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Tim was about to just head home but something was telling him he should go with Lucy to the hospital. He wasn’t even sure if she’d be okay with his company, but after the day they had and almost losing her, he really didn’t want to be apart from her. Even if he was the one who took that away from them.
He was walking out of the locker room and luckily, so was she. In fact, he almost bumped into her.
“Hey,” he says looking down at her almost out of breath.
“Hi. Have a good night,” she says awkwardly, starting to walk away.
“Wait, Lucy—“ she turns to look at him. “You mind if I tag along? I wouldn’t mind some company.”
She pauses before answering, and he worried he made the wrong decision by asking her. Shaking his head, he turns around and is about to walk away himself.
“You want to come sit at the hospital with me and a girl we barely know?” She finally asks, making him stop.
“Sure. Beats eating alone on my couch,” he jokes.
She rolls her eyes before smiling. Which of course, makes him smile.
“Sure, I’d love the company. But you’re paying for dinner.”
“Fine, just don’t go too crazy.”
“Oh I already know exactly what I want.”
“I’m sure you do,” he rolls his eyes but they both know it’s lighthearted.
“You want to meet there or?” Lucy asks shyly once they reach his truck and her car.
“We can drive together. If that’s okay with you?”
“Fine, but I get control of the radio,” she looks at him with a smirk.
“Don’t push it,” he says as he walks to the drivers side and gets in his truck. She does the same on the opposite side.
•••
Lucy decided on her favorite Italian place, which didn’t surprise Tim at all. So many times after long days, they’d pick it up on the way home and have a quiet night in.
“I’m glad James is okay,” Lucy says finally breaking the silence in the truck.
“Me too. Seeing Nyla like that was hard.” Tim doesn’t take his eyes off the road but Lucy can tell there’s emotion behind his words.
“It was. Really makes you want to get your priorities locked down,” she looks down at her hands resting in her lap.
“Yeah,” Tim says, Lucy can hear him sigh even though she knows he’s trying to hide it.
“What I said earlier about my priority being the Sergeant’s exam, while it wasn’t a complete lie… it wasn’t all that was on my mind,” she bites her bottom lip while beginning to fidget with her hands.
Tim looks over at her with a hopeful smile, but he doesn’t want to push it so he waits for her to talk first.
“I’m scared Tim. Of course I still love you. But I’m terrified of getting hurt again,” she finally looks up at him, this time with tears in her eyes.
“I know Luce, I know. I haven’t made it easy on you and I did the one thing I promised I wouldn’t do. I completely understand if you aren’t ready yet, or if you won’t ever be ready yet. But I couldn’t wait another minute without letting you know how I feel.”
They finally made it to the restaurant and Tim finds a parking spot before turning off the truck. Lucy takes her seatbelt off so she can turn and face him, he does the same.
“The reason I didn’t say it when you did, it felt like I was giving up. I’ve known how I’ve felt for a few weeks now but wanted it to be the right time. And that didn’t feel like the right time to me.”
“I get it. I just need you to know me breaking up with you was never about you. I have never felt this much love towards anybody in my life, and I mean that. You came into my life when I needed it the most and you’ve never given up on me.”
“You deserve it, Tim. I’m sorry nobody has been there for you, but you deserve to be loved.”
“I know, and I’m finally starting to understand that. I just wish it wouldn’t have taken me losing you to finally realize that.”
“Well, I don’t know if I’m ready yet, but I don’t think you’ve lost me for good,”
He definitely wasn’t expecting her to say that and she couldn’t help but laugh at the initial shock on his face before he looked up at her and smiled.
“This is at your pace, Luce. You let me know when, how fast, how slow you want to go. But I promise, if it takes a week or takes a year, I’ll be here waiting. If you give me a second chance, I promise on my life I won’t screw it up.”
“Good, because if you do, I might have to kill you,” she jokes laughing.
“You wouldn’t,” now he’s laughing right along with her.
“Oh you know I would. Plus, Lopez and Tamara would help me hide your body.”
He just shakes his head, but can’t take his eyes off of her. She reaches for his hand, giving it a quick squeeze before letting it go.
“I hate to burst the bubble we’re in, but I’m hungry.”
“Alright alright, I’ll go grab the food.” he goes to open his door before she grabs his arm stopping him.
He turns his head and looks at her, she has a grin on her face.
“I might’ve done something,” she admits.
“What did you do?”
“I only ordered food for us. When you asked me to come, I thought about how nice it would be to just have dinner with you. Well and Kojo.”
“Sneaky, Chen. Sneaky. But I like it.” He smiles before getting out of his truck.
After getting their food and getting back to his house, they finally settle on the couch with their food on their laps.
“What do you want to watch?” Tim asks her with the remote in his hand.
“Hmm… Top Chef?”
“Works for me,” he smiles at her before flipping it on, throwing the remote back onto the cushion next to him and going back to his food.
Eventually, to go containers were put away and Lucy surprised Tim when she snuggled up close to him. Kojo was on the other side of her on the couch. She wasn’t expecting her night to end like this, but there was nothing better than getting to cuddle her two boys again.