Work Text:
Officer Penn has been a rookie for four months and his TO has not smiled, at least not smiled wide. Today, he can’t seem to wipe the smile off his face. Tim disappears before roll call and Penn goes to find him. He overhears the conversation that his TO is finishing.
“I love you too.” He hears Tim say. Penn’s face turns into one of confusion. Woah. Does he have a wife or girlfriend? I guess he isn’t a robot. “Be safe and have a good day too.” Penn scurries off, not wanting Tim knowing that he was spying or listening in. He’s always been tough and grumpy, so seeing him smile almost freaks Penn out. He is so lost in thought that he never sees Tim walk over to him. “Pay attention, boot.”
Penn jumps back and hates that he didn’t hear his TO come over to him. “Yes sir.” The rookie rushes to grab their bags and get their shop set up. Tim is eyeing him strangely, wondering what has him so distracted today, but he just brushes it off. He just wants this day to be over with and to go home. He’s been training Penn these past few months and is still trying to get him to break old habits. It hasn’t been easy.
A call comes in for a disturbance at a warehouse and Tim looks at Penn to accept the call. “You stay with me while we search the building. These old warehouses have too many hiding places. Just follow my lead.”
“Absolutely sir. I will watch your back.” Nolan and Ridley show up as well to help with their search. They’ve cleared most of the space when they hear a sound and see someone.
“He’s running!” Penn yells and starts to go after the person. Tim is right behind him and sees Penn take the person down.
“Tim.” Nolan yells his name. “You’re going to want to see this.”
They drag the suspect with them and come to a room. It looks like a bomb was being made here at some point. “What is this?”
The person they arrested is only a teenager. “I swear that I don’t know.”
Tim eyes him carefully. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Ben. I come here when I need to get away. This has nothing to do with me, I swear.” The boy says.
Penn rolls his eyes and Tim wants to slap him. “What did you see then?”
“There were four men here earlier. They…they took the bomb in their car. They were talking about making people pay. I’m sorry.”
Tim knows this situation could turn ugly and they need to figure out what the hell is going on. “Penn let him go.” Penn goes to protest but stops when he sees Tim’s face. “Is there anything else you can tell us? The smallest thing could help.”
Ben thinks about it. “There were two SUV’s, both dark. One had a scuff on the back right door. The other has no license plate.”
“Okay that’s good.” Tim waves Jan over. “Can you please take Ben home? He’s not in trouble.”
They head off and Tim knows that they need more help. “Is this a case for SWAT?” Nolan breaks him out of his thoughts. Penn notices Tim’s lips curl upward slightly.
“Yes, we need to bring them in on this. It’s bigger than any of us will be prepared for. This is so close to Hollywood’s jurisdiction so let’s call them in.”
Nolan agrees and makes some calls. “Boot, we need to preserve the scene and gather as much evidence as possible. Maybe we will get lucky and find a security camera.”
They start their search and thirty minutes later Tim hears a voice. “I heard you need some help.” He smiles at who is there but quickly remembers who his present company is.
“Sergeant Chen.”
“Bradford.” She walks over to him. Penn looks at the two and wonders what is happening. Right now, he can’t stop staring at the beautiful woman in front of him. He knows he stares too long because someone is snapping him out of it. “Pay attention, boot.”
The officers around him all start giggling and he is embarrassed for being caught staring. “As I was saying.” Sergeant Chen continues on. “We have been tracking a group that we believe are responsible for this bomb. They are wanted in connection with at least three other bombings in other countries.” Penn almost makes a comment but he decides not too. “These are dangerous criminals and we need to be vigilant. I’ll come back to Mid-Wilshire and work from there.”
Penn looks at his TO just as Chen finishes speaking. She walks over to him and he sees Tim smile. He walks over to catch the tail end of the conversation. “-can’t wait.” He clears his throat and Tim spins around.
“What do you want?” He is clearly annoyed with Penn.
“We’re ready to head back.” Miles has so many questions but he keeps them to himself. He wonders if this is about the case.
Tim drums his fingers along the steering wheel. Penn even thinks he hears him humming. “So that SWAT Sergeant.”
Tim’s head whips around so fast. “What about her?” He says coolly.
“She is pretty badass, especially leading SWAT. You don’t see too much of that and I definitely never saw it in Texas. It’s kind of hot.”
Tim slams on the brakes. “Sergeant Chen is a senior officer who has worked her ass off to get where she is. No thanks to cocky assholes like you who think she’s just a piece of ass.”
Penn throws his hands up. “I didn’t mean anything by it.” He cannot believe the outburst from Tim. “You’re on thin ice boot.”
They ride back in silence. Miles has never seen Tim show so many different emotions. It is kind of surprising to him. He stays quiet because he is already on Tim’s bad side. They find SWAT once they arrive and they’ve already set up in the briefing room. “What have we got?” Grey walks in. “Chen.” He smiles at her and Penn wonders how many people know her.
