Work Text:
Tim gets the call just as he’s getting in his truck to go home. He has had a long day but he actually couldn’t wait to get home to his family. The kids might be crazy, and he might be tired but he loves his family more than anything.
Tim’s phone buzzes in his pocket and he picks it up without looking at it. “Hello?” He says as he climbs in.
“Daddy?” A tiny but familiar voice says and Tim sits up straight.
“Ava?” He says. “What’s wrong?” He pulls the phone away from his ear and sees its Lucy and his stomach sinks a little. Why would his six year old be calling him on Lucy’s phone?
“Mommy got shot.” Ava says and she doesn’t sound stressed out or upset. She sounds normal like her mom got shot everyday. “And so did I!”
“I’m sorry?” Tim says. “What do you mean mommy got shot? What do you mean you got shot?” He feels a little sick to his stomach. He starts his truck and pulls out all while waiting for his daughter’s answer.
“Mommy got shot—”
“I got that Aves.” Tim says trying to keep the panic out of his voice. Ava was smart and surely she would know her mom was in trouble. Surely she would be more upset than she sounded.
Surely she would be more upset than she sounded. Surely she wouldn’t be able to call him if she had been shot.
What the hell was going on?
“Where are you?” He asks and he’s more confused than ever.
“The hospital.” Ava says. Tim steps on the breaks determined to get to his wife and daughter as soon as possible. “Daddy do you want to hear about my day?”
“Later baby.” Tim says. “I’m on my way to the hospital.”
“Okay daddy.” Ava says cheerfully and then the phone goes silent and he feels another wave of panic rush over him.
He needs to get to Ava and Lucy.
He needs to get to them now.
***
Tim arrives at the hospital and rushes through the doors. He spots a nurse and asks her where Lucy is. She gives him a strange look but leads him back to a room.
“Is she okay?” He asks her before the nurse opens the door. “What’s the prognosis?” The nurse gives him another strange look.
“She’s fine. She might be sore for a little while but she will be fine. Your daughter got a lollipop for being brave so brave.” She says and pushes the door open. Tim furrows his brows and steps inside to see Lucy sitting on the table with Ava next to her sucking on a lollipop.
And Lucy did look fine. Not like she been shot at all—Ava looked normal too.
Lucy looks up and frowns when she sees him. “Tim? What are you doing here?” Lucy asks. Tim stares at her like he’s seeing a mirage.
“Ava said you had been shot.” He says. Ava looks up and gives him a grin, her face was sticky and she had a bandaid on her arm. “She said she got—”
Lucy turns to look at their daughter too and groans a little. “We got the flu shot.” She says. “Ava Rose Bradford what did I tell you about using my phone without permission?”
“I thought daddy should know.” Ava says swinging her feet. “Cause we got shot.” Tim rolls his eyes to the ceiling and then closes them.
“Ava, you had me worried I thought you and your mom were hurt!” He says. Ava’s smile disappears for a minute and she shakes her head.
“No! Look!” She shows Tim her bandaid. “I got shot too.”
“A flu shot baby.” Lucy says gently. “You can’t go around telling everyone you have been shot!”
“Daddy says it to his rookies.” Ava says shrugging her shoulders. “I’ve been shot! Where are you boot?” Lucy cuts her eyes to Tim and he’s not sure whether he should laugh or cry.
“That’s at work Aves.” He says gently. “It’s for training purposes.” He sees Lucy roll her eyes and he knows she’s remembering when he did that to her.
“Oh.” Ava says. “I’m sorry. I just wanted daddy to know mommy was brave.”
Lucy shakes her head and pulls Ava into a hug and gives her a kiss to the top of the head. “You were very brave Ava.”
“So were you mommy.” Ava says giving Lucy puppy dog eyes that Tim knows will get to Lucy. It was hard to resist it especially when she had been using them for six years. And she knows they work.
“Thank you baby.” Lucy says softly and she gives Tim a look. “And thank you daddy for coming to the hospital right away.”
“He must love us.” Ava says proudly puffing out her chest. Lucy just smiles at him and Tim shakes his head.
“He must.” Lucy agrees. There’s a brief silence and then she motions for them to follow her. Tim follows her out and Ava follows behind with him and slips her tiny hand into his. She still has her lollipop in her mouth and she skips along side of him.
“Daddy you should get shot.” Ava says. Lucy laughs and looks behind her.
“A shot Aves. Daddy should get a shot.” Lucy says. Ava just shrugs her shoulders and continues to skip besides Tim.
“I love you daddy.” Ava says. Tim pauses and lift Ava up in his arms. She wraps herself around him, and he wouldn’t trade this for the world. He would rush down to get to Lucy and kids anytime. He would do anything for them.
Even get shot.
(Or get a shot).
Always.