathe, and coughing.
“I don’t know what to do.” Lucy says. Tim marches up to the nurses station and they look up.
“Sir—”
“I have a baby who can’t breathe.” Tim says sharply motioning to Emma. He doesn’t play when it comes to Emma or Lucy. “Please help.” The nurses look at Emma and then jump up and usher Lucy back. They take Emma from her and set her down to examine her.
“She’s so scared.” Lucy mutters. “What if—”
“Breathe Lucy.” Tim says. “Just breathe.” Lucy is shaking as they put Emma in a hospital crib and the nurses looks at Lucy.
“She has signs of RSV.” She says. “We will run some tests. But it looks like you will be here overnight.”
Lucy buries her face in her hands. “Lucy.” Tim says gently. “She will be okay. You did the right thing.”
“I should have known.” Lucy says. “She had a cold but it was weird and she was acting weird. It wasn’t normal but I just—”
“You didn’t know Lucy. A sickness has been going around. They are going to help her. Okay?”
“I just feel helpless.” Lucy says looking over at Emma. She’s hooked up now, and she looks exhausted. The truth is, Tim feels helpless too like he wants to help but he doesn’t know how. So he just takes Lucy’s hand ignoring the butterflies it sends down his spine.
“It’s going to be okay.” He whispers. “It’s going to be okay.”
***
They give Emma fluids and hook her up to oxygen. Tim stays because he knows Lucy needs to take a break. She’s been running on fumes and no sleep for the past few days, and he doesn’t want to leave Emma alone.
He watches as Emma’s chest rises and falls. She’s hooked looks more comfortable than she did a few hours ago and that’s all he could want.
For right now.
***
“Thanks for staying with us Tim.” Lucy says as she settles Emma in her crib. She stares down at the baby for a few minutes and then turns to look at Tim. “I really appreciate it.”
“Sure.” Tim says. “You don’t have to do these things alone anymore Lucy.” Lucy blinks at him, like she’s taking in the full meaning of his words.
They had gotten closer especially recently with Lucy and Emma being sick. And with everything that happened at Emma’s birthday party, it was as if life was pushing them together more and more.
And taking care of Lucy and Emma while they were sick was clearly part of the plan.
And he didn’t mind it one bit.
***
Tim comes to check on Lucy and Emma the next day before he goes to work. Lucy answers the door, still looking exhausted but a little more rested.
“Hey.” Lucy says stepping aside to let him in. “What are you doing here?”
“Just came to check in on you and Emma.” He says. “Where is she?” Lucy points to Emma’s bedroom.
“I’m keeping her home another day.” She says. “She needs sleep. I don’t think she has slept for more than an hour.”
“Poor baby.” Tim says. “I’ll be quick.” Lucy nods and he makes his way to Emma’s room. The baby is fast asleep. Tim stays back and watches as her little chest rises and falls. He steps closer until he can bend down and give her a kiss. She stirs but doesn’t open her eyes. He steps back and leaves the room. He closes the door and turns around to see Lucy standing behind him.
“She looks better.” Tim says. “I’m glad she’s on the mend.”
“Thanks to you.” She says. He scoffs and waves her off. “I’m serious Tim, I couldn’t have gotten through this without you—thank you.”
“Of course.” Tim says and there’s no place he would rather be than here with Lucy and Emma.
No matter what he would be there for them.
Sick or not.
***
The one where Tim is sick
Tim gets sick after Emma recovers from her bout of RSV. It’s a cold but he’s pretty sure it’s what Lucy had and he feels miserable. He calls out of work, and makes Grey promise him not to tell Lucy he’s sick. He knows she would be over at his house, and as much as he wants to see her. He doesn’t want to be a burden to her.
Tim is just finishing getting himself a glass of water when the doorbell rings. He groans, his head pounding as he walks to the door and opens it. Lucy stands there with him strapped to her chest. She has a container of what looks like soap in her hands and a guilty look on her face.
“Hey.” He says. “What—”
“You didn’t come to work today.” She says. “I figured you got sick since you never miss work.”
Tim nods and gestures to the container. “What’s that?” He asks.
“Chicken noodle soup.” She says handing it to him. “It’s good for you and it’s apology soup.”
“Apology for what?” He asks and he steps aside so she can come in. Emma reaches for him, but Lucy just kisses the top of her head.
“No baby. Im doesn’t feel well.” She says. But Tim shakes his head and reaches for her, Emma squeals happily when Tim pulls her out.
“It’s fine.” He says. “What are you apologizing for?”
“We got you sick.” She says gesturing between herself and Emma. “If you hadn’t taken care of us.”
“I wanted to do that.” He says. He bounces Emma a little making her giggle. He already feels a little bit better just with Emma in his arms and Lucy in front of him. “It probably would have happened one way or another.”
“Still.” She says. “What can we do for you?”
“You don’t—” He points at the soup and it does smell good even though he doesn’t have much of an appetite. “You have done enough.”
“Nonsense.” Lucy says and suddenly she’s going through his cabinets. Tim sits down on one of the stools with Emma on his lap. She pulls out some Advil and then gets a glass and fills it with water.
She puts it in front of him and then opens the container of soup and slides it towards him. “Eat and drink.” She says. “You will feel better.”
Tim smiles and takes the Advil letting the coolness of water go down his throat. “Thanks Lucy.” He says. He bounces Emma on his lap as he starts to eat the soup, and for the first time all day. He feels like everything is going to be okay.
***
Tim wakes up and he feels a little dizzy as he sits up and looks around. Lucy is sitting in one of the chairs and Emma is playing on the floor.
“Hey.” Lucy says and she stands up and walks over to him. “How do you feel?”
“My head hurts.” He says. “But I feel a little better.” Lucy nods and grabs his hand and squeezes it.
“I’ll get you something for that.” She says. “And some water—I made a few meals for you. They are light but—”
“Thank you Lucy.” Tim says. “You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you have done.”
Lucy nods and she looks like she wants to say more. “Well thank you.” She says softly. “You helped us too.”
“Like I said before.” Tim says. “I wanted to help. I will do it again.”
“Good.” Lucy says and she walks over to pick Emma up. “Call me if you need anything okay?”
“Okay.” Tim says and he stands up to walk her to the door. He has so many things to say to her, so many things he wants her to know.
But for now—
For now—
This was okay.
They would get there. Eventually.
“Bye Lucy.” He says. “Bye Emma.” Emma gives him a smile and a wave. He waves back and then shuts the door.
Everything was going to be okay.