Work Text:
1.
The first time it happens Lucy’s not even sure how she gets to Tim’s house. She is just so tired, so exhausted from her shift and everything. She knows he’s not at home but she also knows where he hides the key.
She pulls into his driveway and turns her car off. She shouldn’t be here, she should turn around and go home but—
It was so loud. There was no possible way she would be able to get sleep there.
She opens her car door and climbs out and then slowly makes her up to the front door. She moves a plant aside and reaches around for the key. She finds it and then inserts it into the lock.
And maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she shouldn’t be sneaking into Tim’s house but—
She opens the door and steps inside feeling at peace almost instantly. There’s something about Tim’s house that just felt like—home. Maybe it was the fact that she helped him decorate it. Maybe it was the fact that even after all this time there were still some of her touches around. She sighs softly and then falls onto the sofa.
She just needed a few hours of sleep. And then she would be gone before Tim even came home.
Just a few hours.
Just a few hours.
***
Lucy wakes up and sits up blinking rapidly and looking at her surroundings.
Where was she?
She blinks again and then it all comes back to her. She’s at Tim’s. Because it was quiet and she could actually get some sleep.
Right.
She sits up more and looks at her phone for the time.
12:00pm.
She had a few hours to go home and shower and eat. And then go to work.
She really hated the night shift.
She sits up and straightens the couch up the best she could and then slips out of the house. She locks the door behind her.
She would tell Tim—eventually that she came over but for now it would be her little secret. Something that she needed right now.
***
Tim walks into his house and pauses a little. He glances over at the couch and sees the pillow a little lopsided and the blanket that was over the couch is now on the couch. He frowns as he steps more into the house. He had cleaned up before he left this morning.
It’s not like it was that messy, he was just one man who lived alone but he knows he had fixed up the couch.
He walks over to it and sits down pulling the pillow towards him. And he gets a whiff of her almost immediately.
Lucy.
It wouldn’t be weird if she had been here recently but she hadn’t stopped by in awhile and he missed that. He missed seeing her everyday, he missed walking with her to their cars and even if they went separate ways.
In truth he just misses her.
He sighs softly and lays down on the pillow. He could still smell her and it was everything he needed right now.
He’s not sure why it looked like someone had been in his house but he didn’t care.
He would talk to Lucy later—right now this was all he needed.
***
2.
The next time it happens is after a particularly rough night. She actually goes to her apartment first but she can’t seem to get out of her car. So she drives to the one place where she knows she will feel safe. The one place that even though it will be missing its person she will still feel like it’s her safe haven.
She gets out of her car and this time she doesn’t hesitate. She goes up to the door and finds the key and unlocks the door. She steps inside and takes a deep breath, it smells like Tim. It smells like when she is curled up on his chest in the morning. It smells like when she steps inside the shower, and he pushes her against the wall.
She makes her way towards the couch and pulls the blanket down. She wraps herself in it and then lays down on the pillow. She sets her alarm and then lays down closing her eyes as she does.
She shuts her mind off and soon she’s falling into a blissful sleep.
***
Lucy wakes up to her phone buzzing next to her and she reaches over to shut the alarm off. She doesn’t get up right away. She likes feeling this peaceful, there’s no noise around except for Tim’s refrigerator and the occasional car going by.
She wants this all the time and not just to sneak into Tim’s house.
She wants this.
Always.
She knows they need to talk and they were so close to being able to say let’s try again.
Because she wants to try again—she does.
And now that they are both sergeants the chain of the command issue isn’t a issue anymore. They just need to stop being stubborn and just talk.
She’s pretty sure Tim tried to talk when she first started the night shift but she had been so exhausted—
Maybe she needs to break the ice this time.
She sighs and reaches for her phone again. She opens it up and taps on Tim’s name. Her fingers hover over the keyboard before she’s closing it and tossing it aside.
This should be easier. She was sneaking into his house after all but— she runs her hands down her face before she’s closing gets up and straightens the couch and then once again slips out of the house.
Later. She would talk to him later.
***
Tim frowns as he walks into his house. He can feel something is off but he can’t quite put his finger on it—yet.
