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Tim has his eyes on her and then she disappears from sight. He calls her name, his voice echoing and his heart pounding in his chest like a jackhammer. It hurts—it hurts worse than when he walked away from her.
He just got her back. He couldn’t lose her again. Not forever.
“Luce!” He calls. “Lucy!” He has his gun up, and he is walking towards where he last saw her.
Please. Please. Please.
He can’t lose her, they were going to make a life together. She was going to move in with him. She is his forever.
He turns the corner, his gun out. He sees her and she’s clutching her leg. “Are you hit?” He asks his voice shaking a little. He already knows the answer, his eyes went from her to her leg and the blood.
God.
“My leg. But it’s—I’m fine.” She says but it weak. Tim moves his hand down to the wound and presses down on it. He pulls his radio out and calls it in but his eyes never leave her face.
“Tim.” She says and she reaches a shaky hand out to him. He’s not sure how she is still talking. “It’s okay. I’m—”
“You were shot.” He says and just saying the words makes his mouth feel like sawdust. “You were hit.”
“I know.” She says. “It hurts like hell.” Tim lets out a unamused laugh and presses harder on her leg. He doesn’t need her bleeding out by the time the ambulance gets here. He just needs the ambulance to get her.
To help her.
“Tim.” Tim feels Lucy’s shaking hand on his leg. “I do love you.”
“Don’t.” He says. “Don’t say anything—”
“I was scared too. I thought you were ignoring me. I thought you were just there to make food and you just left.” She says. “I should have reached out too.”
“No. No. That’s on me Luce. I was the one who—I’m so sorry.” Tim says. He hears the sirens in the distance.
Finally.
“I want to move in.” She says. “I do.”
“I know.” Tim says. “Come on Lucy. They are almost here. Just stay awake. I love you.”
“It’s just like us to get back together and then—”
“Don’t say it.” He says. Lucy just stared at him, squeezing his knee like she’s holding onto it. There’s a minute of silence, and Tim is almost grateful for it. He can’t fathom to hear Lucy say the things that she’s probably been wanting to say.
Not right now.
Later.
In the hospital or their bed.
“Tim—”
“Lucy, they are almost here.” He says. He hears footsteps and he wants to call out but his voice is dry.
“Okay. Then let me say this quickly.” She says. He can tell she’s getting weaker just by the sound of her voice and she continues before he can stop her. “I was so mad at you. You did break my heart but I—”
“Lucy.” Tim begs. “Save it for later. When we are at home okay? You are going to be okay.” Lucy blinks at him as a paramedic comes around the corner. Tim lets out a relieved breath and then leans in to give a kiss.
“You are going to be okay.” He says and it’s more for himself than her. “I love you.” Tim steps away before he is forced away and watches as they put her on the gurney. He wants to go after it but his feet are frozen on the ground.
“Tim!” He looks around and sees Angela coming towards him. “What—”
“She got shot in the leg.” He mutters. He doesn’t look at Angela. “She was talking but—”
“Good.” Angela says. “She’s going to be okay?” Tim nods and all he wants to do is to get to the hospital. He just want to see Lucy.
“I hope so.” He mutters. Angela puts her hand on his back and leads him out. It feels like a maze, and his head is spinning.
“She will be.” Angela says. “Besides Celina and I didn’t plan getting you two back for nothing. “ Tim rolls his eyes to the sky, he’s not surprised Angela meddled in his love life. She did warn him that she would take matters into her own hands.
And she did.
While Tim found it slightly annoying because really she was just calling him out on his shit. He also appreciated it.
Because he has the love of his life back. She’s moving in with him, and for a little bit they were happy again. It was the start of something new. They were going to fight for each other rather than against.
But now—
His girlfriend is headed to the hospital and he feels like it’s crumbling again.
Damnit.
She needs to be okay. She needs to be okay.
***
Tim sits by Lucy’s hospital bed holding her hand. She’s been in and out of consciousness. They managed to stop the bleeding, fixed up her leg and she was going to be okay. It didn’t stop Tim from worrying through. He felt like he was sitting with a giant weight on his shoulders. They should be on their way home.
Not in a hospital.
At least she was alive. Tim rubs the inside of her hand and keeps his eyes on her face. He doesn’t hear someone knocking at the door or the footsteps into the room.
“Bradford.” Tim turns to see Grey in the doorway. He’s looking at Lucy with a worried expression on his face. “How is she?”
