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“Put the gun down!” Tim yells, he notices that the suspect moved their finger to the trigger. Before the suspect could pull the trigger. Tim fire off two rounds, after the suspect fell to the ground he kicked the gun aside and holstered his own weapon. He radioed for an RA and started to administer aid. The suspect had a mask on, so once he applied enough pressure. Tim pulled off the mask. Once the mask was off he looked at the suspect his stomach dropped “Lucy!?”
“Tim?” Tim hears Bailey’s voice come from behind, “What happened?” Tim is speechless, Bailey kneels and cuts Lucy’s shirt and places leads on her, “There is no pulse.” Bailey starts CPR while her partner places some gauze on the wound. They continued to try to save Lucy. But she’s lost too much blood and there was no pulse, “Tim, I am so sorry.”
“No!” Tim screams. He becomes breathless.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Tim's eyes open up and he sits straight up. Lucy is sturs in her sleep. He is trying to catch his breath.
“Babe?” Lucy says sleepily, “What’s wrong?”
Tim doesn’t respond and tries to calm down his breathing. Lucy reaches over to turn on the bedside lamp. She sees Tim trying to catch his breath. Lucy sits up.
“Tim look at me,” Lucy says softly. Tim turns to face Lucy. She places a hand on his bicep, “Breath with me.” Tim is staring into Lucy’s eyes his breathing starts to slow down, “Okay will you tell me what happened?” Tim breaks the staring contest with Lucy and looks at the clock on the nightstand. It’s around three in the morning.
“Lucy? You’re okay. ”Tim mumbled.
“Yeah, are you okay?”Lucy answered and questioned. She has her own experience with nightmares and when Chris came home from the hospital. However, with Tim, she hasn’t experienced them with him. She doesn’t know what works best with him. She knows that he isn’t one to talk about his feelings right away.
“Just a nightmare,” Tim answered. He gets them when he is either stressed or if he is anxious about something. But never out of the blue and normally it's about his time in the army, his dad, and in the last two years; not being able to find Lucy in time.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Lucy asks him, knowing that the answer will be either a ‘no’ or ‘not right now’.
“Not at three in the morning, how about we try to go back to sleep,” Tim suggests, knowing that they both have tomorrow off.
“Okay,” Lucy answered, she reaches over to turn off the light. Tim lays back down and turns to face Lucy. She lays back down and turns towards Tim, “Babe, if you want to talk you can.”
“ I know,” Tim sighed. He places his hand on Lucy’s waist. They closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Tim was the first to wake up, Lucy is peacefully asleep taking soft deep breaths. Tim just lies there and watches her sleep. He wants this to be his forever, they’ve been dating for almost a year now. He has plans to go buy a ring one day, but he doesn’t know if Lucy is ready. They’ve lightly talked about marriage, kids, and grandkids it’s been in passing. When Isabel came to visit a couple of months ago, she asked if they could sell the house. Tim knew that this day would come, he has been planning on selling the house once he and Lucy start to have a family. The house that he and Isabell had gotten was small. However, she asked if they could sell it so she could have half the money to help her get her eggs frozen. Tim agreed and so he moved in with Lucy and Tamara, Kojo has luckily trained well enough that the transition from the house to the apartment was a breeze. Now that they’ve been living together. Tim has started to seriously think about marriage, since they started dating he’s seen a whole new future. He sees growing old with Lucy, having a brown-eyed little girl and a blue-eyed young man, and then watching them group and have kids of their own.
“Babe, you’re thinking too loud,” Lucy sleepily mumbled.
“I’m sorry.”Tim quickly apologized.
“What are you thinking about?” Lucy asked while she turned to face Tim.
“Nothing,” Tim replied. He knows that even though Lucy is still half asleep, she knows is a lie.
“What do you want to do today?” Lucy questioned as she slowly opens her eyes.
“I say we get up and have breakfast, I have a few errands to do, but I have a surprise plan for tonight. ” Tim said to Lucy as she rolls over to look at him.
“Okay, but I need to shower,” Lucy asked.
“Would you like for me to join you?” Tim questioned. He knew the answer to that.
“Please.”Lucy trailed off. Tim got up from the bed and headed into the bathroom, Lucy soon follows him in there. Tim starts shaving his beard, and Lucy starts the water and gets the towels ready. She starts to take off her shirt, Tim stops shaving and watches as his girlfriend strips naked. Then he sees the black letters on her ribs, “What?” Lucy questions after she throws her shirt into the laundry basket.
“Nothing, can I stare at my breathtaking girlfriend as she’s getting undressed,” Tim replied. He continues shaving. Lucy rolls her eyes and gets into the shower. They take a quick but steamy shower. Once, Lucy gets finished she steps out of the bathroom and starts to figure out what to wear.
