Archive of Our Own

Lucy had never felt like this before. She faced dangers unprecedented and pain like no other, but physical pain, no never like this.

It all started when she was changing out after shift. Even though Angela had been recently promoted she made it a promise to at least go see Lucy while she was changing out, even if she couldn’t leave herself. She was currently changing out in solitude.

She saw her, not all at once because it never quite works like that. She heard the clink of the boots she had decided to wear that day. Then it was the signature vanilla perfume that she would always wear, something that smelled like her. As she turned around she felt it, her hands on her waist. Her touch bringing her warmth instantly, but also pain. 

While she usually loved the touch of her girlfriend’s hands, today was quite the off day. It all started with some stomach cramps, rather intense for what one might classify as an uneasy stomach. Especially so as her period cramps were never this intense, her periods were rather painless. Her school friends always said she was the luckiest girl in the world, in a sense.

As the day went on her pain got progressively worse. Going from rather manageable pain to these deepening cramps. Eventually, when she got her lunch break, she ate only a little snack that she had in her kit, in fear of making the pain worse. She came back from patrol to do some paperwork afterwards, and that's where she stayed for the rest of the day. As she was station bound, she spent a decent amount of time downing ibuprofen trying to make it slightly more manageable. It did not. She was on edge and all she wanted to do was pass out in her bed.

Angela’s hands went in around her sides, going down from her waist to circling her stomach area. She started feathering kisses around her neck while Lucy oozed at the touch. Angela backed up, noticing the pain Lucy was not even trying to hide.

Angela waited as she turned around, with a painful grimace one might add, and she looked Lucy up and down. Her change of mood from the night before was very obvious. “Hey, hey what’s wrong? You fliched.” Angela looked at her inquisitively, waiting impatiently for her answer.

Lucy tried to talk, but the pain suddenly increased. She grasped at her side and exhaled outwards, desperate to gain back what little control she had about the whole situation. “It just-,” She breathed in again as Angela sat her down on the bench. “Hurts. Here.” Lucy signaled to her side which she was aggressively clutching. 

“Do you need to go to the hospital?” Angela could feel Lucy just trembling from the pain. Breathing in and out. Her expression was a mix of desperation and worry, which intertwined with Lucy’s. Her heart ached as the best part of her was holding on for dear life. The way she said it almost sounded soft and small, like a worrisome child. 

Lucy breathed in again, more sharply this time. “No-, no hospital. Just-” She hunched over due in pain, stopping her in her tracks. Once some of the pain subsided she resumed. “Home. Just take me home.” Angela understood immensely. 

She immediately phones Harper. Her caseload was immense so Harper decided to help her out for the day. “It’s Lopez.” She paused for a second. “Yeah. No-no, I can’t stay.” Another few moments pass by. “Family emergency, can you cover for me.” Angela looked around as if she was thinking, processing what Harper was saying on the other line. “Yeah, I-I will, thanks I owe you one.” Another few words were exchanged on the line. “Yeah, no I don’t. See you tomorrow." Lopez ended the call as the line clicked.

Lucy looked up at Angela, even in all her pain. “You need to stay?” Her typically steady voice coming out as shaky whispers. Lucy was still hunching at her side.

Angela took her palm and cradled the right side of Lucy’s face in it. She went back and forth, making a soothing motion. On any other day Lucy would’ve melted into the touch and settled into her girlfriend right then and there. Almost letting herself into the touch, but not completely. It was better than flinching at the touch, which given the day was definitely on the table. “No, no I don’t. Not when you’re in pain like this.” Angela looked back into her eyes and smiled. No way was she letting her drive home like this, in this amount of pain. She would 100% get into a car crash. Angela smiled to herself. “Well, if I let you go home like this, you’re getting into a collision. Again.”

Lucy chuckled at her statement. Anglea smiled at her amusement. “Hey, that possum came out of nowhere!”

“So you say, but I’m driving you. Anything you need?” Angela opened Lucy’s locker and grabbed Lucy’s bag from it. She was looking inside for anything else Lucy might need.

“Just-” She had to take her time with her statements, as the pain was overwhelming her. “That.” She looked up and saw Angela offering a hand for her to get up. She took it, taking her time to get up. Somehow the pain had gotten so much worse as she sat down. 

“Okay Sunshine, let’s get you home. My place or yours?” She said as she took her hand.

“Mine. I think-” She was taking deep breaths as she spoke, Angela thought to herself how much better it would make her feel if she could take her to Shaw. But then she remembered that this wasn’t about her. “I’m gonna take a sick day.”

They were walking out of the locker rooms into the parking lot, the surrounding area seemed pretty empty thankfully. “The Lucy Chen is taking a sick day? I never thought I’d see this day.” Even with how bad Lucy was doing, Angela still made it her life’s mission to cheer her up. 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Eat it up Lopez.” Lucy looked around and finally noticed that they were going to the parking lot. “Don’t-, Don’t you need your stuff? Wha- Why-”

Angela smirked to herself, nothing could get past her. “Most of it’s just files and stuff. Stuff that I don’t need. I have my phone, I’m right where I want to be.” Lucy still, however, looked worried - worried that she was being too much of a bother. “Don’t worry about it, Luce. It’s all being taken care of.”

She looked up at Angela with soft, doe eyes. “I don’t wanna be a burden.”

“It’s great that you can’t be a burden because-” She lowered her voice. “We’re in a relationship. Legally I have to take care of you.”

Only a couple of months of dating and this is what they’ve become; saps. Lucy chuckled. “Doesn’t mean you’re obligated.”

