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“Of course I still love you!” Tim yells as they can hear the fire completely surrounding them.
“Do you?” He yells.
“It doesn’t matter!”
“So that’s a yes.”
“Oh, you are infuriating!”
“I know! I know.” He scoots closer and cradles her head as the fire roars on over them.
Both of their hearts are beating so fast, this is by far the most intense and scared they’ve been. If they were going to go out, Tim needed Lucy to know how he felt.
He goes to say something but feels his arm is wet. He looks down and sees Lucy’s whole body shaking. He knows it’s probably a combination of all of the adrenaline and that she’s crying.
“Lucy—“
“Stop. Not right now,” she sniffles. He just grabs ahold of her tighter hoping this nightmare they were in would be over with soon.
•••
After who knows how long, it’s eerily quiet outside. They carefully take the fire blanket off of them while climbing out and see the fire has completely moved away from them.
Tim immediately calls it in, shocking Grey when Tim said they were in the clear.
They stand there looking into the distance watching the fires that almost took their lives. Tim reaches over and pulls her into his side.
“I meant it, you know,” he says as his heart is still beating fast.
“I know,” she says quietly, her own heart almost beating out of her chest.
Behind them, they heard a car pull up. Letting go of each other, they turn their heads to see Grey stepping out of a patrol car.
“I don’t even know what to say except miracles are real.”
“I’ve been through a lot but that was a little too intense.”
“Getting shot at everyday but taken out by a wildfire,” Lucy jokes but neither man laughs.
“Alright, hop in I’m taking you two to the hospital. And don’t even argue. I can’t imagine how much smoke you both have inhaled.”
Lucy goes to move but her legs are still a little shaky and she stumbles. Of course Tim is there.
“You okay?” She only gives him a nod before letting him wrap his arm around her waist, hers resting on his shoulders as they walk to the shop together.
The ride to the hospital seemed like it took forever. Lucy couldn’t stop thinking about what Tim said. She’s spent almost every day of the last few months thinking Tim didn’t love her.
She knows some of it was probably the adrenaline talking and not knowing if they’d survive but she’s also seen the change in him.
She’s seen him put in the work, she’s seen his “small doses” that to her haven’t been small. He’s been there for her on more than one occasion and knows he always will be. Regardless of how things are with them.
•••
After they were treated at the hospital with some oxygen and fluids, they were both free to go. Since they were still in uniform they would have to go back to the station to change out.
They stumbled into the station, both exhausted physically and mentally. Lucy had a nice hot bath calling her name when she got home and Tim wanted nothing more than to sit down and rewind with Kojo.
Lucy’s mind was still spinning. She still loved Tim too but she was still scared to admit it. Scared he’d somehow break her heart again.
She was just getting out of the bath, about to put a pair of pajamas on when she heard a knock at the door. She was confused, Celina would use her key, Tamara still has a key and she didn’t order any food.
After making quick work of putting her pajamas on, she made her way to the door. She looked through the peephole to see the same man she had almost died with just hours prior.
Opening the door, she was immediately met with a smile. She looked down at Tim’s feet to see Kojo sitting like a good boy.
“Hi boy! I missed you!” She knelt down so she could pet him.
“Figured you could use some cuddles after today,” Lucy looks up at Tim with a thankful smile.
“I could always use Kojo cuddles. But thank you.”
“I can pick him up tomorrow if that works for you?”
“Unless you want to stay?” She asks nervously.
“Only if you’re sure?” she nods. “Then I’d love to.” He smiles before stepping inside with Kojo, taking his leash off.
He goes to sit on the couch while she goes into the kitchen and into the fridge. She comes walking back over and sits next to him handing him a beer.
“Look, Lucy. About what I said earlier—“
“I’m not asking you to take it back.”
“Well good,” he chuckles, “because I wasn’t going to. I meant it. I love you, and I’m sorry if you ever once thought otherwise.”
“I really thought you didn’t,” she looks down at the beer in the hands spinning it around.
“I’m an idiot for that. For a lot of things. But Lucy, I need you to know I have loved you a lot longer than I even realized, and I haven’t stopped.”
“You hurt me, Tim.” She turns her attention on Kojo who is lying at her feet but sits up when she pets him.
“I know, and I will live with that regret for the rest of my life.”
She sighs before taking a drink of her beer and setting it down on the coffee table.
“As hurt as I was and still am… I… I want to say it but I can’t,” she says defeated.
“I know. Just because I said it doesn’t mean I’m expecting you to say it.”
“Yet,” she adds.
“This, us, is all at your pace Lucy. If you want me to take a step back, just say the word. But it won’t change how I feel about you. My love for you is unconditional Lucy. Always.”
She has tears in her eyes and he hasn’t seen her look that small in a long time.
“Come here,” he whispers and that’s all she needs to hear before she’s falling into his arms.
Eventually after she yawns a few times, he convinces her it’s time for bed. He stands up first before helping her up and walking over to the door to get Kojos leash on.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Lucy,” giving a faint smile.
“See you tomorrow Tim,” she confirms before watching her two boys walk out the door.
After she closes it, she stands with her back to the door for a few minutes processing everything that happened that day. Tim still loves her. And she still loves him.