Chapter Text
It’s been a fairly quiet day for Tim and Angela. He was helping her gather witness statements for a case she was investigating. They were enjoying their time, driving around in Angela’s unmarked, riding like when they were P2s. Angela’s phone rings with a call from Sergeant Grey.
She takes the call and her eyes wide as she glances quickly at Tim. She tells Grey that they’re on their way before hanging up.
“I need to tell you something, but you need to remember to breathe,” Angela says somberly to Tim.
“No. Ange don’t say it. Not Lucy. Please,” Tim says as he feels his heart rate rise.
“She’s alive. GSW to the shoulder. She was conscious and talking when Grey got to the scene, and only passed out from the pain,” Angela says quickly. “They’re taking her to St. Stephens.”
Tim feels his breathing begin to quicken. His brain starts to spiral. He cannot lose her. He needs her. She and Tamara are supposed to move in with him. Tamara. How is he supposed to tell the teen that the first person who made her feel safe is hurt.
Tim is brought back to reality by a soft, yet firm grasp on his arm. “Breathe. I’m taking you to her,” Angela says.
“No,” Tim says panicking. “We need to get Tamara first, she has to know.”
Angela nods as Tim grabs his phone to find out where Tamara is. He checks the app that shows him Lucy and Tamara’s locations. Lucy had insisted on downloading it for them once they started dating. Tim knew it wasn’t because she didn’t trust him, it was just lingering trauma from Caleb.
Angela pulls up to an outdoor area at Tamara’s college. They quickly spot her sitting among her friends at a table. Tim jumps out of the car and runs over to Tamara.
“Hey!” Tamara says cheerfully when she sees Tim.
She quickly notices how he struggles to meet her eyes, something that he has never done. When he finally does, she sees something she’s never seen before in his eyes: Panic, pain, fear, and tears.
“Dadford what happened?” Tamara says with some panic in her voice. He doesn’t respond. “Tim…”
“Lucy.” Tim manages to get out. “She’s alive, but she’s been shot. We need to get to the hospital. She needs us. I need you.”
Tamara feels numb. She quickly nods and tells her friends she’ll text them. Tim jerks his head in the direction of Angela’s unmarked car, and they take off running. Angela turns on the sirens and starts driving.
“We can’t lose her Tim,” Tamara says with tears streaming down her face. “She was my first home. She has to be okay.”
“She’ll be okay,” Tim says. “I promise.”
They make it to the hospital in less than 10 minutes despite it being a 15 minute drive. They all jump out of the car and run through the ER. Tim flashes his badge at every hospital staff member he sees, wanting to get answers. A nurse directs them to the surgery waiting area.
“Bradford!” Grey calls out.
Tim turns and sees Grey and many other patrol officers grouped around Aaron, who is sitting down in a chair.
“What the hell happened?” Tim asks, not letting anyone else say anything.
While Aaron explains what happened, Tim notices Tamara starts to shake out the corner of his eye. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her into his side. They both needed each other. They stay like that while Nyla and John explain more of what happened after Aaron left with Lucy in the ambulance. Tim had been trying so hard to stay calm for Tamara, but listening to his friends talk about the incident, he couldn’t do it anymore. He feels Tamara try to hold him as his knees begin to buckle. Grey and Nolan quickly catch him and push him into a seat. He rests his elbows on his legs and puts his head in his hands.
“Breathe son, it’s okay,” Grey says. “Lucy is a fighter.”
“She’s supposed to move in with me. Her and Tamara. I have a ring, had it since our second date. What if- What if I can’t give it her?” Tim says, tears filling his eyes.
“What do you always say Bradford?” Nyla asks him.
“There’s no quit in Chen,” He responds softly.
“We can’t hear you Tim,” Angela says.
“There’s no quit in Chen,” Tim says more confidently.
“Exactly,” Nyla says. “She’s going to keep fighting and she’ll up stressing you and Tamara out in no time.”
For the first time since hearing about Lucy, Tim manages to give them a small smile. He is beyond grateful for the love and support of his Mid-Wilshire family. Feeling a bit stronger, he sits up in his seat, and opens his arms, inviting Tamara to sit next to him. She sits down and leans into his side. They sit in silence, using each other for support. Tim whispers encouraging words into her ear, assuring her that Lucy will be okay, and they’ll get through it together. What seems like an eternity later, a doctor walks over to their group. Tamara jumps up, pulling Tim with her. They hold their breath.