They had reached Angela’s car. “I mean I kinda am. Did you know that relationships come with commitments. Even worse, they're unburdened commitments.” Angela sarcastically gasped in shock. “You learn something new everyday, huh?” 

Angela opened the car door and helped her inside. Lucy's head immediately hit the headrest. “Laugh it up, Lopez. When I’m 100% I will have no issue for swatting you for those comments.” 

“I’m sure you will.” She laid a loving kiss on her forehead, right before she shut the door.

As she walked around to the other side she spotted Tim walking to his car, eyeing her suspiciously. If he asked, she’d make something up. She always would, for her. 

She put the car in drive as she turned the radio down to a hum, letting Lucy’s soft snoring fill the car. Angela simply watched the beautiful Los Angeles night sky, wondering what might be next. She took every spare moment at stop signs and red lights to look at Lucy, who was facing her soundly asleep.

Angela reached Lucy’s apartment and pulled into her spot. Unlocking Lucy’s door, Angela did not want to wake her. It meant that she wasn’t in pain. She did the only thing she could, she scooped her up and began the walk to the floor. Unfortunately, Lucy lives on the sixth floor. Good news, a new elevator installed. Bonus.

She reached the floor, carefully fiddling with her keys so as to not wake the beauty on her shoulder. Angela unlocks the front door and tries to rush to Lucy’s bedroom. She places her down into the bed before she heard movement in the living spaces. She turned around to find her girlfriend’s roommate and her old boot - Jackson West.

He came and leaned against the door frame. “You know-”

“Shhh! Be quiet, she needs to sleep!” She whispered harshly. She moved out of the bedroom, moving towards the living room, shutting the door.

Angela ushered him to the couch as she sat down as well. “I was gonna say that I’ll never get used to you two being together, What’s-”

Angela rubbed her hand all over her face. “She’s in a lot of pain, like more than normal. I wanted to take her to the hospital, but she declined. She wanted to be here.” She looked down with sorrow as she said the last bit. She wanted the best for Lucy, but sometimes that was not up to her. “Leave her alone. Okay?” 

Jackson nodded his head. “Yeah, understood.”

She then heard groans coming from the bedroom. At that sound she got up and patted him on the back. “Well Jackie Boy, it’s been fun but duty’s calling.”

Jackson groaned. “You’re never going to let me live that down are you?”

“Nope.” She then walked in stride to the bedroom and opened the door. Lucy immediately coiled at the kitchen light, which Angela quickly apologized for. “Sorry, sorry.” She said as she quickly shut the door.”

“Ange?” She asked in confusion. 

Angela quickly walked over to her side, doing a deep squat, almost sitting on the floor next to her. Just to be next to her. She moved some of her hair out of her face. “Yeah, sunshine?”

She groaned as she clutched into a ball on her side. “It hurts, it hurts a lot.” Angela put the back of her palm across her forehead; it was warm. Not boiling hot, and definitely not enough to be causing all of this. Lucy just kept groaning out in pain. It stung Angela every time she did.

Angela stood up. “Let me get you some meds and we’re changing you out of these clothes.”

“Mm-hmm” Lucy said quickly, nodding her head up and down. Even in her state, Angela found it kinda cute.

“Okay, I’ll be back.” Angela said, walking away. Usually Lucy would’ve argued for Angela to stay by her side but there was no fight in her. Angela found it worrisome in the very least. 

Angela walked out to the kitchen light off, thank god. Lucy must’ve had a headache as well, she assumed from the sensitivity to light. She quickly went to the medicine cabinet and grabbed various medications for Lucy to take. Ibuprofen, flu medication, and melatonin. 

She walked back into the bedroom, seeing Lucy still curled up in the same exact spot where she had left her. She came a little closer and saw her eyes shut and her breathing even, also no longer grabbing onto her side like her life depended on it. She hated having to wake her, but there was no alternative. 

She went to Lucy’s side. She shook her shoulder, very lightly. Lucy groaned again and groggily awoke. “Wha-”

“Just some medicine babe. Here, drink.” Angela helped her sit up, very slowly at that, but she did sit up. She stood there while Lucy slugged the pills back. “We need to get you out of these clothes.”

Lucy visually grimaced at the idea. “Mmm-unnn.” She mumbled. 

Angela’s face softened. “We need to sunshine, I’ll help.” Angela started by helping Lucy take off her shoes and shirt, then she helped Lucy slide her pants off. She clicked her bra off, normally she would have reveled in their beauty, but this was not the time. Though it could be the place. 

Angela helped Lucy get dressed and tied up her hair from a spare hair tie off her dresser. Angela kissed her on the forehead. “Night, sunshine.” As soon as Lucy was comfortable in her pillows Anglea could see her drift off to sleep. 

A few minutes went by and her breathing evened out completely. Anglea breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she could sleep despite her pain Surely things would be better tomorrow. 

Angela went and grabbed a container, which in case of emergency would be used as a vomit bucket. She then did her own nighttime routine, changing out of her clothes and into some sleepwear.

She climbed into bed, cradling Lucy as she slept. She just watched Lucy’s chest as it rose and fell, watching for any sign of pain. She felt the lids of her eyelids get heavier and heavier until the drowsiness overtook her.

It didn’t last for long, nothing good ever does. 

Lucy was tossing and turning, and had been off and on for the past three hours. Sometimes Angela would hear moans of pain. If she wasn’t taking a sick day by now, Angela would’ve strapped her to the bed or something.

The clock was nearing five am and neither one of them had been asleep for more than one consecutive hour. Angela took Lucy in once again, cradling her towards her chest. It eased her a little bit. Some more time passed by and it was nearing the time where Angela would go and get ready for work. She should take a sick day, right? I mean Lucy needed her. 

