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It’s not like people don’t know that Tim cares about Lucy, but they don’t know how deep those feelings actually go. He knows that’s it’s only a matter of time before people find out they are dating but they have for the most part been doing pretty good. They keep their distance at work no matter how many times Tim wants to go over and walk besides her. They don’t normally ride in together and if they do they go in at separate times. It’s a pain but it’s worth it, Lucy is worth it.
But Tim knows there will be a breaking point and he guesses today is the day. The call comes in on the radio as Tim is driving to a scene with one of the metro guys. And Aaron’s voice comes in loud and clear over the radio. Tim grips the steering wheel, and he tries to ignore the fact that his heart feels like it’s going to jump out of his chest.
“We need an RA to the scene. Officer Chen has been shot.” Aaron voice says. Tim nearly runs into the car in front of him.
“Sir are you alright?” Mad Dog asks him. Tim doesn’t answer right away, he’s not sure he can talk without giving anything away.
“I’m fine.” He bites out. “Just my former Rookie.” My girlfriend. Mad Dog looks at him strangely.
“Didn’t know you cared about your former rookie so much sarge.” He says. And if Tim wasn’t on the verge of a panic attack he would retort back. No one knows how much he cares about Lucy. He continues driving and before he knows it he’s pulling into the hospital parking lot.
He ignores Mad Dog’s look and he gets out of the shop. “Sir.” Says Mad Dog his voice cautious. “We need to get to—”
“You go.” Tim snaps. He just needed to make sure Lucy was okay. He wouldn’t be able to focus if he didn’t at least see her. He would deal with Pine later.
Mad Dog climbs out of the shop and heads towards Tim. His face determined. “I will go with you.”
But Tim shakes his head, “No. You go to the scene. I- need to do this by myself.” He says. “There’s no need for both of us to get in trouble.” Mad Dog hesitates but nods and heads to the drivers side of the shop. Tim waits until he is gone and then he heads towards the emergency room.
He spots Aaron first and his nearly jumps out of his chest again when he’s sees his white shirt covered in blood.
“Thorsen.” Tim barks and the younger man jumps at his voice. Tim stands in front of him and looks at him expectantly.
“What’s the status on Chen?” He says his voice shaking a bit. Aaron sighs.
“She’s in surgery. The bullet just missed a main artery. She’s going to be fine.” He says. Tim closes his eyes. Thank god. But his chest still feels tight and he knows that it won’t go away until he sees Lucy with his own eyes.
“Sir what are you doing here?” Aaron asks him. Tim looks up at him words whirling around in his head.
“I heard it over the radio.” He says. “Lucy is important to me.” Aaron looks like he wants to say something. But he clamps his mouth shut. Smart man.
His phone buzzes and he answers already knowing who it is. “Bradford.” Pine barks. “Why aren’t you on scene?”
Tim takes a deep breath, ready to reveal his relationship with Lucy to Pine.
“I just need to be here.” He says. “Officer Chen was shot.”
Pine makes a noise over the phone. “Understood. You get one pass Bradford next time I won’t be so nice.” She says.
Tim sucks in a breath and he wonders if Mad Dog told Pine about how panicked he was in the shop. “Yes ma’am understood.” He says. Pine hangs up without saying goodbye and Tim turns back to Aaron.
“I guess we just wait.” He says. Aaron nods and Tim sits down in a chair. He puts his face in his hands and sucks in another breath. He just got Lucy after so many months of denial and pushing down feelings. After the UC op, and Ashley breaking up with him. He finally was brave enough to admit he wanted her. And she wanted him back. He couldn’t lose her. He’s not sure he would survive if he did.
Someone sits down next to him and he feels a hand on his back. He looks up to see Angela looking at him sympathetically.
“Tim.” She says quietly. He just shakes his head at her. He suspects Angela knows but her being well her.. she wasn’t going to admit until they came clean.
“It’s Lucy.” He whispers. Angela hums and runs a hand up his back and then down again. “How can I not worry?”
Angela hums again. “I know Tim.” She says quietly. “Believe me.” Tim doesn’t say anything else he just puts his head between his legs blinking back the tears.
It feels like an eternity before the surgeon came out. “Family of Lucy Chen.” He calls out. Tim jumps up without thinking.
“I’m her medical proxy.” He says. “Timothy Bradford.” The surgeon looks at him curiously, and the nods his head.
“Okay.” He says slowly. “The surgery was successful. We managed to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding. She is still asleep, but you can go in.” Tim is bouncing nervously on his toes.
“Can I-” He glances back at Aaron and Angela who are both standing behind him. “Can I see her please?”
The surgeon nods and leads him away to her room. He peeks in his heart pounding. She looks so small in the end and she’s covered in wires. Her eyes are closed and her hair is swept to the side. He pulls up a chair and grabs her hand rubs her hand.
“Lucy.” He says his voice shaking. “I was so worried. I did a very Un Bradford thing and rushed here. And you will either tease me or be mad at me but I don’t care. I just needed to see you.” Lucy doesn’t wake but Tim keeps talking. He talks until his throat his dry and he lays his head down next to her. He closes his eyes falling to sleep to the sound of her steady breathing.
***
Tim wakes up to fingers combing through his hair. He looks up to see Lucy staring at him her eyes tired.
“Hi.” He says his voice rough with sleep. He scoots closer to her, still holding her hand. “How long have you been up?”
“Just woke up.” She mutters. “And it was a pleasant surprise to wake up to my boyfriend beside me.” Tim smiles at boyfriend.
“Why aren’t you at work?” She asks. He scoffs and rubs his thumb across her palm.
“You know better than anyone I wouldn’t be able to concentrate knowing that you were hurt.” He says. Lucy hums and reaches up to cup his face.
“I know.” She says her eyes searching his face. “I’m glad you are here.” He stands up and bends over to kiss her softly. She reaches up to hold him in place despite still being attached to the IV and other machines.
“I was worried.” He says. She makes a soft noise and pulls him down to kiss her. It’s soft and slow and it’s much like their real first kiss.
“I hate that you were worried.” She mutters.
He kisses her again. He can’t seem to get enough of her now that he knows she’s okay. “I will always be worried about you Lucy.”
“Mmhmm.” Says Lucy. He puts his forehead against hers and breathes her in. They stay like that for a minute before there’s a cough from behind them. Tim jumps back and looks behind him to see Angela standing at the doorway with a smug look on her face.
“Aaron owns me fifty dollars.” She says. Tim rolls his eyes at her. And then leans down to kiss Lucy again feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.