Chapter Text
Title: What doesn't kill you; makes you stronger
Author:Cindy Ryan
Notes; not connected to my other stories
Timeline: set after 2x13
There were some things Lucy Chen was still adjusting too. Hands on her when she wasn't expecting them was one. So when her roommate woke her in the darkness of early morning Lucy came up fighting. Jackson West shirtless and hair wet from a shower stepped back.
"Just me, sorry, but you need to get up."Jackson said urgently.
"What's going on?"Lucy asked as she kicked the sheets back. "What time is it?"
"Nearly four."Jackson replied as he moved back. "Got a call from Angela."
Lucy saw him hesitate and cold fear settled in. She tried to brace herself.
"What? Just tell me."Lucy pleaded.
"Angela said Tim was rushed to the hospital; he's in surgery."Jackson explained grimly. "Home invasion."
"Oh God."Lucy whispered as she bolted to her closet grabbing the first clothes she saw. "I'll be ready in ten."
Jackson gripped Lucy gently by the shoulders stopping her frantic movements.
"He'll be okay."Jackson said softly.
Lucy nodded and he stepped back and left her room. She watched him leave for a long moment. Lucy wondered when Tim Bradford had become her rock. Now he was fighting for his life and she could lose him. That thought scared her more than she wanted to admit. Pushing the dark thoughts aside as best she could Lucy finished getting ready and met Jackson in the living room. Five minutes later they were out the door and in her car. Jackson offered to drive and Lucy let him. They merged into the light traffic.
"Who called it in?"Lucy wondered breaking the silence.
"Neighbor across the street works graveyard shift. He noticed Tim's front door open when he came home."Jackson replied with a sad shake of his head.
Lucy looked out the window trying to reign in her spinning thoughts and emotions. Tim needed her to be strong; she just wasn't sure she could be.
When they arrived at the hospital Angela and Wes were already there. Sgt Grey walked in a few minutes later in street clothes. Lucy had only seen her C.O out of uniform a few times. He greeted everyone and they moved to a waiting room.
"I talked to one of the paramedics."Angela began breaking the tense silence."They were filling out paperwork when I got here. He said Tim was unconscious and barely breathing when they arrived. He'd lost a lot of blood from two stab wounds."
"Damn."Grey swore softly.
Lucy felt the room closing in. Her imagination running wild. She kept seeing Tim lying in a pool of blood clinging to life. She had to get out of there. With a choked sob Lucy walked quickly out of the waiting room.
"Lucy!"Jackson called after her.
Lucy didn't stop. Tears blurring her vision now. She nearly collided with John as he walked into the ER. He reached for her but Lucy ducked out of the way and stepped out into the warm California night.
Tim just had to be okay. As much as Lucy hadn't liked him in the beginning she knew now that Tim had a big heart under the hard shell. She couldn't picture her life without his friendship and didn't want to. Finding a bench Lucy sank down onto it. She sent off a silent prayer as she wrapped her arms around herself.