Morning sunshine was encompassing the windows with the light. Lucy’s eyes fluttered open moments later. “Morning, sunshine.” Angela said right next to her. 

Lucy groaned as she moved. “Wha- what time is it?” She said as she looked around, in a haze from the night before.

Angela chucked at her statement. “A little after six.” Lucy tried to sit up at her words, but she failed miserably so. Angela took Lucy’s soft hands as she helped her lay back into bed. “Luce, no. Don’t sit up, you’re taking a sick day.”

Lucy looked at her rather lazily, still in much pain from the day before. “Yeah, I am. You’re not.” 

Angela started mumbling. “Maybe I should stay-” 

“You can’t. Besides if anything happens Jackson’s here. He has the day off.” Lucy rested back into her pillow. 

“I-I should-”

“You can’t. It’s fine, go.” Lucy reassured. They couldn’t both miss work. It would’ve been too suspicious. While a few people knew about their relationship, it still wasn’t a good idea to wave it around. The people in the detective bureau didn’t know and it could look bad on both of them. Gay cops shouldn’t date.

“You’ll call me if anything happens?” Angela asked her. 

Lucy at this point was already drifting off again. “Mmm-hmm.” Her breathing evened out a couple seconds later. Angela chuckled to herself and got out of bed to get ready for work.

After a couple of minutes in the bathroom and a little rummaging around Lucy’s closet she was ready for work. She watched Lucy as she slept, laying a small kiss on her forehead. She would give anything for Lucy, but she was right. Even if most of their personal friends knew, the boss doesn’t. That’s a conversation for another time.

Angela walked out and into the kitchen, seeing Jackson sitting there sipping on a cup of coffee. “Coffee.” He said, reaching out with another cup.

She had a few minutes before she absolutely had to leave, so she accepted. “Thanks.” She said, as she sipped the cup.

She looked as if she was pondering, deep in thought, wishing she didn’t have to go. Her worries plagued her mind. What if something went wrong today?. “So, how’s Luce?”

She shrugged. “Not good. Look after her today, okay, I have a bad feeling.”

He turned to look more directly at her. “She’ll be fine, it’s probably just the flu. She’s in good hands.”

“Yeah.”

Angela made it to work on time. It was a freaking miracle. She was so sure she was gonna be late.

Her day passed slowly, filled by small administrative tasks that she skipped out on yesterday. Harper was out solving a case while she did these things. She didn’t mind it though, it meant that she could clock out at a reasonable time today.

It was about lunchtime, so she decided to call home. “West.” Jackson said, as he picked up the phone.

“Hey Jackson. How’s patient zero?” She said into the phone.

“More like patient difficult.” He said, irritation lacing his voice. 

“Why, What happened?” Angela said, panicked. 

“No, no, no, don't come home. She just, well she threw a fit when I made her some soup.” Jackson said, trying to ease Angela. 

“Hey, I did not throw a fit. I’m not eating soup with kale in it.” She heard from a weak voice in the background: Lucy.

“You threw a pillow in my face, it was a fit.” He sniped back. “Anyways,” He said, coming back to the line. “She’s doing well, I think-”

He was cut off again by Lucy. This time it wasn’t a sassy remark or a quip back at him. Angela heard her bloodcurdling screams. Something was definitely wrong. “Jaa-ackson!” She yelled.

Jackson rushed into the room, still having the phone in hand. “Jackson, bring her to Shaw. If you don’t you’re dead. Meet you there.” She waited for his confirmation and hung up. She launched out of her seat and ran towards her car. She’d be sure to call Grey later.

She arrived long before Jackson did, anticipating his arrival. She paced the ambulance bay, tears welling at her throat and worry coursing through her veins. Once he arrived, she flung open the door and picked her up, just as she did last night. 

She and Jackson ran into the medical bay, Jackson clearing the way for Lucy. Jackson urgently gives a few words to the lady at the front desk. The lady leads Angela to a bed, rushing Lucy over. Once Lucy’s down a multitude of doctors start to crowd Lucy asking for her symptoms.

“She was having, like, extreme stomach cramps, could barely move. A fever, and then she started screaming from the pain.” Angela explained, her voice rather shaken.

“Sounds like appendicitis, we gotta move.” One of the doctors on her right said. 

“OR 4 is open, emergency appendectomy.” Another voice said. She heard the clink of the bed frame as it started to move.

She was frozen, but she needed to say something. “Wait! I-I need to say bye.” Angela said meekly. 

The doctors stopped and Angela crouched down and put Lucy’s hand in hers. “Hey, hey Luce look at me. You’re gonna be fine, these doctors are gonna take great care of you.” Her voice was breaking and tears were falling down. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get out of surgery, okay?”

Her only response was a shallow. “Mmm-hmm”

The doctors started to move, but one medical professional stayed behind. “Are you her significant other?”

“Yea-yeah, that’s me. I’m on her medical forms in all. You wanna know if I consent?” She said, but it was a bit of a stumble.

“I do.” The lady said unwavering.

“Go ahead, take good care of her. That’s an officer of our city right there, one of the best.” Angela looked down and noticed that her hands were trembling. Tears were flowing. The lady nodded and walked away. Jackson was right behind her, holding her as she broke down. Jackson led her to a chair where the cries fell until she just couldn’t anymore. 

“Do you want me to call Tim?” Jackson asked.

“Mmm-hmm.” And a nod were her only responses.