“Babe?” Lucy called out. Tim is brushing his teeth.
“Yeah,” he replied
“What are we doing tonight?” Lucy questioned.
“It’s a surprise,” Tim said as he was walking back into the room. He could sense the frustration, “Just wear something comfortable,”
“Do I need a jacket? Lucy asked as Tim is putting on his boxers and socks.
“I don’t think so,” Tim responded him knowing that she’ll probably get cold but that his excuse to give her his, as a gentleman, or for them to snuggle.
Lucy got her bra and underwear on, she picked out this vibrate yellow shirt with a white floral skirt. Tim picked out his white henley with a blue overshirt. Once the couple got dressed, they went out to the kitchen and started breakfast.
“So, are you going to tell me why you woke up at three in the morning gasping for air?” Lucy inquired.
“You remember that?” Tim quipped back. While he is making him and her some avocado toast. Tim would say it’s very hipster but he truly likes it.
“Yeah, I remember that. Why wouldn’t I?” Lucy replied.
“I knew that you would, I just don’t want to talk about it right now,” Tim honestly replied.
“Okay, well I know that it startled me,” Lucy confesses, “ and startled you. This is the first time you’ve woken me up from a nightmare.”
“Yeah, I know,” Tim replied. He sat down the plate, grabbed two cups, and poured some coffee into them. He then grabbed the sugar and milk. Lucy starts to make her coffee, and so did Tim. Once he poured his sugar and stirred his coffee. He sat down next to Lucy and ate his toast, and she did too. They made their normal morning chatter.
Tim hasn’t had a nightmare in a while, a part of him attribute to the ball of sunshine that sleeps next to him; allows him to explore every part of her body, and allows him to be him. Another part of him attributes it to the fact that he’s been mentally tired.
Once they finished breakfast and their coffee, Lucy quickly put the dishes in the dishwasher. At this point, it was around eleven in the morning. Tim had a few errands they need to run that included getting Kojo groomed, his hair cut, and getting the surprise for tonight ready. Lucy had to finish cleaning out her closet to make room for Tim and she had to do a quick study session. Because the detective’s exam is coming up soon.
“So, I’m going to finish going threw my clothes, and maybe get a quick study session in,” Lucy questioned Tim while he put on his shoes.
“Okay, I’m taking the boy to the groomer, getting my hair cut, and then I’ll be back,” Tim said. He lean down and kissed Lucy’s lips.
Tim and Kojo left, and Tamara finally came out of her room.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” Lucy joked with Tamara, Tam responded with a grunt, “So, what are you going to get up to?”Lucy questioned the young adult as she pours herself a cup of coffee.
“I am going to lock myself in the apartment these finals are kicking my ass,” Tamara responds.
“Okay, please go out and get some fresh air, and don’t forget ” Lucy chimed.
Once Tim got back, Lucy was in the zone she was organizing her hanging space. She knows that Tim will want the dress uniforms together, with all the accessories. Tim walks into their bedroom.
“Hey, I’m home,” Tim called out. Lucy turns around.
“Hey, come here let me see?” Lucy ordered. Tim walks over and leans down, “It looks nice.”
“There's not a difference,” Tim says bluntly, “Anyways, are you ready for your surprise?”
“Yeah, where are we going?” Lucy asked before Tim could answer, “It’s a surprise.” Tim rolls her eyes and smiles.
“I was going to tell you, but I guess I’m not now,” Tim says mockingly, Lucy Diggs her brown sandals. Tim walks into the kitchen and feeds Kojo, Lucy is not far behind. She notices that some of the throw pillows from the couch are not there anymore, also that there is a picnic basket sitting by the door. Tim picks up the picnic basket and takes lucy hand and leads her to the truck. ,” Do you trust me?”
“ Always,” Lucy responded.
“Okay, do not look in the back of the truck.” Tim order.
“Okay,” Lucy responded.
Tim helped Lucy up into his truck, he runs around to the other side of his truck and puts the picnic basket into the back, and gets in. He starts the truck. Lucy starts to notice that they’re driving toward Trebek's Open space. Lucy has always loved it just when they escape from the busyness of the city. They’ve gone on multiple hikes and drives up and down the coast.
“Are we-?” Lucy starts to question.
“Yes.” Tim cut Lucy off.
As soon as they arrive at the lookout spot, Tim parks the truck and they both get out. He opens the hatch and all Lucy sees are some blankets and pillows. Tim sets the picnic basket on the side and helps Lucy up. Then he gets up himself. He opens the basket and pulls out two champagne glasses and a bottle of Veuve.
“What are we celebrating?” Lucy questions, she is trying to think. Did she forget their anniversary, his birthday, or some other minute detail that he weirdly remembers?
“No, I wanted to lay underneath the stars with my girlfriend,” Tim replied honestly.