He sits down on his couch and he once again smells Lucy’s scent. It’s fruity and soft. And it’s everything he has been craving lately. He pulls his phone out and dials her number. He knows she’s probably just getting out on patrol but—
“Hey.” Lucy says. “What’s up?” Tim shifts on the couch, and looks down noticing the smaller footprint indents on the rug. He shakes his head a little and a smile forms on his face.
“Weird question.” He says. “Have you been to my house recently?” There’s a long pause and he knows he already has his answer.
“Um why?” Lucy asks. Tim shakes his head a little and then picks at the thread on the pillow. He didn’t even pick the pillows out that was all Lucy.
“It just seems like someone has been in my house.” He says trying to sound nonchalant as possible. “Little things here and there. And there’s only a few people who know where the key is.”
Lucy is silent again for a few seconds and he’s almost thinks she hung up and then: “Hypothetically if someone was going there to sleep and get some peace and quiet.” She pauses. “Would that bother you?”
“Depends on the person.” Tim says because the only person he would even think of letting do that was Lucy. “But no it wouldn’t bother me.”
“Okay.” Lucy says and she sounds relieved. “Good to know.” Tim chuckles to himself and he feels a rush of gratitude rush over him. He misses Lucy, and he wants her close but—
This would do for right now.
“Yeah.” He says. “You are always welcomed at my house.” Lucy hums softly and its silent again but this time it’s a comfortable silence.
“I have to go.” Lucy says and he hears the radio in the background. “Have a good night Tim.”
“You too Luce.” He says. “Have a good shift.” There’s line goes dead and Tim tosses his phone aside.
He has a feeling this won’t be the last time he comes home and discovers Lucy was there. But he doesn’t mind one bit.
***
3.
The next time Lucy goes over to Tim’s she thinks about calling him and letting him know she’s there. He clearly knows she has been going there and he made it clear he didn’t mind but—
She finds the key and unlocks the door, opens it. It was getting easier and easier to come into the house.
It’s like she belonged there. It’s like she was meant to be there.
She kicks off her shoes and makes her way to the couch where she sees a post it on the pillow. She picks it up and reads: You can sleep in my bed. Make yourself at home. Tim.
Lucy stares at the words for a few minutes before she’s making her way towards Tim’s bedroom. She pushes the door open and sees the perfectly made bed, and the perfectly clean room that she used to tease him about.
She goes around and climbs into bed and then pulls Tim’s pillow closer to her. She breathes in his scent feeling completely at peace. She closes her eyes and it’s not long before she’s completely asleep and feeling like this will be the best sleep she has had in awhile.
***
Lucy wakes up still holding onto Tim’s pillow and feeling a lot more rested than she did earlier. She rolls out of bed, and goes out to his kitchen. She finds a pen and post it and scribbles her own note.
Tim, thanks for letting me stay. I appreciate it more than you know. Lucy.
She leaves the note on the counter and then goes back to the bedroom to make the bed. It’s only one side and she fluffs up Tim’s pillow.
Until next time.
She takes a deep breath and walks out of the bedroom and then towards the front door.
Until next time.
***
Tim walks into the kitchen and sees the post it right away. He smiles when he reads it and he knows this wasn’t the last time she would be here. And he didn’t want it to be. He wanted to make her coming over a regular thing. He wanted to make sure she would come home—and he was there waiting for her.
He wanted her to be there with him—always. And they were almost there and he had started the talk but this night shift was kicking both their butts.
He picks up the post it note and tucks it in the drawer and then makes his way to his bedroom. He can see the bed has definitely been slept in. He is glad she was able to get a good day’s sleep.
And he knows it’s only a matter of time before they talk.
Because they will.
Eventually.
***
4.
The next time she goes over to Tim’s is after another particularly hard night. The dream team is doing better but Lucy still feels like she doesn’t have any control over them. She feels like they are just using her niceness to get away with stuff and she doesn’t like it. She just want to make sure they know who is in charge. And that them trying to sleep on the job is not going to earn them any brownie points with her.
