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Lucy Chen has been a cop for five years. She has had a successful career. She was UC for two of these years and took down criminal masterminds. It earned her a golden ticket. She was currently a detective at Mid-Wilshire.
Today, she was shopping for her god sons birthday gift when an armed gunman took the store. She was trying to figure out a way to take them down, when she heard crying. There was a little girl about three hiding in the clothes.
“Hi sweetie.” Lucy says gently. “I’m a police officer. Where’s your mommy and daddy?”
The little girl sniffles and shrugs. “Come here sweetheart.” The girl is wary, but she comes to Lucy. “I’ll keep you safe.”
They head to a stock room with other customers and some employees. Lucy needs to take control of the situation. From what she has gathered, it was an ex boyfriend of one of the employees and he was mad she broke up with him.
Lucy holds the girl. “What’s your name sweetie?”
She buries her head in Lucy’s chest. “Hannah.” She whispers.
“Where’s your mommy and daddy?”
She sniffles again. “Mommy is gone. She’s mean. Daddy left the store. I hid. I was a bad girl. He’s going to be mad.” She cries.
“He won’t be mad. He’ll be glad you’re safe. I need to go stop this bad man. Can you stay with-?”
She points to the sweet older lady next to her. “Shelly.” She answers.
“Shelly. This is Hannah. Can you watch her?” Shelly nods and takes Hannah.
“I’m a police officer. I’m going to try to take him down.” Lucy tells the group. “Do not leave until it’s deemed safe. Code word is boot.”
They all nod and Lucy heads out. She goes quietly until she reaches the gunman. He’s got the gun pointed at the young girl. He hears a noise and sees Lucy.
“LAPD. Put your gun down.”
“No. She deserves what’s coming.” He points the gun at the girl.
“I’m Lucy.” She tells the boy. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Collin.” He says turning back around. “She deserves everything bad that happens.”
“Collin. You don’t want to go to jail do you? What about your family?”
“I don’t want to disappoint them.” He cries out.
Lucy communicates with her eyes telling the employees to run while he’s distracted.
“Collin give me the gun. Please.” Lucy starts.
“NO!” He turns around and sees they’re gone.
“Where are they? This is your fault.” He aims he is gun at her. She shoots his leg to take him out, but not before grazing Lucy’s arm. The SWAT team dispatched heard and heads inside.
Lucy announces herself and shows her badge. They nod at her. She runs to the back and gives the code word. Little Hannah runs at her.
“Ms. Lucy.” She cries. “You hurt.”
“I’m okay. Let’s fine daddy okay?” Hannah nods and Lucy thanks everyone for their part. They all head outside the store. Hannah is clinging to Lucy tighter than ever. The paramedics come over to her.
“I’m fine right now.” She tries to wave them off.
“You’re bleeding. You are not okay ma’am.”
“Do you see daddy yet?” She shakes her head no. She brings Hannah with her to get taken care of. She’s still clinging to Lucy when she hears a loud “Hannah” being yelled.
“Daddy!” She jumps down and into his arms. “I’m sorry daddy. Ms.Lucy saved me.” She points.
Lucy sees the most gorgeous man she has ever laid eyes on.
“Thank you. I’m Tim. Tim Bradford. I’m so sorry. I was so scared baby.”
“You have one brave daughter. She’s an angel.”
“Daddy, can Lucy come to our house?” She looks at them both.
“Oh sweetie. I don’t know what Lucy has to do.”
“I mean, I gave my statement and I’m not working today. I would love to.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Daddy Lucy’s a police officer!” Hannah says proudly.
“She is? That’s awesome baby.” He stares at Lucy like she’s the most beautiful thing in the world. Lucy gets butterflies in her stomach. “Want to follow me?”
“Yes I will.” God Lucy. Get it together. You saved his daughters life.
They arrive at Tim’s house and go inside. Hannah runs off to play.
“She’s a great kid.” Lucy says.
“She is. She’s everything to me.” Tim replies back with a smile that Lucy can’t help but get butterflies from.
“So Tim. What do you do?”
“I’m actually a teacher. High school history and the football coach.”
“That’s admirable.”
“You’re a cop. How’s that?”
“It’s good. I did UC for two years before receiving a golden ticket. I am a homicide detective at Mid-Wilshire.” Lucy notices Tim flinches at the mention of UC. “Sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s not you. Hannah’s mom. She was a cop, UC. I thought she was cheating. Turns out she got addicted to drugs. She chose that life over us. I haven’t seen her since Hannah was born. Thank god she never did it when pregnant.”
“I’m so sorry Tim.”
“Thank you Lucy. You’re different. You must know Angela Lopez?”
“Angela’s my partner. Wait you know her?”
“We became best friends over the years.”
“You’re the guy she’s been trying to set me up with!” Lucy exclaims.
“Oh Angela. I wish I took her up on that sooner.” Tim says as he leans closer. “You’re amazing Lucy.”
“You’re pretty amazing too, so is your adorable daughter.”
“Thank you for keeping her safe Lucy. I’ve never been so scared.”
“Always Tim.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
Tim is grilling tonight. Corn on the cob, potatoes, and ribs. Lucy plays with Hannah and chats with Tim as he cooks. They eat together and Hannah asks to watch a movie. They do, once Hannah is bathed and put into pajamas.
She falls asleep halfway through and Tim puts her to bed. He comes back out to Lucy.
“I know we just met, but you’re different Lucy. I’d really like to take you out.”
“I’d love to go out with you Tim.” She says as she leans up to kiss him. They go out on dates and hang with Hannah. They keep it from Angela and she gets mad every time they turn her down for a blind date.
They show up together to Jack’s birthday a month later and Angela tells at them both before hugging them.
“You two idiots met?”
“She saved Hannah’s life.”
“Wait! You were at the store during the robbery?”
They both now. “She kept Hannah safe.”
“I always will.”
“You two are sickeningly sweet.”
“You wanted this Ange.”
They figured they would have met eventually, but this is a better story for the grandkids. They get married with Hannah and Angela by their sides. They have twins a year after their wedding, a boy and girl. Alexander and Ellie.
Lucy will always keep them all safe, but she knows Tim will always keep her safe as well. That day was scary, but it brought them together. Tim never forgot what Lucy did for them.
“I love you Lucy.” He says as he kisses her after the twins are born.
“I love you Tim.”
Their life was unexpected, in the best ways possible.