Chapter Text
As Lucy approached the beach side restaurant she could help the soft “whoa” that escaped her lips.
The entire restaurant was bathed in twinkling fairy lights and soft lamps, creating the ideal romantic location. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she turned to see a smiling Ben
“Ben!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around him
“Hey beautiful” he greeted her
“This place looks amazing” she gushed as she withdrew “but then” she smirked slightly “I shouldn’t be surprised you managed to throw this together in like what, 24 hours?”
Ben simply shrugged “I figured they deserved it” he smiled and then frowned slightly “Are you here alone? Where’s um....”
“Chris?” Lucy asked “He’s uh, he’s meeting me here in a bit”
She couldn’t help the smile from fading slightly. She hadn’t intended on bringing Chris tonight but he’d seen the invitation and it was addressed to both of them, well all three of them including Tamara. Fortunately she’d been able to play it off as having only receiving it that day (which she had) and forgetting about it until that moment (which she also had).
Truth be told, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep lying to herself. Her guilt over Rosalind’s attack on Chris and long since eased and she knew in her gut (and her heart) that she and Chris just weren’t going to last. She’d been.....thrown when Tim had told her he and Ashley had broken up and all of the feelings she’d suppressed after their UC op and when he’d told her to go to UC school had come roaring back and this time she couldn’t pass them off as “just biology”. Granted Tim was still her supervisor but she was being noticed around the station. Grey had told her what a great job she’d done managing the station while he and Tim were out of commission and she swore she’s seen both Angela, Nyla and even Carradine giving her subtle, if not speculative, looks. If she was right, Tim being her supervisor might not be an obstacle much longer.
She snapped herself back to the present and hitched the smile back on her face
“Where are the happy couple anyway?” she asked, casting a quick glance around the space. She spotted Nyla and James with Angela and Wesley. She gave them a quick wave, turning when Ben finally spotted John and Bailey. She and Ben made their way towards them
“Lucy!” Bailey greeted as she threw her arms around her “I’m so glad you could make it”
“Are you kidding” Lucy laughed as she hugged Bailey back “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world” She pulled away and hugged John “I’m so happy for you guys, seriously” she said, her smile genuine as she looked at them both
“We owe you so much” Bailey said, looking at John briefly before returning her gaze to Lucy. Her eyes were sparkling with both happiness, and a maybe a tear or two “I wouldn’t be here without you”
Lucy blushed and shook her head slightly, knowing exactly what Bailey was referring to “It wasn’t just me. The whole team worked out getting you out of that trap. Team effort”
Bailey must have sensed that Lucy was slightly uncomfortable because she didn’t press, instead just squeezed Lucy’s hand “Well, anyway, we are so pleased you are here. Are Chris and Tamara here?” she asked, glancing around to restaurant as if hoping to spot them.
“Uh, Chris is joining me once he finishes work and Tamara had to stay home to work on a paper that’s due but she sends you all her love” Lucy replied. She’d been....disapointed that Tamara had had to stay home tonight but she was so proud of the hard work Tamara was putting in to school.
“OK” John nodded “well please, help yourself to a drink.” John smiled, wrapping his arm round Bailey “Food should be served shortly”
Lucy nodded and leaving John, Bailey and Ben, made her way to the bar. She would definitely need a drink.
She had just taken a long sip when she heard his voice
“Well, fancy seeing you here?”
Lucy turned and found herself staring into the impossibly blue eyes of Tim Bradford
She blushed and then smirked “This is totally my scene” she argued “it’s you who doesn’t like the beach remember?”
Tim gave a small chuckle but shook his head slightly “No, I don’t like the ocean. The beach.....” he trailed off
“Is a close second?” she asked, a smile tugging at her lips
Tim gave her a small smile before replying “It felt right to be here.....after everything”
Lucy’s smile faded again slightly, the unspoken words between them clear.
“No Chris?” he asked and then swallowed as if he regretted asking
Lucy shook her head “He’s meeting me here later”
Tim nodded and seemingly at a loss for something to say he simply stood next to her in silence for a few moments
“Have you-“
“Do you-“
They both spoke at the same time and then stopped, gesturing for the other to continue
Lucy opened her mouth to speak before a voice stopped her
“Lucy!” Chris greeted “Hey Tim”
Lucy braced herself slightly before turning and greeting Chris
“Hey, you made it” she smiled, accepting a kiss to her cheek
“Yeah, I wrapped things earlier than I thought. If I’d known I would have offered to pick you up. You look stunning by the way” he stepped back slightly and swept his eyes over her. The gesture was probably meant to feel Lucy appreciated; instead she simply felt on display, exposed.
Tim cleared his throat and mumbled something about speaking to Angela before picking up his drink and walking away.
Lucy watched him walk away before turning her attention back to Chris. She would give him tonight she decided, then she would tell him they were over.
Lucy eventually found herself sat with Nyla, Angela, Aaron and Tim laughing and talking about the recent events at the station including Smitty’s latest antics. Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy noted Chris talking to Bailey and John. The latter gave Chris a big smile and a nod while the former hugged him. Lucy frowned but figured he was just congratulating them. She turned her attention back to the table and immersed herself in conversation about Jack and baby Leah.