Jackson called Tim, but the voice on the line quickly faded out. She doesn’t exactly know the contents of that call as she could not focus on that even if she tried. She couldn’t focus on anything, let alone a phone call. Her thoughts were filled with all of her anxieties, plagued by the aftermath of Caleb. All she could think about was the fact that she knew something was wrong, she knew and yet she still left for work like an idiot. 

She saw him when he walked in, panicked and frantic. Diseased with worry for Lucy. She got up and walked towards him. She wanted to run, wished she could, but her body was trembling so much she couldn’t muster the ability to do so. 

“Tim. Oh, she-” She started to break down again. 

“It’s okay Ange, it’s going to be okay.” He brushed through her hair with his fingers, as a method of reassurance. 

“I should’ve- I knew-” The sobs came through.

“There was nothing to know. The doctors here are the best, she’s going to be alright.” He sat down with her on some of the chairs in the waiting room. 

A woman’s voice echoed in the background. “Family of Lucy Chen?” Tim, Angela, and Jackson all stood up at the same time, though Angela was a bit shaky doing so.

“That’s us. Hi, we’re her family.” Jackson replied to the woman. 

“So I have some good news and I have some good news.” A smile did not quite grow across Angela’s face but her frown and fearful face was dissipating. “Officer Chen has appendicitis, quite solvable with a routine surgery. She should be coming out within the hour and someone will call you when she’s set up in her room.” The doctor said with a smile on her face.

“Oh, thank God!” Then Angela started sobbing into Tim once again. Tim repeated the same soothing motions from before. 

Jackson started, “Is she going to be all-” 

“Loopy? Yes, she will. The pain meds for this surgery are quite strong so be prepared.” She looked around and saw hope beaming off these people's faces. “Do we have any other questions?” The group shaked their heads no. “Okay, well if you do you can ask Linda over there to page me. My name is Dr. Brown so just ask for me there.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Tim sighed in relief. She nodded her head with a slight, gentle smile in response.

Waiting felt like torture for Angela, she just wanted Lucy at home safe with her. Not in this hospital filled with people’s nightmares, she hates it here. Eventually the same doctor led the group of three to Lucy’s room. She let them know that she’s already awake from surgery.

She was fidgeting with her moonstone ring on her hand as they walked in. They very quickly realized that high Lucy was no better than drunk Lucy. 

“Ange? Why’re you here?” She slurred out. Her state of mind must be all over the place, Angela thought.

“I’m here to see you sunshine.” Angela said. Tim giggled at the nickname but otherwise ignored it. 

Lucy’s eyes immediately grew brighter hearing that. “I missed you.” Lucy reached over for her hand and Angela immediately took it.

“I missed you, too.” Angela smiled at her.

“Ugh, gag,” Tim mocked. 

Angela immediately looked back, angered. “Tim, sit down and shut up!”

His eyes widened at her words as he sat down promptly. Jackson smiled to himself as he watched the situation unfold. Jackson walked over from the front of Lucy’s bed and sat down on the edge. “Hey Lu.”

“Jackie!” She moved her hands in an upwards motion, like a child, to signal she wanted a hug. He gladly accepted as he leaned down.

He smiled softly as he squeezed her back. “Hey, Lu. How you feeling?” Angela looked to the side as she listened carefully at his choice of words. She was happy though that she and Lucy had so much support, it was just a funny feeling.

She pursed her lips slightly. “I dunno, I feel kinda funny. Everything's like ‘woah’, you know?” She moved her palm against her nose, as if she was aiming for her fingertips to scratch the surface of them but miscalculated. When she realized her error she scrunched up her nose. She then tried again as Angela and Jackson watched, bemused. 

Jackson let out a shaky breath, a laugh almost escaping. “Yeah, I do.” He said in support. Angela hardly thought that Jackson knew what Lucy was on about, but she let it go. 

Tim slightly closed his eyes, almost as if he was trying to focus in on the scene that was unfolding on the hospital bed. He was still standing in the corner, but now he was walking up to Angela. “What’s she doing?” He directed to Angela, confused as to Lucy’s state.

She leaned her head to the side, as a sign of acknowledgement. Never taking her eyes off Lucy. “I think she’s trying to scratch her nose.” She lifted her hand up to Lucy’s face, going in to scratch her nose. “Is this good, sunshine?” She said as she smiled down, seeing Lucy’s satisfied face in return. 

Lucy melted slightly into the touch, leaning more into her pillow. “Mmm-hmm, that’s the stuff.” She smiled as she closed her eyes slightly. 

Tim chuckled. “She’s really high, isn’t she?”

Angela chuckled too at his words, entertained. “Oh, she’s soaring. Little Miss Sunshine soaring on pain meds.” Angela went to scratch the area behind Lucy’s ears that she knew Lucy enjoyed.

Lucy’s eyes closed completely and she seemed as if she were drifting off slightly. “‘Little Miss Sunshine’? Is that a regular occurrence or?” Tim said, playfully. 

Angela finally turned around to see him standing right behind her. She glared at him, something so vile even Jackson hadn’t received it in all his training. Thank god, honestly. “Really, Tim? Shut it, right now.” She wasn’t really for his shit today. She was happy he was here but he could be a real pain in the ass sometimes. 

He took a short, small step back from where he was standing and put his hands up in the air as if she was gonna cuff him right then and there. “Got it Lopez, shutting up.” She said as he started to put his hands down as soon as it was safe to do so.

A small huff was her only response and acknowledgement that he said anything. Angela looked back down to Lucy seeing her chest rising and falling in even breaths, the small soft snoring that took place, and the way that her face laid so peacefully. She was out cold once again. 

Jackson spoke up. “Should we be calling people?” He looked at Angela and back at Tim for some type of assurance. 

