Work Text:
It happens after a particular hard day, and case. It was a child abuse case, and even though Tim was the Watch Commander he got involved and helped Lucy and Celina sort everything out. She knows he watched the interview with the child and when she sees him next he looks like he’s been through hell.
These cases are always hard for him, and he never really talks about. She just knows that he shuts down and there’s no doubt he’s thinking of his own experience. His own abuse. The way he never had someone step in for him or Genny. She tried to be there for him the best she could but—
She’s determined for him to open up this time. Not tell her everything because that took time but she just wanted to know what she could do to help. Or if she could do anything to help.
“I have a question.” Lucy says. They are cuddled up on the couch, her head is on his chest and she’s snuggled in tight. Tim has his arm around her and it’s like he doesn’t want to let go.
“Yes?” Tim says his voice quiet. He hasn’t said much, and she wonders where his head is at.
“That kid today—when we found him he was in a closet.” Lucy says. Tim freezes a little and she feels his eyes on her. “He was reading a magazine. I think it was a comic or something. But he was so focused on it that he didn’t even realize we were there.”
“Yeah?” Tim says his voice a little shaky. “He was trying to escape. He told Angela that too.”
“Right.” Lucy says and she looks up at him. “I know this wasn’t easy for you. But did you have anything you escaped with?”
“A book.” Tim says almost immediately. “I was a little older than the kid today but it was this Sci-fi book. Infinity Entangles the Moon.”
“Oh.” Lucy says and she wasn’t expecting him to even say a book. She thought he went out to throw a baseball around or something. He preferred to listen to something anyway, and she never saw him just pick up a book.
“Is that surprising?” Tim asks looking at her curiously. “It took me out of the place I was in and just took me somewhere else.” Lucy nods in understanding and she’s not judging him. Not at all. She wishes she could go back and be there for him.
“No.” She says. “It’s not babe. But that’s great you had something to pull you away.” Tim nods and he reaches down to thread his fingers with hers.
“I don’t know where it went.” Tim says. “I think it got lost in me moving everywhere. It was so well used. I think there were rips and tears in the cover.”
“It helped you.” Lucy says softly. And she’s already making note on the title and hopefully one day she could gift it to him.
“It helped me get through the hard times.” Tim says. “It might be a little silly but it really did help.”
“I don’t think it’s silly.” Lucy says. “I think it’s brave. You had something to protect you when no one else did.”
“Mmmm.” Tim says softly. “It wasn’t always easy you know? But reading that book took me to another world. I wasn’t there anymore. I wasn’t afraid. I was in a fictional sci fi world where no one could touch me.”
Lucy eyes fill with tears just thinking of a young Tim, scared and alone and just reading to get away.
She wishes she could go back and give Tom Bradford a piece of her mind. He had a wonderful, amazing, brave son and he didn’t see the potential he had.
He never tried to.
“You aren’t him you know.” Lucy whispers. Tim looks at her curiously and she reaches up to touch his face. “Your dad. You aren’t him. You are so much better.”
“Well—” Tim starts but Lucy shakes her head and climbs up on his lap and presses a kiss to his lips.
“No.” She says. “You are nothing like him. Just the way you handled this case Tim. You were—you connected and you were understanding. Your father was a monster.”
Tim pulls her closer, and presses another kiss to her forehead. “I appreciate that Lucy.” Tim says. “It was a long time ago.”
“It never goes away does it?” She asks. Tim shakes his head, and Lucy smiles at him. “It does get better.”
“I agree with that.” Tim says. “Time makes it better and people. You.” Lucy just loops her arms around his neck and she will have to ask him about that title again.
But for right now—
She leans into him and sighs softly. This exactly what she needs and exactly what Tim needs.
For right now.
This is perfect.