“She’s going to be okay.” Tim says softly. Grey nods looking relieved.
“Good.” He says. “I need to talk to you.” Tim looks at him and then at Lucy. He sighs and reluctantly drops her hand and then gets up and follows Grey into the hallway.
“Yes sir?” He says. Grey studies him for a few seconds.
“You two—”
“She’s moving in with me.” Tim says and he might as well have full transparency. “We are back together.”
“Finally.” Grey says. Tim frowns at him, he really wasn’t expecting that reaction. “You two were stressing me out.”
“Sir—” Tim says and he really doesn’t know what to say except everyone would probably be relieved they were back together. But Grey holds up his hands, and gives him a look.
“You have come a long way Bradford. Before Chen was in your life and after. You have jumped over hurdles. You have buried yourself and sabotaged your relationship with the woman you love.” Grey says. Tim opens his mouth to speak but Grey continues. “I’m proud of you. I know you had it rough for awhile.”
“I did.” Tim says but he doesn’t want to feel sorry for himself. It’s one of the reasons he ended up walking away from Lucy. He didn’t think he was good enough for her even if that was never a problem. “What’s your point sir?”
“I have a new job opportunity coming up.” Grey says. “I accepted and someone needs to take over my job as watch commander.”
Tim stares at him almost in disbelief. “And you want me to?” He asks. “But—”
“You are the person for the job Bradford. You are a good leader. And don’t worry you can still be in the action. You deserve this.” Grey says. “I don’t want an outsider leading this team. You should be in that role. You know how to lead and command.”
“Yes sir.” Tim says but he still feels a little stunned.
“Do you accept?” Grey asks. Tim looks back towards the hospital room. Grey must see it because he gives Tim a smile. “Don’t worry it won’t be a problem for you two.”
“Yes.” Tim says. “I would be honored sir.” Grey nods and holds out his hand to shake Tim’s.
“Good.” He says. “I will put it in. I’ll see you later Bradford.” Tim nods and watches as Grey walks away before turning to go back into the room.
“What was that about?” Tim jumps a little and looks over to see Lucy sitting up and awake. “What did he want? Is he mad that we are back together?”
“More like relieved.” Tim says walking over to the bedside and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Lucy grins at him as he sits down and takes her hand.
“What did he want?” She asks. “It seemed like a serious conversation.”
“Were you watching?” Tim asks. Lucy nods and gives him a smile.
“I was a little disappointed you weren’t next to me.” She says. “But then I saw Grey—”
“I’m sorry.” He says. “It was—”
“It’s fine Tim.” Lucy says. “What did he want?” Tim takes a deep breath and then lets it out.
“He offered me the Watch Commander job.” He says. “He got a new job opportunity and—”
“You were the first on the list.” Lucy says and she’s smiling big. “You accepted?”
“I did.” Tim says. “But it’s not going to be a problem for us.” Lucy reaches out to pull him in.
“Good.” She says and she’s still smiling big.
“What?”
“It’s kind of sexy my boyfriend is the watch commander.” She says. Tim rolls his eyes but leans in to kiss her.
“You won’t get special treatment.” He says.
“I wouldn’t expect to get it at work.” She says. “But at home?”
“I’m all yours.” He says. Lucy grins at him and pulls him in for another kiss.
“Thank god.” She says. “You are adorable. I love you.”
“Thank you.” Tim says surprising himself and Lucy laughs. He’s not sure he’s seen her this happy in a long time. And she just got shot. But he knows the feeling, he’s happy too. For the first time in a long time. He’s happy. I love you too.”
***
Lucy is released from the hospital a day later, and Tim is watching as she hobbles around the room.
“I can help if you need it.” Tim says. But Lucy shakes her head and walks over to him. She steps as close as she can and wraps her arms around his neck.
“I got it.” She says. “Besides we have a lot of heavy lifting to do when I started packing.”
“True.” He says. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and holds his lips there for a few seconds. “I’m glad you are okay.”
“Me too.” She says. “I just wanted to go home with you.” Tim smiles at her and lifts up her chin to look at him.
“Let’s go home.” He says and he feels giddy just saying it to her again. He never thought he would get the chance to do this again. To hold her close and to move forward. He loves her so much—he’s not sure he ever stopped.
“Yeah.” Lucy says softly as Tim leads her from the room. “Let’s go home.”