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Lucy stands outside Tim’s office, Nolan is talking to him so she can barely see him. Lucy waits and she hears Tim say something and then he stands up and shakes Nolan’s hand. Nolan turns around and smiles at her.
“Nice to see you Sergeant Chen.” He says. Lucy smiles at him but then her eyes are back on Tim.
“Thanks Nolan.” She says. Nolan nods and she steps inside the office. Tim steps around the desk, and she meets him in the middle.
She’s still dressed in her bikini and the jacket. Her hair is probably full of sand and she can’t wait to take an actual shower.
At home.
“Hi.” Tim says. He glances over her shoulder and then his eyes are back on her. “You okay?”
“I am now.” She says and Tim’s lips twitch into a smile. “I’m ready to go home.”
“Five minutes.” He says. And she knows it’s taking everything in him not to pull her closer. Her own self restraint is dwindling down. The small touch they had at the burger joint was not enough.
Not even close.
“Okay.” She says and he steps past her his hand hovering at her side. “Five minutes.”
***
Lucy meets Tim by his truck and the minute he’s closer enough she’s in his arms. He pulls her tight against him and hears his heartbeat against her ear.
Oh she loves him.
Oh how she missed this.
“Lucy.” Tim pulls her back and she reaches up to put a hand on his cheek. “Let’s go home.” Lucy nods and Tim goes to open up her door. She climbs inside and pulls him so he’s between her legs.
“I just want to get back to normal.” She says. “I just need a normal night and a hot shower that isn’t shared with strangers.”
“Okay.” Tim says quietly. “I can give you that.”
“I know you can.” She says. “I want food that’s not out of cooler.” Tim nods and there’s nothing but understanding in his eyes.
“A hot meal.” He says. “Maybe wine?”
“Yes please.” She says. Tim smiles at her, and tries to step back but she holds onto him.
“What else do you need Lucy?” He asks softly. Lucy blinks at her and he really does know her so well.
“You.” She says and it’s the most important one of all. He’s the one she’s been craving for 4 weeks. He’s the one she’s been looking forward to come home to.
“You got it baby.” He says softly. “Hot shower, hot meal—”
“Hot boyfriend.” Lucy says grinning at him. Tim gives her a look and she shrugs her shoulders. “There’s a theme.”
“Clearly.” Tim says. “And I can give all of that to you and more.” Lucy nods and leans forward to press a kiss to his lips.
Good.
That was good.
Very good.
***
Tim does provide her with a hot meal, and a hot shower which she insists he needs too. And then they are crawling into bed and she is curling up into him. She lays her head on his chest.
“Did you miss me?” She asks. She keeps her head on his chest so she can’t see his face.
“What do you think?” Tim asks. “I—yes Lucy. I missed you. A lot. I made it through but—”
“I know Tim.” She says softly and really nothing compares to being in their nice warm bed.
And with Tim.
It was perfect.
“I got so used to you being here.” He says. She settles her head on his chest. “It was too quiet. I used to like it but now—”
“You like having someone around.” She finishes for him. She was the opposite at her apartment, she always seemed to have a roommate and someone was always around. She liked the noise and chaos but it did get a little much sometimes. She likes the calmness of living with Tim and Kojo. She likes knowing they will be here waiting for her.
“If it’s you. Yes absolutely.” Tim says. “I just realized how much of an impact you made on me.”
“I love you.” Lucy says. There’s a brief silence and she closes her eyes. She’s not used to not hearing the waves crash against the shore. She does love the sound of Tim’s breathing and heartbeat. It’s comforting. It’s normal. It’s home.
She’s home.
***
“You said van life Lucy was a bad part of your life.” Tim says. Lucy sighs and turns to face him, her hand finds its way to his chest.
“I had just dropped out of grad school. I as a disappointment to my parents and I was trying to find myself.” Lucy says. “I just felt lost. I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
“And you thought exploring and moving around was the way to do it?” Tim asks. Lucy taps his chest, she hadn’t thought of this part of her life in years. And now she had talked about with Nyla and now Tim.
“I didn’t know what I wanted.” Lucy says. “My parents knew what they wanted for me but I had no idea. It was 9 months of me trying to figure it out.”
“And you decided on the police academy.” Tim says. Lucy hums softly and thinks of the moment that idea made its way to her brain. She never even considered it but—
“So I was setting up my tent—” She starts but Tim makes a noise that has her looking at him with narrowed eyes. “What?”
“A tent?” He asks. “Why—”
“Because that’s what I slept in.” She says clicking her tongue at him. “It was better than nothing.”
“You were a force to be reckoned with.” Tim says softly. Lucy hums softly and takes a deep breath before she continues.
“Anyway.” Lucy says softly. “There was this couple. They had been there for a few days, they were all set up. But the boyfriend—he was cruel and dismissive and the girl just took it. There were so many people around and no one was doing anything.”
“Lucy, you know—” Tim voice falters a little. She knows what she did was a risk, she didn’t know the guy or if he had any weapons. But she wanted to help.
“I know it was a risk.” Lucy says. “Believe me. But I had to do something even if she didn’t want the help. I didn’t know what was happening behind closed doors but I knew she was in trouble and he was dangerous.”
“So you went to help.” Tim says. “You are incredible.”
“It was scary.” She says. “But I managed to get her away from him for the night. When I woke up the next morning they were both gone.”
“You tried.” Tim says and he understands the want to help someone. “That’s what matters.”
“A few weeks later,” Lucy says and she swallows hard. She hates this part of the story because she could have done so much more. So much more. “There was a piece in the newspaper about a girl who went missing and her body was found near where we were that night. It was her. So I could have done a lot more.”
“No.” Tim says. “You did what you thought was right and it was. You tried to help. Sometimes abuse victims can’t get out of the cycle. It’s like it’s imprinted in them.”
“It haunted me.” Lucy says. “So I got myself together and I realized that’s what I wanted to do was to help people. I didn’t figure it out right away. But I did it.”
“I’m glad you did. I’m glad you cared so much.” Tim says softly. Lucy rolls so she’s halfway on top of him. It feels so good to be back in his arms.
“I’m glad that everything led me here.” She says. “The good, the bad the ugly.”
“The training officer who yelled at you.” Tim says. Lucy hums softly and kisses him slow and soft.
Every single thing led them here. To this moment. Everything that happened. She’s not sure if her past self would believe that she was here. With Tim.
“Yes but he also fell in love with me.” She says and she nudges him a little. “Right?”
“Yes. I did.” He says and he presses a kiss to the top of her head. “And I can finally breathe again.” Lucy sucks in a breath and lets it out. She’s not too keen on leaving Tim any time soon. She’s doesn’t like being away from him and not being able to breathe.
“I’m here now.” She says softly and she caresses his face. “Okay? And I’m not going anywhere.” Tim nods and leans in to kiss her.
“Thank you for sharing that with me.” He says his voice soft and fading a little. “I love you.”
“Of course.” Lucy says. “I love you too.”