Chapter Text
Lucy’s POV
“I know.”
I hear myself say to Tim, I know I don’t have to be here that it’s not like a requirement for the job or like I’m his girlfriend even if I wish I was — something that became startlingly clear earlier today so much so that while clearing floors before I ran into Sargent Grey, I ran into Chris (visiting a client and decided to check in and make sure I was okay considering the fugitive in the Hospital) I sorta word vomited and dumped him, right then and there; it did NOT go over well, I asked him to truly think about if he saw us going anywhere because I couldn’t and while I enjoyed our time together I think we’ve ran our course and it was time to call it. Chris of course pushed and clocked there was something I wasn’t saying and asked if I finally realized I had feelings for Tim, I was surprised even he knew but I didn’t lie, I couldn’t, too emotionally distraught and stressed to even pretend even for my boyfriend who I was dumping, suddenly — but I think Tim needs someone here, I can’t imagine just how stressed and terrified he must’ve truly been today. It wasn’t even me and I have been worried all day, terrified that something would’ve went wrong during the surgery that a nerve or something would’ve been nicked or whatever else and he’d be paralyzed or really anything that would’ve forced him into early retirement… I can’t imagine Tim Bradford super cop, TO ‘Tim Tests for breakfast’ Bradford, Sargent Hard-Ass himself not being a cop, not riding with me each day, not being here as I continue to grow and become an incredible cop because of HIM, not being able to continue doing what he loves — being a cop, not just any cop but being the incredible cop he is at that.
“So what trouble and chaos did Smitty inflict on the station before you took over?”
I huff out a small laugh before launching into the utter chaos I walked into in the station of Smitty letting just about everyone go home early and having to be the voice of reason and ask everyone to stay on shift instead of hitting up a pool party due to a staff shortages, and that they not only listened to me but immediately agreed to stay just because I asked - I’m unable to keep the pride I feel in myself out of my voice; sharing a laugh with Tim I glance up and see he has this cute little smug smile on his face
“I can’t even say I’m surprised, I must say I’m proud of how well you handled yourself and the station today, must’ve had the best TO around”
I shake my head with a fond smile too relieved that he’s okay to even flirt, banter participate in our usual back and forth at the moment.
“I really did… Tim, I am truly thankful for getting to have you as my training officer - I always have been, for making me the cop I am today, for being the person who stayed with me in the hospital, for pulling me out of that barrel, for being my friend all this time…”
— I give myself a small little shake —
“This isn’t about me, I just want you to know that I appreciate you Tim and you truly are incredible and I want to be here with you, not just as some form of repayment but because I could not stop stressing not just about you but for you, and I want to be here, I need to know you’re okay and”
— remembering how I stopped the Doctors’ and Tim’s conversation earlier not even considering it should’ve been coming from Tim or maybe even Ashley, just thinking about it makes me feel sad knowing it is Ashleys rightful place as his girlfriend as the girl he can see himself marrying — that our undercover kisses meant nothing to him and him coming inside was truly just getting too caught up in the role but made it nearly impossible to ignore my feelings for Tim, my feelings that I’ve been aware of at least since I saw Tim Bradford -the man I am slowly becoming convinced is the love of my life but destined to only be my best friend- drop to one knee in front of the station and propose to Ashley McGrady the sweet, gorgeous Malibu barbie, HIS perfect women —
“I’m sorry if I overstepped earlier with you and Ashley I just wanted to make sure you had all the information before you made a potentially life altering decision and —“
Tim with a small soft grin and this glint in his eye I’ve never noticed before interrupts me before I can ramble any further
Tim’s POV
I can’t even stop the soft grin I can feel slowly spreading across my face — God, I adore her — and even tearing up a little seeing how strongly Lucy really feels about me, just how much I mean to her, I feel awed and humbled that she sees me this way, that I clearly matter to her, that I am someone important to her.
“Lucy, you didn’t overstep, I promise, I’m honestly relieved that you were there and you asked on my behalf, if you hadn’t I wouldn’t have thought about it and Ashley probably didn’t care all that much”
— I see Lucy furrow her brow in both concern and confusion and I sigh knowing there’s no escaping it now I have to tell her —
“Ashley spent the morning trying to convince me to medically retire”
— at this I hear Lucy scoff lightly and I can’t help but agree —
“so we could travel the world together and beach hop—“
“I’m sorry, wait, she actually expects you to retire and beach hop with her? At what part of that disastrous double date did she think you began liking the beach??”
I can hear the disbelief and even detect an undercurrent of what an idiot in her tone that only Lucy Chen can truly convey with her utter derision and I nod curious by her tone and almost eager to her reaction to Ashley dumping me post surgery
“She did, yes and after I woke up from Surgery, and I do mean I just woke up she proceeded to explain my condition and then told me she didn’t want this to be her life, to worry about me like her mom did for her dad and confirmed I would not be retiring and broke up with me and left —“
Lucy’s entire demeanor has changed since I began explaining and it screams her thoughts at me very obviously projecting WHAT A BITCH
“I’m sorry I don’t think I heard you correctly, there is NO way she broke up with you while you are in the hospital after having emergency surgery - w-who does that??”
I nod my head confirming that - that is exactly what happened
“she did, my anesthesia hadn’t even worn off and she was gone—“
— and I swear I hear her mutter out loud “what a bitch” but I can’t be sure —
“Ironic that both of our relationships ended today in this hospital”—
and before I can even comprehend what she just said I can see her give herself a shake as if to clear the thoughts from her head —
“I’m sorry I think I’m having a hard time processing this, so you must be as well, are you okay?”
I blame the morphine that is beginning to kick in again for what comes out of my mouth next because she was NOT expecting me to say that and honestly I wasn’t either…