Chapter Text
Chapter 4
Lucy sat there in shock staring at Tim. Lucy knew she would be lying if she said she had never thought of publicly letting the world know that Tim was her husband now that she was captain. But to hear him say it, felt like he was questioning her love and commitment to him now that her life would no longer be in danger if everyone knew who she was, and it was not something she had expected him to ask her especially after all the sacrifices she made so that Tim could be famous.
Tim: I'm sorry baby, I didn’t mean for it to come out harsh like that.
Lucy: Don't be sorry Tim. Your right.
Tim: What?
Lucy: Tim, all those years ago, when you asked me to come with you around the world, to live with you in the world of the rich and famous I turned you down because of my dream to be an undercover cop.
Tim: I remember. That conversation has been running over and over in my head over the years. I’ve wondered if there was anything either one of us could have or should have done differently back then.
Lucy: We were put in a difficult situation when your dreams would put my life at risk.
Tim: And now?
Lucy: As captain, people know who I am. They know my name. My face has been in the press before.
Tim: I know. I was so proud of you baby that I framed all of your press pictures and they are hanging in my bedroom.
Lucy: So maybe you are right, and now it wouldn’t be so bad if the world knew that Tim Bradford is married to Captain Lucy Chen.
Tim: But?
Lucy: What about Tamara?
Tim: I think that would be her choice to make. Don’t you think?
Lucy: It's not that simple Tim.
Tim: Why not?
Lucy: She wants to be an undercover cop. She is currently studying criminology and hopes that when she’s old enough she will join the department.
Tim: So, we are right back to where we were 17 years ago.
Lucy: Tim
Tim: I can either live my dream job as an actor or I get to have my dream family. But once again, I can’t have both.
Lucy: I wish it didn’t have to be like this Tim.
Tim: Lucy, are you even still in love with me?
Lucy: What? Why would you even ask such a thing Tim. Of course, I still love you.
Tim: I know that you still love me Luce, but that wasn’t what I asked. I need to know if you are still in love with me.
Lucy sat there looking at Tim feeling like she had been punched in the gut. She wanted to yell and scream and cry but she just said nothing. She was trying to figure out how they got into this mess when her phone rang again, and she answered.
Lucy: Hello
Tamara: Hi mom.
Lucy: Tamara, hi. Now is really not a good time.
Tamara: Is everything okay? You sound like you’ve been crying.
Lucy: It will all be good Tamara. But I really need to go. I’ll call you later regarding the weekend.
Tamara: Okay great, because I would really love to come home and see you.
Lucy: I would love nothing more than that baby. I’ll see you later.
Lucy hung up and then turned back to Tim.
Tim: So, if Tamara is coming home, I'm guessing I can’t come back to the precinct until next week.
Lucy: You can still come.
Tim: What about Tamara?
Lucy: What about her?
Tim: What happens if I see her, what do I say?
Lucy: Whatever you want Tim.
Tim: Lucy?
Lucy: I think it would be best if you would shadow Angela for the remainder of the day.
Tim: Really Lucy?
Lucy: You think I don’t love you anymore and I'm not sure what to do with that information Tim.
Tim: I don’t understand how my question is now making me the bad guy here Lucy. I have done everything you have ever asked me to do. I stayed away from you because that is what you wanted and asked for. Now that we finally have the opportunity to be a regular couple for the first time in over 20 years you once again turn me down. What do you expect me to think?
Lucy: Not that I don’t love you.
Tim: I just want to be us again Lucy, can’t you see that?
Lucy: Then you should have
Lucy stopped mid-sentence, she wanted to say that he should have been a cop, but she knew that was the wrong thing to say to him right now, but he saw straight through her.
Tim: Say it Luce, we both know exactly what you want. You're embarrassed of me, embarrassed of what I do for a living. You never wanted to be with an actor, just like 20 years ago, you still want me to be a cop.
Lucy: Tim! Please, I didn’t mean it like that.
Tim: Of course, you didn’t Lucy. You never do. But this has never been about me, this has always been about you and what you want Lucy and I’m done.
Lucy: What are you talking about?
Tim: That this is just as much my life as it is yours. For so many years I went along with everything you asked for because of how much I love you, but I can’t do this anymore Lucy. I want to live with you, for us to be a family. I can’t keep you at arm's length anymore Lucy.
Lucy: What exactly are you saying here?
Tim: That Lucy, either we be a normal couple again or we get divorced.
Lucy was shocked. She knew Tim struggled with their arrangement for years, but she never thought it would come down to this. She was trying so hard to calm her brain so she could talk to him rationally when there was a knock on her door.
Lucy: Come in
Tim glared at her, but his expression softened when he saw it was Angela.
Angela: I'm sorry Captain Chen, but Miss Collins is here and says it’s urgent.
Lucy: Tell her that now is really not a good time.
Tim: Why not? I thought you wanted me to leave.
Lucy: And what about your last question?
Tim: Have you changed your mind about telling everyone?
Lucy: No.
Tim: Then you don’t need to answer the question, Lucy. I’ll send you the papers when I have them.
Lucy: Tim No! Please, don’t do this.
Tim: You are leaving me with no choice here Lucy.
Lucy: Can’t we at least talk about it? Figure something out?
Tim: No Lucy. There is nothing left to figure out.
Lucy: I can’t believe that after all these years you are really just going to walk away from us like that.
Tim: Lucy leaving is the last thing I ever want to do, but don’t you think that I also deserve to be happy, to have someone waiting for me at home after a long hard day?
Lucy: Of course you do Tim.
Tim: Then why can't you do that for me Lucy?
Lucy: Because it’s not so simple and you know that.
Tim: You have made that very clear Lucy.
Lucy: I also wish it was different Tim. I want everything you want Tim, but I can’t risk our daughter’s life for this.
Angela: I'm going to tell Miss Collins to come back later.
Lucy: Thank you.
Angela turned to leave Lucy’s office but before she had a chance to close the door Tamara walked right in towards Lucy.
Lucy: You shouldn't be here right now.
Tamara: I was worried.
Lucy: I need you to go with detective Lopez for now please.
Tamara: Seriously?
Lucy: Watch your tone, we are not alone here.
Tamara looks away and notices Tim. She then gets angry.
Tamara: Uh, mom. What the hell is Tim Bradford doing in your office?
Angela: Mom?
Lucy: Detective, you shouldn’t be here right now.
Angela: Lucy, are you trying to tell me that after all this time, Miss Collins is your daughter?
Lucy: Detective, I believe you were asked to leave.
Angela: If you won't tell me, then I’ll ask Tim. Is Tamara Collins your daughter?
Tim: Angela please, now is not the time for this.
Tamara: Wait hold up, mom, is this some kind of joke?
Lucy: I don't know what you are asking Tamara?
Tim: Why does detective Lopez think that Tim Bradford, the famous actor Tim Bradford, is my father.
Lucy: Because he is.