She pulls up to Tim’s house and she doesn’t hesitate to get out and walk up to his front door. It’s pretty much routine at this point.
They hadn’t really talked about it but there was a mutual understanding that he knew she would come over to sleep
Lucy unlocks the door and slips inside and then shuts it behind her. And then walks to Tim’s bedroom and slips into his bed. She pulls his pillow close like she did last time and buries her face into it.
It’s comforting being in Tim’s space after a long day. She would usually run to him and he would have the perfect words to say. He would tell her it was going to be okay and then he would just hold her.
But now—
She holds his pillow closer to her breathing in his scent and it somehow calms her down.
This would do for now.
***
Lucy wakes up sometime later and slips out of the bed. She goes to the kitchen and scribbles a note on a post it.
Just a little reminder to Tim. Because he deserves it.
She gathers her stuff up and slips out of the house. She feels a little more rested than she did when she first got here but she still feels like she has been hit by a train.
Over and over again.
God she couldn’t wait until she was off the night shift.
She couldn’t wait to be on the same schedule as Tim so she could actually see him. She gets in her car and slowly backs out of the driveway. She almost feels like she’s leaving a piece of her behind in Tim’s house.
But she would be back. She knows that for sure and that’s all that matters.
***
Tim comes home and walks into the kitchen. He smiles when he sees the note from Lucy on the counter just waiting for him.
Tim,
You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you. I know things are a little off right now but we will get there. Lucy.
***
5.
Lucy finds herself at Tim’s on her day off. She gets there a little too early before he’s even left for work. She walks up to the door and is about to grab the key when the door opens and she comes face to face with Tim.
“Hey.” He says softly shifting on his feet a little. “Isn’t it your day off?” Lucy nods and chews on her bottom lip wondering if he will even let her in. There was no reason for her to come over but she felt so at home here like it was exactly where she was meant to be.
“Yeah.” She says. “I can go—” And she starts to turn away but Tim reaches out to grab her arm and she turns back to look at him.
“Don’t go.” He says almost pleading. “Please stay. Make yourself at home. Get some rest but please just stay.” Lucy studies him for a minute but then she finally nods and he lets his shoulders fall in relief.
“Okay.” She says. “I will stay. Just make sure you come home to me.” Tim steps out of the house, and she steps closer to him like there was something unspoken between them.
“I promise.” He says. “As long as I have you to come home to.” She can’t do anything but nod and he bends down to give her a soft kiss. It’s subtle and loving.
“Have a good day Tim.” She says and she backs up into the house waiting for him to disappear. He starts to walk away and then turns back to look at her. “Can we talk later?” He asks. “When I get off work?”
“Of course.” She says. He gives her a smile and then disappears from sight.
She shuts the door, and falls against it feeling a little overwhelmed.
They were going to talk later.
They were going to talk later and hopefully be on the same page.
She stands up straight and makes her way to the kitchen where she finds Tim has laid out some teas for her.
And god she loves him.
She just wishes she could say it out loud so he would know how she feels about him.
She fixes herself a cup of tea and then goes to sit down on the couch. It feels strange being here without Tim especially since all the other times she just fell asleep.
She turns on the tv but doesn’t pay attention to it. She gets up and starts straightening up the living room. She fluffs the pillows and then folds the blanket a few times.
She sighs heavily and falls back on to the couch feeling restless. She gets up and walks towards Tim’s bedroom and pauses at the doorway.
Maybe she could get some sleep. Catch up on sleep like she has been needing to do for days.
She walks around and slips into bed and pulls Tim’s pillow close and closes her eyes and falls into soft oblivion.
***
Lucy wakes up to the doorbell ringing. She rolls out of bed and goes to the door looking through the peephole. It’s an Fed-ex driver, and he’s holding a small box. She opens it up and the man looks at her.
“I have a package for Tim Bradford.” He says. He hands it to Lucy and she takes it without a word.
“Thank you.” She says. The man nods at her and then turns around to leave. Lucy shuts the door behind her and puts the box aside.
Lucy walks back to Tim’s room and grabs her phone and dials his number. He might be on patrol but that has never stopped her from calling him.
