Chapter Text
Tim is not a jealous person, he’s not the type of guy to go all caveman when someone is flirting with the girl he’s with. He’s not insecure either, when he is with someone he knows he is with them.
No one else.
He didn’t get jealous with Isabel. She had mastered flirting on her own, and she knew how to turn it on and off. Whether or not it she did was the question. And the the drugs took over and she was no longer Isabel. And Tim realized she liked to flirt with other men, told him she liked to see their reactions when she went back to him.
After she left, and didn’t come back for a year. Tim did have scenarios going through his mind. But the thing was he wasn’t jealous. He was worried but not jealous. Isabel was who she was and when Tim let her go—it was the best decision he could have made.
He was never jealous with Rachel or Ashley. They were never serious relationships and quite honestly they were never going to go anywhere. There was no reason to be jealous. He wasn’t insecure and he certainly wasn’t worried. If they wanted someone else, if they didn’t want to be with him than so be it.
They both eventually left and that was okay. It was never meant to last. So he didn’t get jealous. It was plain and simple as that.
He wasn’t a jealous guy, he didn’t need to me because he was secure when he was in a relationship.
Except—
For one person.
And like with everything else, she was different. She flipped his entire world upside down and made him better. She made him want to be better which is how they ended up together, apart and finally back together again.
Lucy.
She was different, just like he told Isabel. Lucy was different she didn’t think about herself but she always put others first. She was empathetic and loving. She challenged him every single day in the good and the bad.
It’s not like Tim wasn’t secure in his relationship with Lucy. Because he was from the very beginning and even now after all this time apart.
It wasn’t that.
It was just he wanted to be around her all the time. Eve at work, he wanted to make sure he got a glimpse of her before she went on patrol. He always wanted to make sure she was okay Eve if they didn’t talk.
It was just a thing. He was jealous that others got a glimpse of her. He wasn’t jealous Celina got to ride with her and it took him back to when they used to ride together.
It was different, they were different but still—
It was silly being jealous of all this and he knows Lucy feels the same way because she all but admitted it the other day.
He supposes this is what being in love is. Being jealous of the sun that shines down on her. Being jealous of anyone who gets to interact with her.
He’s jealous because he loves her. And he’s never truly been in love like this before. He would do anything for her. He would fight for her, and he would get jealous.
It’s silly.
It’s really silly.
Tim looks out the windows of his office and sees Lucy. She has her back facing him and is talking to an officer he doesn’t know.
He watches for a few more minutes, his heart thudding in his chest and then Lucy turns around and he looks down at the paper on his desk.
There’s a knock on the door, and he looks up just as she steps inside the office. “Hey.” She says. “Did you know there’s a new night sergeant?” She asks. “He just stopped me and asked if the Dream team is for real.”
Tim laughs a little, and stands up from behind his desk. Lucy gets closer and stops so she’s right in front of him. “Someone had to replace you.” He says shrugging. “What did you tell him?”
“Good luck.” Lucy says shaking her head. “I do not miss that. Plus I get to sleep and have a normal sleep schedule.”
Tim hums softly, and it is nice to be able to wake up in bed next to Lucy. And go to sleep next to her.
Every single night and morning.
“Yeah?” Tim says. “You do have a nice bed.” Lucy rolls her eyes but she’s smiling.
“Shut up!” She says. “Look I just wanted to say have a good day and I’ll see you later.”
“At home.” Tim says and Lucy gives him a soft smile.
“At home.” She agrees. She turns around on her heels and then pauses at the door. “Have a good shift Sergeant Bradford.”
“Have a good shift Sergeant Chen.” He says. She grins at him and then she disappears out the office.
***
Tim is not jealous—or he tries not to be as he watches Lucy smile at the bartender. He can’t see her face fully but he can see her back. The way her jeans fit her perfectly, the way he knows how to get them off.
He watches as Lucy leans across the counter and grabs the two beers and then turns around and heads towards him.
“Hey.” He says as she slides into the booth and passes him the beer. “Thank you.” She nods and then takes a sip of her beer before she leans over to give him a kiss.
“What was that for?” He asks but it’s not like he minds.
“I missed you.” She says a small smile forming on her face. “Is that a bad thing?” Tim shakes his head.
“No.” He says. He looks up and sees the bartender’s eyes on them. He feels a flare of jealously, and he pulls Lucy closer to kiss her. Long and hard and his hand slides a little bit too low for a public place.
“Wow.” Lucy says pushing back and gives him a grin. “What was that about?”
