Chapter Text
Lucy automatically caught the paper Tim tossed her, not sure where he was going with this. She was sure there was supposed to be deeper meaning, like there had been when he'd shown that she'd helped save herself by giving back her ring, but she couldn't see it.
"I've carried that piece of paper in my right front pocket every day since you gave it to me." She met his eyes, which were so solemn her throat caught. He was clearly bracing himself for something. "When I'm in uniform, it's in my left breast pocket. Just under my badge."
She was so focused on his expression that it took a second for the words he was saying to sink in. When they did, her heart stopped.
No. She had to be misunderstanding him somehow.
Slowly, carefully, she unfolded the note. Her hands started to tremble when she saw her name, written in her own neat handwriting, with her cell phone number just underneath. The paper that had given him a number he'd already had, wrapped in a hope she'd tried so hard to move past in the six months it had taken him to call. Six months where she'd been sure he hadn't thought of her at all.
But he'd been carrying this around with him the whole time. Even when he hadn't called, he'd carefully put a note he hadn't needed in the pocket of his pants every single morning. He'd transferred it to his uniform pocket every single day so she could be with him while he was at work. She'd been in his thoughts the whole time, even when he hadn't said a word.
"Keep pushing." Tim broke the silence, his voice rough. "Sometimes it means more to people than they'll ever be able to tell you."
She looked up at him, cheeks wet from the tears streaming down her face. He looked like he had the night he told her about Mitch losing his leg, like he'd just revealed his deepest secret and was waiting to be punished for it. She hadn't even asked him for the secret this time. He'd just known what she needed to hear, so he handed the truth over even though he was clearly sure it was going to hurt.
Staring into his bright blue eyes, she was more sure of what to say next than she had been of anything in her life. "I'm in love with you. I'm so desperately, stupidly, impossibly in love with you I can't breathe with it sometimes."
There was a moment of perfect stillness, brow furrowing like he hadn't quite heard what she'd said. Then his expression cracked open, a fragile sort of shock filling his face. He looked almost afraid, but she didn't mind. She knew exactly what he was afraid of. "What?" he managed finally, voice breaking a little on that single word.
Setting the paper down on the cushion beside her, she slowly moved to sit next to him. "I'm in love with you," she repeated gently, eyes locked with his. She carefully took his hand in both of hers, heart so full she was amazed it wasn't bursting out of her chest. "I have been for a long time, but I was too scared to say anything. I didn't want to risk what we already had."
She watched him try to process this, something heartbreakingly close to awe in his eyes. "I'm... the guy you were talking about?"
She nodded, grinning at him even as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Regretting calling yourself stupid yet?"
"That was before I had all the facts." His smile flickered as he gently slid his fingertips along the curve of her cheek, but his eyes looked like he was about to cry. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly, voice unsteady. "This is going to make it harder for you at work."
"I know." Her gaze locked with his, radiating every ounce of certainty she felt. "But some things matter more."
He closed his eyes at that, letting out a breath like he'd been punched. A heartbeat later he'd crossed the rest of the distance between them, and the moment his lips touched hers it was like someone had thrown a switch. They both moved at once, Tim pulling her onto his lap as they both fell into a kiss more potent than any alcohol she'd ever tried. It burned the same way, warm and perfect, filling her up and making it feel like she was floating. Tim was the only thing holding her to the earth, and she cradled his head in her hands and held on for dear life.
When they finally broke apart, he wrapped his arms around her even more tightly and buried his face in her neck. "I love you," he breathed.
Heart clenching, she pressed her lips against his hair. "I know," she whispered. "You showed me."
He pulled back again, looking up at her with so much love her eyes filled with tears. Then she leaned down for another kiss, and everything else disappeared but him.
000
The sound of the alarm the next morning seemed particularly cruel.
"Not fair." Lucy groaned, burying her face against his shoulder. "Can't we call in sick? There should be some exception for anyone who had life-changing developments the night before."
The fact that Tim briefly considered it proved just how much of an effect Lucy had on him. "No, we better start practicing," he said finally, rolling them sideways. "Because I plan on waking up with you as many mornings as possible, and for at least most of those we're going to have to go to work."
She grinned at him, suddenly far more alert. "We do have to practice, don't we?" Then her smile turned lazy as she leaned in for a kiss. "Of course, we could also be a little late..."
They weren't late, but only because Tim's alarm was usually set for early and he'd been far too distracted to change it the night before. Still, there wasn't enough time left to risk a joint shower – she was phenomenally good at making him lose focus – so he let her take it first while he took care of Kojo, got the coffee ready, and pulled a box of protein bars out of the cupboard. When he got out of the shower, she was already dressed and had poured coffee into the to-go cup he'd set out for her. "I have to go. I'm not trying to hide you, but these are the clothes I left the station in last night and that is not the kind of razzing I'm prepared to deal with right now. A little pre-planning will make sure I'm in a much better mood when I see you tonight."
Warmth spread through him as he leaned down to accept the kiss she stretched up to give him. He wanted a thousand mornings like this. A million of them. "You should leave some things here. I have extra drawers."
When she pulled back, she was beaming. "Sounds like a plan." Then, expression softening, she pressed a folded piece of paper into his hand. "Here. I thought it was about time you got an upgraded note."
He opened it, chest squeezing tight at the simple message. "Never forget how much I love you," he read, voice thick with everything he was feeling.
"And that's an order." She stretched upward for another kiss, and this time he tightened his arms around her and let it linger.
Eventually, she was the one who managed to pull away first. "No, bad Tim. Go put on clothes and quit being so tempting."
He grinned, making himself take a step back. "You know me. Just making sure you're training under combat conditions."
"Have I mentioned recently that you're a pain in my ass? Because you most definitely are." Still, she was grinning just as hard as he was. When he handed her the coffee cup she'd nearly forgotten she gave him another quick kiss before continuing her backward walk toward the door. "And don't worry about dinner tonight. I'll swing by that Mexican place you like."
"Sounds like a plan." A sudden sweet pain lanced through his heart as he watched her go, knowing she was going to come back. He was pretty sure he didn't deserve any of this, but he'd be damned if he let her go. "Stay safe out there."
Her expression softened as she paused by the open front door. "You too, Sergeant."
He nodded, throat tight. "And call me, okay? Whenever you get the chance."
As she slipped out the door, she beamed that sunlight smile at him again. "Just try and stop me."