Lucy goes on in detail about the four men involved. “I’ve read what these men have done to others. They really don’t care about anyone and will try to take anyone down who is in their way. We need to find them.”
Angela and Nyla say hi to Lucy before getting to work. Suddenly Tim is in front of Miles. “Go help see what you can find on these men.”
“Yes sir.” He scurries out of the room as quickly as he can. Tim leans against one of the desks when Lucy comes over. “Are you still scaring your rookies?” He laughs.
“I’d like to think so but I don’t think that I ever scared you.” Tim’s smile puts a smile on her face.
She shakes her head at him. “I was the best damn rookie that you ever trained.”
Tim looks around before grabbing her hand. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. No one has ever been as great as you.”
“Please don't murder Penn.” Tim wants to roll his eyes. “Let me guess, he had something to say about me.”
“How do you even know that?” She always knows.
Lucy lets out a wet laugh. “The looks you keep throwing his way and staring him down. You forget that I know you better than you know yourself some days.”
Tim rubs his thumb along her hand. “Yes you do. There’s a reason I married you. He was listening to my conversation this morning. He knows that I have a wife or girlfriend. I think my smiling creeped him out. Let’s see how long it takes him to realize who I’m married to.”
Lucy rolls her eyes and goes back to the board. “You are ridiculous.”
“Yet, you love me.” She blushes slightly.
“Mmm, that I do Bradford, that I do.”
Angela picks that moment to come running in. “Will you two stop giving each other heart eyes and get back to the case?” Tim goes to say something but Lucy stops him.
“What did you find?” Lucy goes back into command mode.
“We traced their movements based on credit card records. They tried to hide, but this one.” Angela places one of the pictures on the board. “He’s the weak link. He has a gambling addiction and a sweet tooth.”
She points to a store he has frequented twice a day for the last two weeks. “I found a rental next door and the owner confirmed that she rented to all of them.”
Lucy hopes this is their chance to get these guys. “Let’s go kick some doors down.” She looks at Tim. “Are you and your rookie joining us?”
He smiles. “Absolutely. I’ll take any chance to have your six.”
“And watch your backside as you do it.” Angela grumbles.
They shoot her a look and she laughs at both of them. “I don't just stare at her ass.” Tim mutters but they both hear him.
“Sometimes you do babe, not that I ever mind.” Lucy shrugs. “Now be good and go get ready to take these men down. Make sure your rookie isn’t just staring at me.”
Tim nods and goes to tell Penn to get ready. They follow SWAT and the detectives to the scene. “Listen up.” Lucy looks at everyone. “These men are dangerous. I’m repeating myself, but we need to pay attention.” She looks right at Penn. “And we need to watch each other’s backs. Let’s go.”
They are split into four teams and each go in through a different door. Luck is on their side because the men and the bomb are still there. Why they didn’t do anything with it is beyond them, but it looks like they were stopped just in time.
When they get back to the station, Lucy once again commands the room. “Thank you all for your hard work today and for allowing us to crash here. We couldn’t have brought them down without any of you. Now go home and enjoy your night.”
She goes to clean up. “Go start the paperwork Penn.” Tim startles him just as he was staring at Lucy again.
Tim goes to finish his and then change out. Lucy goes to speak to Grey and then waits for Tim. Penn decides to walk over to her. “It was great working with you ma’am.”
“You too. You have a great TO. You should listen to him. He’s very good at what he does.” Lucy crosses her arms.
“I don’t know about that. He doesn’t seem to be a fan of mine.”
“That’s his job.” Lucy says. “He trained me and look at where I am.”
Penn is very surprised to hear that, but he also knows that he can finally ask what he wants. “Maybe we can get dinner and go over any secrets you have about him.”
Lucy stifles back a laugh and shakes her head. “Penn, I’m going to give you some advice.”
“What’s that?” She didn’t even answer the question he asked.
“Make sure that when you flirt with a beautiful woman, that she isn’t your TO’s wife.” She pats his cheek when Tim walks over. “And trust me, there’s some secrets that you’ll never know.”
“I..I’m sorry. Have a good night.” He runs off and Tim knows he missed something. He heard the end of the conversation and probably doesn’t want to know.
Tim claims her lips with his own. “I love how hot you get when you’re jealous, but there’s no need to, baby. I told him he shouldn’t flirt with his TO’s wife. He may never come back.”
“I wouldn’t complain.” Lucy slaps his chest.
“How about you just take me home?”
Tim smiles and wraps his arm around her waist. Penn thought he might be clear, until it was announced that Lucy was moving from SWAT to Watch Commander. He didn’t know how he would survive his rookie year. At least Lucy took a little bit of pity, albeit, not much. Tim may have eased up but it seemed to be because of his wife. Penn didn’t want to know especially after he caught Tim sneaking into her office and shutting all the blinds.