Chapter Text
Before changing for the day, Lucy had to stop by to get a bigger size for her pants. She hadn’t noticed the unintentional weight gain. Probably thanks to a certain someone.
The situation with Tim had made her stressed.
It only got worse when he broke things off. When Lucy had gotten home. She went straight to her room and cried herself to sleep. The next day, she ate all day long.
Tamara had been worried and demanded to know what was wrong. To say she was angry with Tim was an understatement. For Lucy, she put a pause on moving in with her friends.
Lucy was more important. The mother figure she’s had for the last three years. Tamara had to make sure, she was alright. And assure her, that Lucy wasn’t stopping her from doing what she wants.
Back to work, Lucy made her way into roll call. Taking her usual seat with John and Aaron. The younger officer slid a take go cup in front of her.
He offered a smile. “Tamara told me your machine was acting up.”
She smiled and squeezed his arm. “You’re the best.” She took a sip and the warm nutty taste poured down her throat.
Grey walked to the front seeing everyone was there. He shut the doors and leaned over the podium next to Tim.
As usual, Tim avoided any gaze with Lucy. She learned to not be offended anymore. As the days went by, the less upset she was. Honestly, she was more bitter, at this point.
Grey cleared his throat. “Alright before I start with this next case. I have to bring something to attention what we forgot last week.”
The watch commander walked up to them and laid the pieces of fabric in front of Lucy. He smiled down at her.
“Officer Chen has been promoted to P3. Which means, those under her, you better listen.” He made his way back front. “Hell, even higher, I wouldn’t mess with her. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”
Tim showed no emotion. The him, everyone had gotten to like, wasn’t there anymore. He had since, went back to TO Tim. But that also meant, Lopez still didn’t put up with his shit.
“Lucy, I am sorry for not giving those to you earlier. I hope you can forgive me.”
Lucy nodded at him with a big smile. “It’s quite alright, sir.”
Grey turned his head to Tim and handed him the remote. “Sargent Bradford. Why don’t you tell us about this case?”
“Four victims found dead, exactly three weeks between each of them. All age thirteen. COD is a shot to the head, medical examiner determined in the exact spot.”
“So this wasn’t an act of passion. This was planned.” John concluded.
Tim nodded and continued. “The suspect is Rio Vasquez. He has a few outstanding warrants. So he’s on the run.”
“The dumping ground is within ten miles of St Stephen’s playground. All in different directions. We believe he has some sort of connection with that place.” Grey added.
“We have several places, Vasquez could be hiding. When you all split off, I’ll give each pair an address and I want you to scope it out, immediately.”
“Alright, usual partners. I want this guy found, by the end of the day. Why? Tomorrow will be three weeks since the last victim.”
Aaron raised his hand and waited to be called on. “So the next vic is alive?”
Grey shrugged. “That’s what we’re hoping. Chen, the detectives have requested you today. Alright, stay safe everyone.”
Lucy made her way to the detective’s pin. A couple were confused seeing a patrol officer come over.
Nyla looked up at her and smiled. “Just the girl we were looking for.”
“I figured it was you two, who wanted to see me.” She sat down between their desks.
Angela shrugged. “I figured you’d have fun with us. Especially with Tim being extra Tim today.”
Lucy sighed and gave her the look. Which had to be the millionth time since the break. “I told you guys. I am perfectly fine. I have come to terms with it.”
Nyla typed on her computer and looked over at her fellow detective. “Has she forgotten that we’re detectives.”
Reaching a hand over to Lucy’s and squeezed it. “No, you’re not honey. You got dumped, claiming he was protecting you. Ever since I’ve been here, you two had been smitten with each other.”
“Even before that.” Angela spoke up.
Lucy took a deep breath and nodded. In her head, admitting that she was still a little crushed. They declared their love, a day before Nolan’s wedding. The I love you seemed like nothing.
Angela rolled over so the three of them could discuss the case. They needed to catch Lucy up.
Nyla clicked the first profile. A thirteen year old girl popped up, staring back at them. “Sarah Turner, was raised by her single father after her mother chose a lifetime of drugs. Her dad reported her missing after six hours of not coming home. She had tennis practice till four. Day and time of death: September 3rd, 2023. Around six in the morning.”
Next one. “Amanda Cortez, her parents are in the midst of a nasty divorce. Fought all the time. She packed a bag and claimed she was just going to a friend’s house to spend the night. Mom filed a missing persons report when she didn’t show up.
As Grey said, exactly three weeks after Sarah: October 1st, 2023. The time was around seven in the morning.”
They noticed an uneasy look on Lucy’s face. Nyla clicked off the page and laid a hand on the youngest officer’s arm.
“Lucy, you alright?”
Lucy just gulped, looking at the both of them. “I’m just going to use the restroom. If you don’t mind.”
“Go ahead.” Angela told her.
