Work Text:
Tim already knows what he’s going to do before he even leaves the station. He can see how stressed Lucy is. He understands her wanting to do this on her own and he respects that.
But he also knows she will be working all night, and she won’t slow down to think about herself. To take care of herself. To sit down and eat something, so he has the idea to go and pick up some food.
He goes and picks up the food, and then he’s heading back to the station. It’s the least he can do, their house is a mess with all her boxes and their first romantic night in night not be as romantic as they planned so—
He calls Lucy from the elevator, and he can practically hear how frazzled she is.
(She is doing a good job for this just being thrown on her. Plus with how they were treating her. She had a lot more self control than he would have.)
She tells him she would get food out of the vending machine, and he looks at the bag of food in his hand.
That would simply not do.
They were just getting back into the grove of being together, from waking up alone to waking up with Lucy was definitely surreal.
It felt like a dream, it felt better than a dream. He couldn’t believe that he was actually getting his second chance with Lucy. He couldn’t believe that he was bringing her food with no other reason except that he wanted to and she deserves it.
He is still on the phone with her when he approaches and when he sets down the food. Her face lights up and falls at the same time like she’s trying to balance her emotions.
“This is really sweet. I could cry.” She says and it does look like she will but he knows her like the back of his hand. She wouldn’t. Not here. Not now when she’s trying to make a plan that would work.
“Not at work.” Tim says.
“You are right.” She says. (He knows her like the back of his hand). She still doesn’t want his help, and that’s okay.
As long as she’s sitting and eating he would listen to her rant for hours.
“Your plan was good.” Lucy says pointing the utensils at him. “And I’m sure they would have accepted it.” Tim sighs and grabs one of the bags and pulls it towards him. He didn’t like the idea of Lucy being treated differently because she was a woman. She could do her job just as well as any of the men in the station.
(Better even—but maybe that was his bias side talking.)
He knows that is the world that they live in and they are in a job where men are listened to but sometimes woman are put down.
It’s not right. It’s not fair. Tim would trust Lucy with anything, and not even think twice about it. He would do the same with Angela and Nyla. But he knew them and knew what they could do.
“I mean it’s bad enough they kept defaulting to you.” Lucy continues. “Not that you aren’t reliable but I am the sergeant in charge.”
“You are.” Tim says. Lucy sighs and continues to eat her sushi. He made sure to get all her favorites just to make the night a little easier. “You are doing a good job.” He’s not sure if it’s the right thing to say but Lucy gives him a small smile.
“Thank you.” She says. Tim blows out a breath, he knows what it’s like to be the roving supervisor and he knows what it’s like to have pressure on him. He also knows everyone experiences and handles these things differently.
“Of course.”
“Did all my stuff make it to the house?” Lucy asks. Tim nods and puts down his fork, he was actually a little relieved he was here and not at the house where it was full of boxes.
He didn’t mind because it meant he was getting Lucy all the way into his life but still—
Tim nods in confirmation before he talks. “You have a lot of stuff.” He says. “You do know I have kitchen stuff.”
“Not salad forks.” She points out. Tim rolls his eyes a little. “I got that covered don’t worry.”
“What man has salad forks?” He asks.
“You do now.” Lucy says and she leans back in her seat and grins at him. He can see that she’s much relaxed now.
And that’s all he wants for her.
“True.” Tim says. He still doesn’t know what the hell he’s going to do with salad forks but for Lucy it will be worth it.
Always.
***
“You are going to have to go home at some point.” Lucy says. She’s on her computer, Tim has been watching her for the last half and hour. They had finished eating, and then Lucy went back to work.
She’s right— he probably should go home but he can’t seem to move. He can’t seem to leave, they just got back together. They were moving in together, they should be at home. Together.
“I know,” Tim says. “But I’m okay for right now.” Lucy raises her eyebrows at him, and she turns back to her computer but there’s a small smile on her face.
“You know you are being a really good live in boyfriend right?” She asks without looking away from the screen. “Just sitting there and listening to me rant.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Tim says.
“Right.” Lucy says and she pauses to look up at him. “Are you just going to wait around here all night?”
“No.” Tim says but Lucy just shakes her head and goes back to the looking at the computer. “I just like sitting here.”
“Good to know.” Lucy says and then she reaches over to touch his hand. “Go home Tim. Just because I have to be here all night doesn’t mean you have to.”
Tim blows out a breath and stands up. “Okay I will go.” He says. Lucy nods and he wants nothing more than to kiss her but he can’t.
Not right now.
“Text me when you get home.” She calls as he starts to walk off. Tim tosses a look over his shoulder, and maybe they weren’t going home together. Maybe she was stuck at work all night but it was okay.
They would have their first night together in their house… eventually.
And that’s all that matters.