He answers on the first ring and she sighs in relief. “Hey.” He says. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She says and she settles down on the sofa. “You just got a fed-ex delivery. It’s a little box.”
“That’s for you.” He says casually. “I mean I got it for you.” Lucy raises her eyebrows and goes over to pick up the box.
“Really?” She asks. “What—”
“Sir. Is Sergeant Chen at your house?” Miles asks before she can say anything. “Alone?”
“Be quiet Boot.” Tim snaps. Lucy rolls her eyes and puts the phone down turning on the speaker phone. “Just open it Lucy.” His voice is soft and she nearly melts. She manages to open the box and pulls out what looks like a metal box.
“You got me a box?” She asks as she turns the box around. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Open it.” Tim says. Lucy pops the lid open and she sees a key sitting in the middle. She picks it up and turns it around in her hand.
“A key?”
“Yes.” Tim says. “So you don’t have to look for mine anymore.”
Oh.
“Oh.” She says softly and she feels like she’s floating on air. She feels like she could melt into the sofa. “That’s—”
“You are welcomed at my house anytime Lucy.” Tim says. “Whether I’m there or not. I wanted to give this to you tonight. But—”
“Thank you.” Lucy says turning the key over in her hands not knowing what else to say. “I will see you tonight.”
“Okay.” Tim says and he sounds relieved. “I will see you tonight.”
***
Tim opens the door expecting to hear the tv on or Lucy in the kitchen but it’s quiet. “Lucy?” He calls out. But there’s no answer and he feels his heart sink a little. He was so eager to get home and inside he didn’t see if Lucy’s car was still in the driveway.
“Lucy?” He calls as he makes his way to his bedroom. “Lucy?” He steps inside his bedroom and he sees Lucy passed out on the bed. She’s curled up around one of his pillows. He smiles and walks over to press a kiss to her forehead. She shifts a little and then opens her eyes.
“Hi.” She says softly. “I didn’t know you were home.” Tim sits on the edge of the bed, as she sits up a little.
“I just got home.” He says. “I’m sorry I woke you.” But Lucy shakes her head and sits up more and then moves towards him.
“I just fell asleep.” She says. “I’m glad you are here.” Tim makes a soft noise and pulls her closer to him. She goes willingly and lays her head on his shoulder.
“Me too.” Tim says. “Listen I’m sorry if I sprung the key thing on you. I don’t want to pressure you or anything. I just wanted to make sure you know you are always welcomed here.”
“I do now.” She says softly. “It was a little surprising but I like it.” Tim hums softly and then turns to look at her.
It was now or never.
“Lucy.” He says carefully. “I know this night shift has been crazy and we haven’t been able to talk. And now we are in this weird limbo where you come to my house.”
“Which you are fine with—right?” Lucy asks.
“Of course.” Tim says. “I understand needing peace and quiet. I do. And I want to do anything and everything to help you.”
“Like making me food for a week and letting me stay at your house?” Lucy asks a smile on her face.
“Among other things.” He says. “I don’t want to pressure you into anything you don’t want to do Lucy. I understand that I hurt you and I walked away from you. I get your hesitation but I can promise you I will never hurt you like that again.”
“I know that Tim.” She says softly reaching for his hands and lacing their fingers together.
“If we decide to try again and get back together—I want to give us a really shot. I want this to be permanent.”
“Yeah?” She asks. He puts a hand on her knee and she scoots closer looking up at him. “And what would that be?”
Tim sighs softly, and he knows he just needs to say it. “I want you to move in with me.” He says. “So you can have peace and quiet everyday. Not just once in awhile.” Lucy swallows hard, and then she turns to face him head on.
“You want me to move in with you?” She asks her voice soft and almost in disbelief. “For real?”
“Yes.” He says. “I want us again and you are it for me Lucy. There’s no one else but you.” Luvy swallows again and then leans in her lips ghosting his.
“First the key and then you ask me to move in.” She says. “This is a big day.” Tim smiles at her and gives her a soft kiss and then rests his forehead against hers.
“So what do you say?” He asks. “You already have a key.” Lucy grins at him and this time she kisses him full on.