Once in the bathroom. Lucy went straight into one of the stalls and the contents of her stomach ended up in the toilet. She was done, she wiped her mouth with a wad of toilet paper. Tossing it in the bowl and flushing. Made her way to the sink to wash her hands.
Couldn’t go back out. Not just yet. She sat on the little bench, provided there. All thanks to a fellow officer suffering from PCOS.
Lucy’s phone dinged with a message.
Nyla: You’ve been in there for a while. Everything alright with you?
She took a few deep breaths then felt tears brimming her eyes.
I’m alright, be out in a sec
Another ten minutes passed since she sent that text. The opening of the door, snapped Lucy out of her trance. Both Nyla and Angela were in.
Angela took a seat next to her. “What’s going on?”
Lucy leaned her head back with her eyes closed. She shook her head when another wave of nausea hit her. She shot up again and ran to one of the stalls.
Nyla right behind her, she massaged Lucy’s lower back in circles. As the poor girl threw up again. She gagged, not being able to keep up with the non stop vomit.
Three minutes later. Lucy spit out the last of the acid in her mouth. She flushed the toilet and weakly turned around. Sitting down on the seat. Nyla helped wipe her lips.
“The case, hit you that hard?” She asked.
Lucy shrugged. “I guess.” She stood up with Nyla’s help and sat back down on the bench.
She turned to their friend. “Can you get Lucy some water?”
“Of course.” Angela stood up and tucked some hair behind Lucy’s ear. “Anything else?”
Lucy just shook her head and the other woman left to fetch things. The bathroom was filled with silence, till she admitted something.
“Those two girls…they’re what…um, they look exactly like what I imagined our kids would look like.” The rest of her words caught in her throat.
Choking out a sob, Nyla pulled her in a tight hug. Knowing Lucy really needed it. She tucked her head in the older woman’s neck. That’s where she felt the safest on anyone she hugged.
Lucy’s voice was tiny. “Now, I’m never going to get that with him.” Her heart shattered saying that.
“Oh honey.” Nyla cooed to her. She pressed a soft kiss to her friend’s hair.
Angela slowly slipped back in. She came back with a water bottle and a couple snacks. She had also brought her back.
“Is she alright?” She asked, Nyla.
Nyla ran a hand over Lucy’s head. “She will be.” She looked down. “Angela’s back with water. Take a few slow sips.”
Lucy sat back up straight. She accepted the cracked open water. The ice cold water felt so good on her burning throat. She sipped how Nyla instructed her to do.
Angela also handed her a bag of pretzels. Figuring everything in her stomach, was now gone. She wanted to give her something simple, but carby.
The Latina squatted down in front of her. “Now, Luce. I have to ask you a question. I do not want you to freak out.”
Lucy licked her lips and kept her attention on the woman in front of her. She nodded for her to continue.
“When was your last period?”
Angela watched her pull out of her phone to check the app. Tears appeared in Lucy’s eyes once again. It was a few moments before she answered.
Her dull, teary brown eyes looked confused. Brows knitted together. Lucy took a sharp intake of breath. She licked her lips and looked at the two women.
“I-..I-I don’t think I’ve had once, since October. Unless, I forgot to write it down. Oh God, no.”
Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, again. No, no. She didn’t want to think of the possibility. Everything was starting to make sense. The weight gain. The throwing up.
Angela tapped her thigh for her to open up her eyes. She placed the test box in her hands. Lucy sniffled, looking at her.
Nyla squeezed her hand. “No matter, the results. We’re here for you.” She looked over at Angela, who nodded.
She handed Lucy the bottle again to get her bladder a little more filled. A couple minutes later, she made her way into a stall.
“You just happen to have that in your bag?” Nyla asked her friend.
Angela shrugged, sitting down. “Hey, you never know. Wesley may have gotten a v done, but I’ve heard stories. Better safe than sorry. Especially with Evers’ super sperm.”
There was a little anxiety built up in Lucy’s. So it took a bit for her to pee on the sticks. She made sure to catch it, mid stream. Capped the two tests and wiped herself before hooking her pants back up.
Nyla and Angela watch Lucy emerge from the stall. She placed the pieces of plastic down to wash her hands.
“How long?”
“Five minutes.” Lucy murmured.
They spent those five minutes in complete silence. Since that’s what Lucy requested. She didn’t want to take about it, until they knew it was for real.
It seemed like forever to Lucy. Finding out the results could be forever and how the results turned out. She possibly couldn’t ignore Tim forever.
Angela’s time went off.
Lucy took a deep breath before stepping towards the sink. Her breathing hitched. Two bold YES+ stared back at her. Her hand shook as she brought it to her mouth.
She choked back a sob.
Nyla was the first one to get up and pulled the distraught woman into a hug. She didn’t hug back, but she didn’t care. Lucy kept a hand on her mouth.
The other detective pulled away, so Angela could hug her next. The younger one ended up hugging her back. Nothing against Nyla, Lucy just felt closer to Lopez. Being Tim’s best friend and everything.