Chapter Text
Lucy walked into the station that day with one goal: avoiding eye contact with Tim. She knew it was immature, but she couldn’t help it. So she did something rare — arrived right on the edge of her shift, almost late. Straight to the locker room, changed quickly, and headed straight for roll call.
Tim was there, of course, but she kept her eyes forward and sat beside Nolan without acknowledging him.
Sergeant Grey gave the day’s instructions, and she was ready to start her shift — partnered with Celina.
The day had everything to be a good one… or so she hoped.
⸻
A few hours later, Lucy and Celina were calling for backup on a domestic violence situation.
The house in front of them was a disaster — shattered windows, broken glass, bloodstains here and there. Two adults clearly intoxicated and out of control. And under the table, a child in full-blown panic.
While Celina and the other officers processed the scene, Lucy crouched down near the thin girl, whose head was tucked between her knees.
— Hey, sweetie. My name is Lucy. I’m here to help you. It’s safe now. — Lucy kept her voice as calm as she could, but the girl only looked up, tears flooding her eyes. — What’s your name? You can trust me.
With a sound halfway between a breath and a whimper, the girl whispered:
— Tamara.
— That’s a beautiful name, Tamara. Come on, let’s get out from under here and go outside.
Tamara hesitated, then slowly took Lucy’s hand. Without a glance back, they crawled out from beneath the table and walked to the front steps of the house.
Sitting side by side, Lucy held the skinny child close — dark hair, pale skin, deep eyes. She looked a lot like Lucy had as a child.
— Are you hungry?
Tamara nodded faintly, her tiny fingers trembling.
— Am I going to leave this house? — she whispered.
The question caught Lucy off guard, but before she could answer, another officer called them over.
Tamara’s wide eyes followed the conversation between adults — taking suspects to the precinct, child protective services, temporary placement.
Words she clearly recognized.
Lucy noticed the girl’s shoulders shrink even more. Her little hand gripped tighter around Lucy’s, and in that moment, Lucy couldn’t help but feel ashamed — she’d been mourning a breakup while a six-year-old was trying to survive.
⸻
Lucy Chen had a problem. Well, another one. Tamara wasn’t talking to anyone at the station — completely shut down in the presence of strangers. The assigned social worker sat in a small room with Lucy and the girl, who seemed a bit more at ease with the officer nearby.
After a few questions, the social worker pieced together fragments of Tamara’s short, harsh life. Orphaned young. Recently placed with the abusive family from today’s call. Neglected most of her life.
Susanna, the social worker, noted Tamara’s hands clinging to Lucy’s arm. Her nails were bitten down — a classic sign of anxiety and abandonment.
Still, Susanna could see something forming — and it wasn’t good.
— Lucy, may I call you that? — she asked gently. Lucy nodded, a bit surprised.
— Is something wrong?
Susanna shook her head but gestured for Lucy to step aside, out of Tamara’s earshot.
— I appreciate everything you’ve done. But encouraging the attachment Tamara’s developing toward you might not be the healthiest choice. From here on, I’ll take over. You can return to duty.
Seeing Lucy’s hesitation, Susanna softened her tone.
— I’m sorry if I’m being too direct. We deal with complicated cases all the time.
Lucy, stunned, nodded slowly.
— Can I at least say goodbye?
— Of course. Go ahead.
Lucy knelt in front of Tamara again, gently touching her knee.
— Sweetheart, I have to go back to work now, but Miss Susanna is going to take very good care of you.
Tamara’s eyes widened, and then silently, heavily, tears began rolling down her face — no sobs, no sound. Just quiet heartbreak.
— I promise she’ll look after you. Okay?
Tamara nodded, still crying, but resigned to whatever was next.
— It was a pleasure meeting you, Tamara. You’re the bravest girl I’ve ever met.
Tamara gave no reply, just leaned forward suddenly and wrapped her arms tightly around Lucy. It was the heaviest hug Lucy had ever received.
Lucy held her close, pressed a soft kiss to the child’s head. When Tamara was ready, she let go, the tears finally slowing.
Lucy gave a broken smile, stood, and walked out. She’d done her job — and done it right. So why, as she walked down that stuffy hallway, did her chest feel so unbearably tight?
⸻
The rest of Lucy’s shift dragged endlessly. Since leaving Tamara with Susanna, every minute seemed longer than the last.
— You’ve been weird all day. — Celina said from the driver’s seat.
— It’s about that case earlier.
— The girl?
— Tamara. — Lucy’s voice was low. — Six years old. No family. The way she looked at me… it broke something in me.
Celina glanced at her partner briefly.
— Nolan always warned me that cases with kids hit harder.
— I know. But this one… she looked at me like I was her last hope. And I can’t shake the feeling that I failed her.
Celina’s brows lifted — clearly surprised by the confession.
— You did what you could in the moment. — Then, lightening the mood, she added: — What else were you going to do? Take her home?
Lucy wanted to laugh. But for a second… it didn’t sound so absurd.
— Wait. Lucy… are you actually thinking…
— I mean, would it really be that crazy?
— It’s a huge decision.
— I know, I know…
⸻
Hours later, paperwork finally behind her, Lucy was ready to leave — even if it meant going home to an empty house.
She was walking toward the parking lot, keys in hand, when she heard her name.
Turning, she saw Susanna, the social worker, hurrying toward her.
— Is Tamara okay?
— She’s fine, don’t worry. I just wanted to tell you something — and I hope it’s okay.
Lucy nodded, cautious.
— She’s staying at a shelter tonight. We’ll try to place her soon. But… she asked about you.
Lucy’s heart skipped. Even she was surprised by how much that affected her.
— She wanted to know if she could visit you tomorrow.
Lucy smiled, touched.
— She’s a sweet kid. Traumatized, but very sweet. And somehow, she chose to trust you.
Susanna paused, then continued:
— I also wanted to let you know… officers like you can apply to become foster parents.
Lucy blinked.
— I didn’t know that.
— You already have training for high-stress situations. That helps. There’s a process, of course — background checks, home evaluations, interviews, a short course. But if you’re serious… it’s very possible.
— So I could…
— If that’s what you want, I can get the paperwork started. No pressure — take your time. I just thought you should know. For Tamara, this could mean everything.
She handed Lucy a card.
— That’s my direct number. Call me if you want to talk. And yes — you can see her tomorrow, if you’d like.
— Thank you. Really.
— Have a good night, Officer.
And with that, Susanna was gone.
Lucy stood frozen, clutching the card like it held the power to change everything.
⸻
Lucy swirled a glass of wine in her hand, lost in thought. Her mind kept drifting back to Tamara’s eyes — so sad, so desperate for safety.
She heard the front door. Celina walked into the kitchen.
— You’re home.
— Came straight here. — Celina grabbed a bottle of water.
She watched Lucy, who was still seated at the counter, distant, far away.
— Lucy… if you’re really considering this… Tamara…
Lucy turned quickly.
— I don’t want to force this on you. I know we live together and it’s a huge deal.
— Hey. — Celina raised a hand gently. — I just want you to know: whatever you decide, I’m with you. Besides, it might actually be fun turning that boring office into a dream room for a little girl.
Lucy smiled — a real one this time.
— Susanna said there’s a process. Background check, interview, training. But she also said… being a cop might give me an edge.
— So? Do you want to do it?
— I do. I’m scared. But when I think of that little face… I can’t not try.
Celina nodded, arms crossed, leaning against the counter.
— Then call her tomorrow.
But Lucy didn’t wait.
She pulled Susanna’s card from her pocket, looked once more at Celina, and made the call.