Angela turned her head sharply and looked him dead in the face. “Who do you wanna call, her parents? Hell no, they don’t get to be here.” She said rubbing her thumb back and forth across Lucy’s hand. It helped her anxiety find its place, it had no belonging at this moment. Her parents had hated her for being a cop and weren’t even there when Caleb happened? No, she wouldn’t let those people near her, not today.

Jackson stammered, speechless. “Uhh-, I didn’t mean that- I mean them. I mean, shouldn’t Nolan be here?” He looked around once again, more embarrassed at his screw up. 

Angela went still, not bothering to look at either of them. “No, no this is fine.” Jackson squinted his eyebrows, what?

Jackson looked back at Tim and he just shrugged his shoulders, having no better answer to give the boy. “What’s wrong with Nolan, Angela?” Tim said, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing! He’s just-” She stammered, cutting herself off before she was ahead. 

Jackson looked like he had a newfound realization. “Lopez?” Jackson asked knowingly.

She tried not to look at him. “What?”

Jackson chuckled, slightly. So slight you could barely hear it. “You know, don’t you?”

She now turned to face him. “Know what? I know a lot of things, thank you very much.” She said, desperately trying to diverge the topic of conversation. 

Tim was just confused as anybody else would be. Standing in the background, basically an observer at this point. “West, get to the point.” He demanded.

He chuckled as he looked to the other side of the room before focusing his attention back to the group, specifically to Tim. “Lucy and Nolan had a very brief relationship at the beginning of our rookie year.” Tim looked like his eyes popped out of his head, before reeling in his emotions and becoming stoic once again. “Nothing serious, they cut it off. No one knew but I found out.”

Tim looked as if he was contemplating. Angela looked like she wished they could move on from this topic of conversation as soon as possible. “‘Found out?’ What-” Tim said.

“Nope not revealing, that’s all you get.” Jackson said, cutting Tim off before he could continue. “But Angela knew all that, didn’t you.”

“No-” She butted in.

“Yes, oh my god you are totally jealous.” Jackson exclaimed with a newfound brightness in his voice. 

Angela put her free hand on the back of her neck, almost pulling her neck down. “If I say, will it shut you up?”

Jackson looked like he wanted to squeal. He breathed in, sharply. “That’s confirmation, you are.” Jackson replied. 

Angela groaned in the conclusion that she made. “Fine, call him. Won’t promise I won’t glare at him though, we’re not on duty.” She rolled her eyes at him. Jackson was giddy with glee. 

Tim smiled. “Consider it done.” Angela wanted to scream. 

She was saved from killing the two ganging up on her, especially Jackson, when there was a knock at the door. 

A young woman with a clipboard stood at the door’s entrance. She was slim with dark brown hair that went down to the middle section of her back. “Hey family, how are we doing in here?” She said with a bright smile on her face, no idea of the conversation she was interrupting; a conversation which Angela was dreading. This doctor was her savior in more ways than one.

Angela nodded her head. “We’re doing fine. When will she be discharged?” Angela asked with desperation lacing her voice. She wanted Lucy back in her arms as soon as possible, in a bed that wasn’t so small and dreadful.

The doctor stepped a few feet forward. “About tomorrow afternoon. We have to make sure there are no complications after surgery, but her post op vitals all look good. I don’t think we’ll have any issues there.” Angela felt slightly disappointed, she didn’t want to be far from Lucy after all this. 

“It’s going to be okay, Ange. She’ll be alright.” Tim whispered behind her, giving her reassurance. They came up as rookies together, he knew her fears, her worries, her doubts. And she knew his too; he could tell she was freaking out internally, no matter how much shit they’d like to give her. Jackson looked in her direction sympathetically, seeing the worry on her face on what should’ve been perceived as good news.

“I have an ‘Angela Lopez’ here on her contact form, I’m assuming that’s you?” The doctor questioned, which Angela gave a nod in response. “I’ll tell the nurses to set up a cot for you for the night. I’m sure it’ll help make a speedy recovery.” She said with a smile on her face.

Angela gleamed at the proposition. “Thank you, doctor.” Was all she could say. 

The doctor just gave her a quick nod and left, giving the family an update she had done her job well. “One of you call Nolan, and Harper too, cause I’m not doing it.” Angela said, revisiting the topic from beforehand.

Tim took that as an invitation to go into the hall and do so. Angela had a small tear fall down her cheek. Jackson noticed almost immediately, feeling bad for all the teasing and grief he gave her earlier. “Hey Lopez, she’s gonna be okay.” He placed a hand on her shoulder.

She wiped the tear away with her free hand. “Yeah, I know. Just hospitals bring it all back. The abduction, Rosalind, Caleb.” Her thoughts were flooded with the what ifs of that terrible day. 

If Jackson felt bad before he felt a deep anguish now. “I-I’m sorry Lopez, I shouldn't have-”

“Don’t worry about it.” She cut him off, her statement rather sorrow.

Angela felt Lucy’s hand twitch, her face looked distorted, saddened. A telltale sign of one of Lucy’s nightmares. Angela let out a tiny sob and laid her head on her chest just so she could hear her authentic heartbeat. Not whatever the machines around them decided to play. 

Angela sat up slightly and ran her fingers through Lucy’s hair. She whispered calming things into Lucy’s ear to ease her out of the nightmare. A few moments pass and Lucy's face relaxes as she moves back into REM sleep. Jackson felt as though he was intruding on a personal, intimate moment between the couple. At the same time however, he felt a bit of pride that he was allowed this window into their relationship, it felt special. 

“You two do go really well together.” He told her.