After the wait staff had finished circling with trays of food, Lucy and Tim found themselves alone at the table. Lucy was feeling pleasantly buzzed, the twinkling lights adding to the general ambience of the evening. She sighed gently
“You ok” he asked
“Yeah” she replied “I’m just thinking how lucky John and Bailey are to have each other, you know”
Tim nodded “They certainly look happy”
They both glanced over to where John and Bailey were currently slow dancing to the live band Ben had procured, completely wrapped up in each other. Their attention wandered to the other couple dancing; Angela and Wesley, Nyla and James, Wade and Luna
“I hope I have that one day” Lucy said quietly, wistfully
“You and Chris ok?” he asked, his voice changing slightly, heavy with emotion
Lucy shrugged but before she could elaborate, the band quieted down to silence and a voice, amplified by a microphone started speaking
“Uh, excuse me everyone. I hope you don’t mind me interrupting briefly but I uh, I wanted to say a few words if I may”
Lucy froze when she saw Chris, stood on the raised platform the band were playing from. She swallowed, a flicker of unease curling in her belly
“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate John and Bailey on their engagement. You guys deserve every happiness and I hope you have many happy years together”
There were a few smattered claps and whoops from the assembled guests before silence fell once again. Lucy noticed Angela looking over at her and Tim with a slight frown on her face
Lucy turned her attention back to Chris, the flicker of unease growing slightly
“Uh, like Bailey and John, I too have had the pleasure of knowing and being with someone who makes me unbelievably happy. Lucy?” he caught her eye “Lucy, would you come up here for a moment please?”
Lucy sat there stunned for a second before realising that everyone was looking at her. She realised she had no choice but to join Chris and get whatever he was doing over with. She slowly made her way to the stage, frowning slightly when she passed Bailey who squeezed her arm with a big smile.
She joined Chris on the stage and could only look on in mute horror as Chris continued
“Lucy, you have been by my side through one of the worst things to ever happen to me. You are my rock, my light in the dark and the love of my life” he paused and Lucy gasped as he dropped to one knee in front of her. He held out a small box, managing to open it one handed as he continued “Lucy will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?”
Lucy couldn’t move. She was frozen. She could sense everyone staring at her, waiting for her answer. She managed to finally lift her eyes to find the one person she could always count on.
Tim was staring back at her. His face was frozen in an expression of shock, denial and.....hurt. She watched him shakily get to his feet and walk away. A muted cough to her right brought Lucy screaming back to the situation in front of her. She swallowed, looking back down at Chris. He looked so hopeful. How could he think she was ready to be proposed to? They weren’t even living together, she didn’t even think she’d said “I love you” to him yet, but he thought they were ready for marriage.
She watched his eyes narrow slightly, and his smile falter as it seemed to hit him that her answer might actually not be “yes”.
“Chris” she stuttered “I.....I.....I’m sorry” and then she fled. She stumbled her way off the stage, the crowd gathered on the makeshift dance floor parted for her as she hurried to leave the restaurant. Wiping tears as she went. She was vaguely aware of Ben’s voice through the sound system but not the words he was saying.
She walked quickly down the pier, her arms hugging herself, tears running down her face as she remembered the look on Tim’s face. She heard her name being called but afraid it was Chris, she kept going. It was only when the voice called out “Officer Chen” that she stumbled and turned
“Angela?”
Angela caught up to her, her expression showing nothing but concern for the younger woman.
“Where’s Chris?” Lucy asked
“Aaron advised him he was best off finishing the night at his place. He left” Angela shrugged
“Oh god” Lucy groaned as she sank down to the ground “How......how could he think....”
“It was a pretty shitty thing to do” Angela agreed, sitting down beside Lucy “I mean hijacking someone else’s engagement party.” She shook her head
“Oh god, poor Bailey and John” Lucy groaned again
“They’re fine” Angela soothed “but I don’t think they’re really who you’re worried about, chica”
Lucy snapped her eyes to Angela “What do you mean?”
“You remember I’m a detective yeah?” she gave a small smile, nudging Lucy as she did “also I have eyes”
Lucy stared at her so Angela continued “I saw Tim’s face just before he left. You know, he’d gotten really good at hiding his pain and true feelings” she paused “until you came along”
Lucy stuttered “I....I don’t....”
“You get him. And he gets you” she paused “He loves you.....and I think you love him too” she added quietly
“What?” Lucy choked out “No, we’re.....we’re friends. And....and-“
“Lucy, I see the way you look at each other. The way you are around each other. You’re denying yourselves and I think if you both stop, you could have something really great”
Lucy swallowed “How can I face him after......this” she gestured vaguely towards the restaurant
Angela shrugged “Only one way you’re gonna know”
Lucy suddenly surged to her feet but then stumbled “I left my bag.....and-“ she stopped when she saw Angela was holding out her bag
Lucy’s rideshare dropped her off outside Tim’s. The interior light was on which meant he was still up. She took a deep breath and walked up the path to his door. She hesitated slightly. What if he didn’t want to see her. She remembered the look of hurt on his face just before he left. She hated that she was the reason for that look. He’d never looked so broken. Before she could arrange her thoughts properly, the door swung open and there he stood