“I love you.” He says softly and pushes some of her hair back. “And the bartender is staring at you.”
“Oh.” Lucy’s eyes light up a bit. “Jealous Tim?”
“No.” He says but he doesn’t even believe himself. “He was flirting with you.”
“I wouldn’t say flirting.” Lucy says. “He was just friendly and he—” She pauses and a weird look comes over her face.
“What?” Tim asks raising his eyebrows.
“Never mind.” Lucy says. Tim gives her a look and she sits up straight and then moves closer to him. “He wanted to know if he could buy me a beer.”
“Oh.”
“I said my boyfriend was buying it.” She says and she takes a sip of her beer and puts it down.
“And?” Tim presses and he’s not sure if he should stay in place or go over and give this man a piece of his mind.
“And—He looked a little disappointed.” Lucy says. “If this was two months ago—” Tim freezes and looks at her. She told him there was no one else and he had no reason to believe otherwise. But he did take a long time to finally make a move and talk.
“What?” He asks. “Would you have said yes?”
“No chance in hell.” Lucy says. “I would have said no. But tonight—”
“Hmm.”
“I said hell no. I have a boyfriend who can buy me beer and take me home. And knows me like the back of his hand.” Lucy says.
“Me.” Tim says and he feels a flash of pride, and love. And want. So much want.
“Definitely you. Tim, I live with you. My stuff is scattered around the house. My clothes are all over the bedroom floor.” Lucy says. Tim huffs out a breath.
“We are doing laundry this weekend.” He says. “Everything.”
“Yes sir.” Lucy says leaning in to give him a kiss. “There’s no need to be jealous. Just like I shouldn’t be jealous of people flirting with you.”
“Mmm.” Tim says and he kisses her again before pulling back and taking a sip of his beer. “It’s more than that though.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s like I just want to be around you all the time and I’m jealous of people who get to be around you.” He says. “It’s a weird feeling.”
“Now you know how it feels.” Lucy says. “That’s how I felt—how I feel sometimes.”
Tim nods his head, and looks towards the bartender again. He’s helping someone else but his eyes seem to keep going to Lucy.
“Need another beer?” She asks him. Tim looks at his bottle and it’s almost gone. “Do you—”
“Let me.” Tim says and he slides out of the booth and walks towards the bar.
“Two beers please.” He says. The bartender looks up at him, and the smile fades.
“The girl—”
“My girlfriend.” Tim says. The bartender looks at him with a frown on his face. “Yes what about her?”
“Is it serious?” He asks. “She seemed to like me.” Tim frowns at him and he looks back to see Lucy watching him carefully.
“Yeah it is.” He says. “It’s not just—it’s not what you think it is.” The bartender shifts on his feet.
“So she won’t say yes to me?” The man asks and Tim has to admit he’s bold.
“No.” Tim says. “She won’t—”
“How about you let her decide that.” The bartender says a sly smile on his face. He steps out from behind the bar and walks towards Lucy. Tim follows behind him and Lucy raises her eyebrows.
“Just let me buy you one drink.” The man says. “Just one and then you can decide.”
“No thanks.” Lucy says. She takes a sip of her beer. “I’m good.” Tim slides in next to her and puts his arm around her.
“Oh come on.” The man says. “You were flirting with me.”
“I was asking for two beers.” Lucy says. “Like a normal person.” The man takes a deep breath and looks at Tim.
“So this wouldn’t be a fair fight?” He asks.
“Not for you.” Lucy replies before Tim can answer. “I mean you can try but he would kick your ass.”
The man eyes dart between them and then he nods. Tim thinks he’s not going to give up but he turns around and walks away.
“Was he going to fight you?” Lucy asks and she looks amused. “Did he really think he was going to win?”
“Maybe.” Tim says and then he looks at her. He doesn’t blame this man for trying. Lucy was incredible. “Are you ready to go? I don’t like being around all these people.”
Lucy laughs and leans in to kiss him. “I’d thought you would never ask.” She says and scoots out of the booth. Lucy follows him, and he takes her hand and leads her out.
Lucy stops him just as the approach the door. “Hey.” She says and she looks towards the bar and then back towards him.
“You could totally win if you fought that guy.” She says. “You would win.”
Tim huffs out a laugh. “For you?” He asks and he wraps his arm around her and pulls her close. He breathes her in and he knows this is forever. They might both get jealous, they might be insecure sometimes but it would always come back to the two of them. It would always be them forever. “Always.”