“Is that so?” Lucy questioned, Tim popped the champagne and poured each other a glass.
“Yes, it is.” Tim replied, “ To you, and us, and this amazing clear night.” They clinked drinks.
Tim and Lucy sipped their champagne. They lay down and looked at the stars. Tim takes her hand and interlaces their fingers. Her hand fits so perfectly in his, he brings it up and kisses it. Lucy just smiles. They just listen to the sound of complete silence. In the shop, if Lucy was quiet for this long. Tim knew somewhere in his gut that something was wrong but now being her boyfriend he knew that sometimes her silence isn’t alarming. He turns his head to look at Lucy, and all he could see is her in his forever.
They’ve been dating for almost a year, and they both know that they love each other. However, they haven’t said those three words, eight letters. Those three words mean everything to them. For Lucy, she hasn’t said those three words since her college boyfriend. When it came to Nolan, that was just a fling. Emmett was after Caleb and she never fully let him in. Chris was too easy; they never fought and he was moving way too fast for her. However, with Tim, everything is different but a good difference. For Tim, he hasn’t said those three words since Isabel. When it came to Rachel, was the first woman after his failed marriage. Then with Ashley, they were two different people. Ashley wants adventure, whereas Tim wants comfort and stability.
“Babe,” Lucy finally said, she turns her head to him looking up at the stars. Tim turns to look at Lucy.
“Yeah,” Tim responded. He knew what was going to come out of her mouth.
“What was your nightmare about?”Lucy questioned
“Um, I was apprehending a suspect,” Tim replied, “and he wasn’t putting down the gun. He moves his finger to the trigger. So I fired off a round, then I kicked the gun and started to administer aid. The suspect had a mask on so I removed it, and it was you.”
“Tim,” Lucy said breathlessly
“Then Bailey came in and attached you to the AED, and there was no plus. Bailey declared you dead, then I woke up.” Tim replied. Lucy sits up and Tim follows her, she is studying his face.
“Swettie, come here.” Lucy pulls Tim into a hug, “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, because I know you are here. Alive.” Tim responds they release from the hug. Tim takes Lucy's hand, “this is probably the first nightmare I’ve had in a while.”
“How often do you normally have,” Lucy questions.
“Not that often, usually get them if I get stressed or anxious about anything,” Tim replies.
“Do you have any reoccurring ones?”Lucy asked, she doesn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.
“Yeah. Sometimes it's about my dad, my time overseas, and in the last two years not finding you in time.”Tim replies. He hasn’t talked to Lucy about his time overseas, or the fact that when Rosalind escaped and she was off at UC school. He had a recurring nightmare of not finding her in time.
“Tim,” Lucy mumbles her eyes starting to gloss over with tears, “other than this morning, when was the last time you had one?”
“Probably, the night that Rosline was killed,” Tim said as he cupped Lucy’s face, “When I was going down into the basement of the house that Bailey was captured in. Part of me was happy that you would’ve been the last thing I saw. If something was down there.”
“ I wanted to argue with you so much,” Lucy admits, “because I knew you were protecting me, but the thought of not going down with you killed a small part of me.”
“I will always protect you Even though I know you can take care of your own,” Tim said trying to lighten the mood.
“I will always protect you too.” Lucy smiles and leans into Tim and kisses him. They break apart, “I’ve never felt this safe.” Lucy places her hand on his chest.
“What?”Tim questioned.
“Well, after Caleb and losing Jackson. I was just looking for sorta comfort, I knew I could lean on John and Tamara. But I never truly felt safe.”Lucy replied.
“What about Chris?” Tim questioned.
“Um,” Lucy stalled she hasn’t told him about the time during trial prep or how she decided not to testify against Rosalind, “I need you to promise not to get angry or upset.”
“I promise,” Tim pleased.
“So, during trial prep, we went into the break room and I was talking with Tamara and Austin. Chris was humming.” Lucy takes a deep breath and in a slight pause, Tim knows what song she was talking about, “He apologized, I asked to watch the body cam footage.”
“Whose?” Tim asked
“Yours,” Lucy answered honestly, “John and Jackson both told me bits and pieces about that day. However,” Lucy starts to play with his overshirt, “I wanted to see it from your perspective.”
“That day, I didn’t know what I was going to do if,” Tim can’t finish that sentence. He leans in and kisses Lucy.
“Anyways, it took me a while to trust him again, but I never felt this safe,” Lucy admitted.
“I love you.” Tim confesses, “ I’ve been in love with you longer than I should probably admit. You are my best friend, partner, and my ball of sunshine.”
“ I love you too.”Lucy responded, “Same. I don’t know exactly when, but I knew that if I ever got to be with you, I wouldn’t let you go.” Tim couldn’t control himself,he clashed his lips with hers.
~The End ~