“She’s okay,” the doctor says. Instant sighs of relief go around the waiting room. “She got lucky; all things considered. The bullet to her shoulder missed all major arteries, so we were able to remove the bullet, debride all the damaged tissue and stitch up the wound. The bullet to her vest caused some minor bruising to her rib cage. And we stitched up her forearm where a bullet grazed her.”
Tim barely let the doctor finish before he interrupted her. “When can we see her?” he asks, pointing to himself and Tamara.
“Give it a few minutes,” the doctor responds. “They’re wheeling her to a room now.”
Tim turns to Tamara and pulls her into a tight hug. All the stress of the last two hours catches up to him, and he begins to sob. Tamara also sobs as she hugs Tim back just as tightly. They break apart once they hear a nurse make her way to them. Everyone pushes Tim and Tamara towards her. They follow her to Lucy’s room.
Lucy is lying in the hospital bed in a gown, with her shoulder heavily bandaged. They stand at the door way and stare at her, thinking about how close they were to losing her. As they inch closer into the room, Lucy stirs slightly and opens her eyes. They watch as her eyes frantically search the room as she gets her bearings. Her eyes land on her two favorite people.
“Come here,” Lucy says softly. “Both of you.”
They get closer to her bed and carefully give her a hug. Tim perches on one side of the bed, while Tamara sits on the other side. She grasps Lucy’s hand carefully as Tim uses his thumb to gently push Lucy’s hair out of her eyes.
Lucy asks them about her injuries and what ended up happening at the scene. Tim explains everything, while Tamara sits quietly. Once Tim finishes, Tamara speaks.
“I was so scared. I know your job is risky, but this is the first time something has happened since I met you. I thought we were going to lose you…” she trails off.
“Oh Tamara,” Lucy exclaims softly. Using her uninjured arm, Lucy pulls the teen into a hug. She glances at Tim who looks just as somber.
“We were both scared,” Tim says softly.
Lucy pulls Tim into a hug as best as she can. They stay there for as long as Lucy’s injuries allowed. They pull back when they hear a knock on the door. Angela, Nyla, John, and Grey walk in carrying a gift basket and food. They wished her well before promising to come visit her tomorrow. Angela promises to be back with clothes and toiletries for all three of them.
Once they leave, Lucy turns to look at Tamara and Tim.
“So… it seems we’re missing pizza and movie night after all,” Lucy says.
They look at each other and burst out laughing. Lucy winces as she laughs, but laughs, nonetheless. Once they compose themselves, Lucy continues.
“I’m sorry to have worried you guys. My goal is still to always come home safely. To both of you.”
“We know Lu, we know,” Tim says softly.
“It was terrifying at first, but Dadford here was strong for both of us,” Tamara says laughing as Tim grumbles at her comment. “I know Tim is for sure spending the night, but I’m staying too.”
Tim smiles at Tamara, while Lucy replies. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now get up and help me use the bathroom so we can get comfortable.”
Tamara helps Lucy, while Tim goes to find a nurse to ask for extra blankets and pillows. Upon his return, he finds Lucy standing on the side of the bed.
She looks at him and says, “Hold me.”
“Always baby, always.”
Tamara fake gags as Tim gets on the bed. Being mindful of Lucy’s injuries, Tim gently helps Lucy into the bed. She snuggles into his chest and instantly begins to relax. Tamara stands awkwardly, until Lucy pats her leg.
“C’mon, there’s room for you too,” Lucy says softly. “You won’t hurt me.”
Tamara carefully gets into the bed, laying her head on Lucy’s leg. The bed is small and slightly uncomfortable, but they make it work. They sit in silence, as they find solace in each other’s presence. Their small family might be unconventional, but the familial bond they’ve formed is irreplaceable. They each slowly drift off into a slightly uncomfortable, but peaceful slumber. This is how Angela finds them when she quietly walks into the room with their stuff. She snaps a quick picture before leaving. Tim, Lucy, and Tamara knew life as a police officer was uncertain, but they knew they’ll get through it, together, as a family.