Work Text:
The emergency department is buzzing with activity. Nurses running between patients, alarms going off, doctors shouting orders from across the room. Every bed is full, either with an officer or handcuffed criminal. The raid and subsequent explosion had injured just about everyone involved, in one way or another. Including Lucy, although her injuries are minimal; just a small cut to her forehead and her left knee is sore, the same one she’d twisted months ago at the docks.
She’s tucked away in the corner, as she’s not in any immediate danger, with Tim settled on the edge of the mattress beside her. Her eyes closed as she rests her head back, feeling Tim’s hand softly caress the top of her thigh. Despite the noise, and chaos around them, she could fall asleep here. Tim’s presence provides her with a blanket of safety and tranquility.
Lucy is a bit surprised he’s sitting here with her. He somehow managed to get out of the op without a scratch and she’s certain he has a million things to do, being the watch commander. But he makes no urgency to leave, to check in with anyone else, he’s just here with her.
Selfishly, she’s happy about it. The adrenaline is beginning to wear off, the chaos of the past twelve hours is catching up, and in moments like this all she ever wants is Tim.
Her pillar of calm.
Reaching down, she covers his hand with one of her own. Smiling at the way he turns his hand up automatically so she can slot her fingers between his.
“You know, you’re not very ‘Watch Commander Bradford’ at the moment.” Lucy slowly opens her eyes, the harsh lighting of the room causing a small twinge of pain as she teases him.
Despite their promise to keep things strictly professional when they’re at work, there’s been many moments since getting back together where one or the other fails at that. It’s never anything big, like breaking protocol or disregarding a direct order, but there’s small things. The way they look at each other — unable to keep their eyes from displaying the deep love they share — the soft touches when they pass by. Little smiles of pride when one does even the smallest of tasks.
Anyone who saw them would know instantly that they’re more than just sergeant and watch commander.
They should probably address it at some point soon, before it gets the better of them, but that’s a problem for later. When they’re not in the hospital and there isn’t blood drying on her forehead.
And, they’ve managed to get a decent night of sleep.
“The watch commander is clocked out.” He tilts his head, squeezing her hand. “LIBF Tim is here until you’re no longer sitting in a hospital bed.”
Lucy wants to laugh at the way he says LIBF, the face he makes, but she can see the worry beneath the quip. The way his fingers tighten around her own, his eyes constantly drifting up to her most visible injury.
“I’m okay, Tim.” She’s quick to reassure him, assuage the worry he feels. “It’s just a small cut. You can go be the boss.”
“I know, but it can wait until the nurse bandages your head at least.” His words carry a tone, the one that tells her not to argue. And while their relationship was built on years of bickering and arguing and challenging each other, Lucy lets it slide for now. “Are you in any pain?”
“No, just sore.” She squeezes his hand, three quick grips that carry a secret message. “I’m good. I promise.”
Tim nods, even though Lucy can tell he’s not fully convinced.
It is sweet, the way he cares for her so completely. She is what is most important to him, always, and she knows it’s a gift to be loved like that.
And he hasn’t wavered in that love, not even in the months they spent apart. If anything, it’s only gotten stronger, more present in everything he says, every action he takes.
Strangely enough, she feels more secure now in their relationship than she had before. They both know what they lost, and it’s that knowledge that leads them to fight even harder to make it work. To show up for each other every day, be open and honest with every thought and feeling.
Lucy rests her head back, eyes closing again while they continue to wait, the room around them still alive with chaos. Tim lets go of her hand to rub her leg, mindful to not venture too close to her knee. She pops an eye open every few minutes to catch the way he watches over their fellow officers and then focuses back on her.
She should press him more to go back to work, to not just sit here with her. He’s already so stressed about the microscope he’s under, pushing aside his duties to stay at her side isn’t going to help his cause.
Tim is so good at being watch commander. The balance he’s found between his usual gruff nature and being a rock for the station, she’s inspired and proud. And it makes her want to be the best roving sergeant she can be, so that it makes his job just a little bit easier.
Continuing to blur the professional line between Sergeants Bradford and Chen and Tim and Lucy will only hurt them both. She’d never forgive herself if she was the reason he lost his job.
Lucy opens eyes again with the intention of putting her foot down and demanding he go to work, but Tim breaks the silence first. Looking over at Celina still sitting with Nolan and then back at Lucy.
“It was a good idea, making Juarez your aide.”
“Yeah?” She smiles, a warmth blooming in her chest at his praise. No matter how long they’ve known each other or the fact that he’s now so much more than just her old training officer, his approval and praise means more than she can say. Gives her that same giddy feeling she had years ago when she’d beat one of his Tim Tests.
She likes making him proud of her.
“Despite Nolan being her TO, and all that manifesting tarot card nonsense, she’s a decent cop and you understand each other.” He takes her hand again, a barely there smile on his face. “She’s good to have at your six.”
“That was my thinking. I’m glad you agree.”
Tim hums, bringing their joined hands to his lips. It’s a quick kiss, a blink and you miss it type, but another instance of him breaking their rule. This time in a room filled with not just the LAPD but the FBI, too.
“Won’t stop me from worrying about you, Luce.” He confesses, words whispered as his eyes glass over with that same fear she saw at the docks
“Comes with the territory, I know.” She smiles gently at him, sitting up more so she can touch his face with her other hand. Thumb stroking the stumble that’s begun to take form after a long day. “But we —”
The curtain that’s partially blocking her from view whips open, revealing a frazzled looking doctor with Lucy’s chart in his hand.
“Alright Sergeant Chen, I’m Dr Nelson, let’s get that head fixed up. Yeah?” Nelson slides over a stool and a tray full of bandages and medical instruments. Quickly putting on a fresh pair of gloves.
She winces briefly when he dabs the wound clean, feeling Tim squeezed her hand in comfort.
“Well, good news, it doesn’t need stitches, just some butterfly bandages.”
“Thank god.”
Tim chuckles at her excitement, thumbs stroking her hand while the doctor puts on first some antiseptic ointment that has Lucy wincing again and then the bandage.
“Keep it clean, and make sure to change that bandage. Couple days and you’ll be good as new. As for that knee, elevation and ice.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“Of course.” He rips the gloves off, tossing them onto the tray for a nurse to clean and walks off to deal with another patient.
Tim waits a moment then stands from the bed. Looking down at her with a soft smile. “Well, guess I’m on dinner duty again.”
“You’re a good live-in boyfriend.”
They share a laugh as Tim winks and extends a hand to help her get off the bed. She smiles up at him gratefully, her free hand coming to rest on his chest. They don’t make an effort to move, simply stay there breathing as they look at each other. Twin smiles and loving gazes. Lucy leans up on her tip tips, pressing a kiss to her cheek before stepping away. Neither says anything as they walk towards the waiting room, this isn’t the time to continue what she wanted to say before the doctor has interrupted. That conversation will have to be tabled once again, but they’ll have it. When the time is right.