“Yes.”
“Yeah?” He says feeling a kind of excitement he hasn’t felt in a long time.
“Yes.” Lucy says. “Yes. I will move in with you.” Tim grins at her some more and he has a feeling this is the start of something good for them.
Something very, very good.
***
+1
Lucy hums as she inserts her key in Tim’s door and opens it. She closes it behind and kicks off her shoes and then puts all her stuff down before she’s walking into the kitchen. She hums softly as she makes a cup of tea. She moves around the kitchen like she belongs here and now she does.
She has been living with Tim for about a month and it has been the best month of her life. It made the night shifts a little easier. And on days off she knows she would be coming home to him.
Lucy’s phone buzzes in her pocket and she smiles knowing who it was before she even pulled it out.
“Hello?” She answers picking up her cup of kneeling and making her way towards the couch. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Tim replies. “How was your shift?” Lucy sits down and puts the cup aside before she’s curling her feet underneath her.
“It was fine.” She says. “I can’t wait to be off of the night shift though.” She hears Tim hum sympathetically.
“I know.” He says. “It will be nice to see you during the day. And not have conversations over the phone.”
“Yeah.” She says. She pulls the pillow close to her. “Are you about to go on patrol?”
“Almost.” Tim replies. “I have a few minutes though. What are your plans for the day?”
“Sleep.” She says and she thinks of their bed just waiting for her. “And maybe I will get a few things done.”
“There’s leftovers in the fridge. You can heat them up in the oven.” Tim says. “But just get some rest okay?”
“Thanks babe.” She says. “I will see you later okay? It’s our day off tomorrow.” Tim is silent for a few seconds and Lucy is about to say something else but Tim beats her to it.
“I love you Lucy.” He says. Lucy smiles and traces the patterns on the pillow and she feels at ease and at home.
And it’s such a wonderful feeling.
“I love you Tim.” She says and Tim sighs happily. “I love you too.”
***
Lucy sighs as she walks out off the elevator. She could do this—just one more shift until her day off and the best thing was Tim had off too. It was worth it when she knows what she is going home to.
“Hey.” A familiar voice says. Lucy looks up to see Tim smiling at her, she shifts her bag on her shoulder and then smiles back at him.
“Hey. You heading out?” She asks. “I already made dinner. You just need to heat it up.”
“Thank you.” He says and then he looks around before he’s bending down to press a kiss to her forehead. “I appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She says and then she starts to walk away before she is turning back to face him. “Have a good night Tim. I will see you at home.”
Tim just smiles at as he steps onto the elevator and Lucy smiles to herself.
Maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad shift after all.
***
Tim hears Lucy before he sees her, he feels her press a kiss to the top of his head and then hears her slip into bed next to him. He rolls over and as if she’s a magnet drawn to him she moves closer.
“Hi.” He mutters softly. “How are you?” Lucy doesn’t answer for a few minutes, she just rests her forehead against his.
“I’m tired.” She says. “It was a long night but I’m happy I’m home.”
“Me too.” Tim says. Ever since Lucy moved in with him, his house felt more like a home and when she wasn’t home it just felt empty.
“How was your night?” She asks running her fingers through his hair and then dropping them to the back of his neck. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Barely.” He says. “It’s hard to sleep without you.” Lucy hums softly and then leans forward to press a kiss to his lips.
“I know the feeling.” She says. “But hopefully this won’t be for much longer. And we can get back to normal.”
“Mmm.” Tim hums. “I’m good now.” He presses a kiss to the top of her head and holds them there for a few seconds.
“Yeah. Me too.” Lucy says cuddling into him. “I love you.” Tim tightens his grip on her, and he sends a prayer of gratitude for Lucy. For her giving him a second chance because he’s not sure where he would be if it weren’t for her.
She is by far the best thing that has ever happened to him and he’s not letting her go again. This was permanent and this was forever.
He’s going to make sure she knows for the rest of her life. No matter what they go through—the hardships and the good. He will make sure she always knows.
“I love you too.”
He knows she’s here to stay and that is something he can live with.