She lifted her head up from the angled position it once was. “What more than her and Nolan?” She teased.

Jackson chuckled, “Well one, most couples are better than those two. And two, I can’t believe you’re still hung up on that.”

Angela looked at him. “We talked about this not even 20 minutes ago.”

“I mean them. They dated for like a month and a half and broke up with no hard feelings. She just, wasn’t that into him. You got no reason to be jealous.” He said looking down into Lucy’s eyes, or where there would be eyes showing if she was awake.

Angela felt a little smoother at that realization. She still hated the hospital, but things felt a little easier now. “I should know he’s not a threat. I know he’s not a threat. Its’s just-”

“What?” He replied.

“He got to have her. I would be jealous of anyone that did. He’s the only one I have to live with. I just- I love her so much Jackson you don’t understand.” Angela stated. 

“I may not get it, but I do understand.” He replied with warmth in his expression. She just nodded her head in appreciation back at him. At that moment Tim decided to walk back into the room. 

He looked solemnly at Angela, almost avoiding eye contact. “Okay, Nolan and Harper are coming now and Grey will be in after shift. Good news is Nolan and Harper can’t stay so try not to kill him.” He said, trying to ease the mood. She looked up and broke a smile and his face softened back. 

“Thanks, Tim,” She said in response. 

“Always,” Tim said back. 

At that time, Lucy started to shift in her sleep. Her neck moved from one side to the next, albeit slowly, and her eyes fluttered slowly. Before she knew it she did a big stretch from her toes all the way to her fingers. She did a tiny little grunt and looked beside her. 

Angela moves a piece of hair from her face and leans in slightly. “How you feeling, Luce?” She moved her head to the left a bit. 

“Sleepy. I’m like, super tired.” Lucy said with her eyes blinking. As she said it Angela could hear Lucy’s drowsiness, her words slurring, which was also attributed to the pain medication. 

Angela leaned in even more and kissed her on the forehead. “Well, let’s get you back to sleep?” 

“Lay with me, please?” She asked with a pouty look on her face. “With a cherry on top!” She said enthusiastically. 

Angela smiled. “Yeah, sunshine.” Jackson saw the change in the atmosphere and moved up from where he was currently sitting on Lucy’s bed. Lucy slid over and Angela slid in, being mindful of Lucy’s IV drip and heart monitor wires. Angela started stroking Lucy’s hair with her fingers, giving them a back and forth soothing motion. “Go to sleep sunshine, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Angela could see Lucy’s eyelids drip heavy and heard her breath start to even. Within a matter of minutes sleep took Lucy and though it took a bit longer for Angela, sleep took her too.

Angela felt the slight shake of her body going from side to side. When her consciousness came to realization she heard the steady beeps of the heart monitor, the hum of the fluorescent lights, and a warm hand attached to her shoulder. 

“Hey, hey.” Her vision focused and she looked to her left where Jackson was standing, gently shaking her back and forth. She looked over and she heard Lucy’s soft snores fill the air, something she missed beforehand. “Lopez, I need you to wake up.” She groaned softly at the realization that was brought before her. 

“Ugh.” She sat up and lifted her hand to her forehead. “What, Jackson?” She glared at him slightly.

“Nolan and Harper just landed, so I need you to wake up.” He paused for a moment, almost as if he didn’t want to say the next part. “And I need you to wake Lucy up.”

If she was glaring at him before, albeit slightly, she was sure as hell doing it fully now. “Really, Jack. You can’t let her sleep? She just had surgery!” She wasn’t having any of this utter bullshit, especially from Jackson.

Jackson momentarily looked back at Tim before he scoffed with a, ‘you got this’ look on his face, basically saying he’s gonna stay out of it, and damn right he will. “You know she would want to see them, both of them.” He looked at her with the sweetest eyes one could muster. She thought about it, she didn’t wanna partake in any of it. She just wanted to be right here next to Lucy, but Lucy had bigger things. Other people waiting for her. It wasn’t right to hold her from that.

She supposed she looked off into the distance sometime while she was thinking because she zoned in on Jackson’s face. “Fine,” was all she said in acknowledgement. She moved back, facing Lucy, in preparation to wake her up. “Sunshine,” She shook her back and forth similar to how Jackson woke her up. “I need you to wake up sunshine.”

She groaned in her sleep where she mumbled, “Uhh-uh.” She almost shut her eyes closer in retaliation. Angela rolled her eyes, knowing how difficult Lucy could be in the morning. The drugs only amplified it.

Angela shook her a little bit harder, still super gentle for someone that had surgery. “Babe, I need you to sit up.” She decided that nothing was going to wake drugged up Luce, debating internally to let her sleep as an excuse to not see Nolan in a personal setting, but deciding against it. She settled on a middle ground: psychological warfare.

Angela stuck her index finger behind her ear, where her hairline and her earlobe met. She wiggled her finger back and forth, tickling her. Small giggles erupted from Lucy in her sleep, she started wiggling her toes and then feet almost flailing. Jackson and Tim stood in the back, stunned at the scene erupting in front of them. “Stop, stop, stop! I’m up!” Lucy whined out.

Angela smiled back. “Okay, sunshine.” She stopped with the warfare. “Nolan and Harper are on their way and-”

At that moment they heard a knock on the door. “Come in.” Yelled Tim.

Nolan and Harper walked in, Nolan holding a bag of flowers. Angela started to get uneasy, seething at the man right in front of her, holding a bouquet of flowers. She never liked Nolan, not really. He was a geriatric, old man. While Tim's original impression, a senior citizen with a mid-life crisis, of the man turned out to be wrong, doesn’t mean she liked the man any more right now.

Flowers? Come on, she’s taken idiot. “These are for you two.” He said so politely, he attempted to hand them over to Angela, but as she was wrapped around in Lucy’s embrace she made no attempt to grab them. When he noticed she was not moving he stepped back, Jackson stood up to greet him, grabbed the flowers, and put them on the bedside table. “How are you doing?” He asked, directed at Lucy.

She smiled brightly. “I’ve got my girl.” She snuggled into Angela’s side. “And everything’s super- super shiny!” She exclaimed, shutting her eyes and showing her teeth when she smiled for a second.

“That’s good.” Harper nodded. 

“When’s she getting released?” Nolan asked Jackson, making a note to not direct his energy at Angela, in fear of receiving another one of her glares.

“Tomorrow morning. They need to keep her here for observation and recovery. Other than that, she's all good.” Jackson said, warmly. All Angela knew that if he asked her that, it would not have been as kind. 

“Timmmmm!” She squealed. “Can you show me Kojo, pleaseeee! I want puppy pictures.” She pouted. Angela felt a glimpse of hope that she was begging for Tim at this moment as opposed to Nolan. She could handle Tim, he was like her brother. Nolan, on the other hand, was like a pile of her worst envies and fear balled up into one singular person. 

He rolled his eyes as he got up and pulled out his phone. Nolan and Harper sat down in the 2 empty chairs, now that Tim had stood up. Tim walked over and squatted next to Lucy’s bed, while scrolling through his photos app showing her all the recent photos of Kojo, King of Canines. 

Tim looked up for a second and his eyes met Angela. She mouthed, ‘Thank You’, and he mouthed, ‘Of Course’ in response. He would always have her six, on and off the clock. 

Nolan was looking around at the scene evolving in front of him. Lucy was looking over photos throughout Tim’s phone, Tim explaining the story behind some of them. Angela and Jackson sat ridiculously close to each other, a glance hiding a million unspoken words between the two. Harper simply taking it all in, absorbing the information thrown at her. Even though she knew life and its curveballs, she deeply cared for Lucy, the bond that women of color shared in law enforcement. Here was Nolan, confused about all that was happening. Why was it that every time he glanced over to Angela, her eyes represented a million tiny daggers threatening to shoot him on a moments notice. 

Lucy let out a big yawn, that also led to a big stretch. Tim took the opportunity to pocket his phone and cut off the digital meet-and-greet right there. “Nooo! Koj-” She grabbed out her hand. “I wanna see Koj!” She pouted. 

“Chen, no. You’re tired and you need rest.” She was not letting go of him, and he looked to Angela for some help, until he realized that she was in a starring contest with Nolan and if it was based on intimidation, she would surely win. “Lopez, a little help here?”

She was broken from the daze that she was having with the LAPD’s geriatric rookie. “Oh, uh yeah. Sunshine, you gotta let go.” Lucy pouted and shook her head. “Luce, please. For me?” She shook her head the other way and reluctantly let go. “Come here, let’s get you asleep.” 

Lucy snuggled into Angela’s side, unreluctantly, just happy to be there with her now that the distraction is gone. Within a few moments once again Lucy’s breath evened and soft snores were noticeable. 

“We need to go back on patrol,” said Harper, standing her and Nolan up. “It was nice to see you guys, let’s go boot.” She said sternly. 

When they left, Angela was slightly petting the hairs on Lucy’s head while she slept. “Well, that went well.” Jackson said sarcastically.

Angela scoffed. “It wasn’t that bad, Jackson. Stop being dramatic.” She said, not once taking her eyes off Lucy.

Tim and Jackson shared a look that said ‘no way can she be serious’. One that spoke a million words. “Angela, that was practically a disaster.” Tim said.

 Jackson added, “I mean you looked like you wanted to kill Nolan the second he walked in with those flowers,” bouncing off what Tim said. 

Angela scoffed. “He brought flowers. It’s not exactly subtle.” Angela replied.

The boys shared another look. “Very platonic flowers, he’s not exactly not in the know to your relationship with Lucy.” Jackson said.

“Flowers are not platonic! Not for an ex.” She was getting irritated, it didn’t even matter this much to talk about.

“You could’ve not, you know, scowled.” Tim said, avoiding eye contact. “I mean I had to come in with the save with Kojo, but otherwise straight disaster.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “Whatever, it was kinda a tiny bit bad. Maybe.”

Tim rolled his eyes as well, in response to what she said. He knew that he was not going to get anything else out of her, so he let it go. “She sleeping soundly over there?” Tim said, in an attempt of a conversation change.

“Yeah.” Angela said softly, her tone slightly brighter.

After that they all just sat there, thinking about what was to come. Last time Lucy was in a bed, just like this one, it did not go well. Now though, she had a much easier, simpler recovery with her favorite people beside her.

Lucy woke up to the morning sunlight beaming in. She turned over and Anglea was sleeping in a bed, just like her, next to hers. The doctors said that she had to sleep in the cot to stay overnight, so Angela did as she was told. She heard the vibration coming from the ceiling lights and the footsteps from the halls. 

She rubbed the side of her stomach where her pain and her appendix once was. Painless… at least for the most part. 

She sat there waiting for the time to pass. Eventually, Angela woke up and gave her the best good morning kiss, which made her feel like no other. Doctors and nurses came in and out, notifying her of her condition. Angela recalled some funny stories from the day before and how Lucy, once again, turned into a total sap. 

“You know you’re so adorable when you’re- impaired.” Said Angela, while folding something in the corner of the room. “Like there’s mean drunks and then there’s you, you who against all odds called Tim cute while drunk.”

“One, I am always adorable. Two, that was a very interesting time to get drunk. It’s your fault, you said you’d cut me off.” Lucy replied.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can’t hold me to that because you-” Angela walked over and moved her finger quickly against Lucy’s nose, essentially booping her on the nose. “Pulled me in. I was wasted within the hour.”

“It’s not my fault you have no self control when it comes to me. I play the cards that are given to me.” She said, readjusting slightly. She smiled as the glow passed through her and then to Angela, seeing her so happy after the pain of the past 24 hours. 

“Hey, I have self control! Most of the time-” Angela trailed off. She avoided eye contact, embarrassed at that fact. “But you’re feeling better right, no pain…”

Angela moved her hands to Lucy’s side, but Lucy cut her off. “Yes Ange, no pain. No more pain since the last time you asked. I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” Lucy smiled softly, just a small uptick of her lips not fully showing her teeth.

“I ju-just, I just hate this place so much. I just wish they would release you already.” Angela said, her voice cracking as she said it. 

Lucy looked down, not meeting her eyes with Angela. “I know what you mean.” She started fiddling with her thumbs- a nervous, anxious habit. ”I haven’t been here since…”

Angela knew exactly what she was referencing. As much as she hated being here for Lucy’s sake, she knew whatever she was feeling, Lucy was feeling it more. “I know.” Her eyes shifted down to where Lucy’s hands were, Lucy felt the shift and immediately stopped, moving her hands beneath the blanket. 

All Angela could do was watch. There was nothing that could be said about what was lost, and Angela knew that. She could try to police Lucy’s nervous habits, but that wouldn’t do her any good. Angela came up to where Lucy was laying and sat down next to her. She grabbed her hand and rubbed it back and forth with hers. A silent notion of her presence, Lucy was going through many things internally, her brain going back and forth. “Tell me what your pretty little head is doing-”

Lucy interjected. “I’m not-”

“Yeah you are. Spill it.” Angela said, her eyes widening with emphasis as she did so. 

“I just-, we’re back here because of me, again. It’s all my fault, I know how bad this place is for you.” Lucy said, her voice getting quieter with every word she spoke further. 

Angela almost couldn’t believe it, how Lucy couldn’t see what was right in front of her. “Sunshine, I hate this place for you.” Lucy looked up, slightly astonished. Angela’s heart broke a little when she saw the look on Lucy’s face. “You went through something major, and- and I watched it happen by your side.”

Lucy’s eyes started watering. “It wasn’t your fault-”

“No, no- I know that, I do, but I see you-” Angela took her fingers and held them closely together, pointed her hand palm up, and lifted the tip of her fingers and placed it under Lucy’s chin. She lifted it so her eyes met Lucy’s. “You and your fear of this place. I hate that we’re back here, that you’re here.”

“It’s not your fault Angela, and it’s sure as hell not mine. It’s fucking Caleb an- and Rosalind. They’re who I blame for that mess. But you? I love you, and nothing will change that. This bed, it just brings it all back.”

“Don’t worry sunshine, we’ll be home before you know it.” Angela laid a kiss on Lucy’s forehead, bringing her close. 

Angela heard a knock on the door, which only meant one thing. Jackson told her he’d be there early morning, to visit Lucy before she was discharged. It was going to be Jackson, Tim, and ugh, Nolan. If only they could leave him behind. “Come in!” She yelled. 

Jackson walked in with Tim and Nolan trailing right behind him. Jackson had a bag from Lucy’s favorite veggie burger place, something she totally didn’t force him to get, though he had no problem getting it anyways. “Hey, Luce,” said Jackson, as he walked to her and gave her a kiss on her cheek. 

“Jackson- is that what I think it is?” Lucy said, her eyes glimmering as she did. 

“Yeah, dig in girl.” Lucy snatched the bag from his hands and started to dig in, the conversation from moments before forgotten. 

“You’re the best!” She said in between bites, her mouth full as can be.

Jackson looked towards Angela, as if for clarification if he should fix her assumption. Angela shook her head slightly and moved one of her hands from one side to the other gently, signaling to Jackson that she expects him to take full credit for the food. She didn’t need it and Lucy didn’t need to be corrected. “Yeah, no problem Luce,” he said, slightly eyeing Angela.

Jackson walked towards where Tim was leaning slightly on the wall with his arms crossed, very casually. Jackson jerked his head to the right, signaling something to Tim. Tim rolled his eyes and got up from where he was standing. “Chen! You wanna see Kojo?” 

She gently wiped her mouth with her arm, albeit messily. “Do I ever! Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!” Lucy exclaimed.

Tim rolled his eyes once again, with more humor in them than he would’ve wanted. He pulled out his phone and just like the day before, scrolled through the photos as she exclaimed at each one. She showed her excitement as each one had a story of his mischievousness, while she just stated he was the ‘best boi’. 

While that was unfolding with Tim and Lucy, Angela rediverted her attention to the other side of the room. Where Jackson and Nolan were sitting in the two spare chairs, next to the bed. 

“Hey, Angela,” Nolan asked, catching her attention. “How are you doing?”

Now this - this caught her attention like fire, he’s here for Lucy, not her. Definitely not her. “Wha- what?” She questioned. 

Jackson looked slightly stunned at her questioning. He was just as unprepared as her, but unlike Jackson she had to give a response. “You, Angela. Are you okay?” He asked her. 

Their voices were soft enough to not draw out attention from Lucy, but Angela could feel it. Cop eyes, she remembered. Tim knew, and he was paying attention. All attention was on her at this moment. “Me? I’m doing just fine,” she said bluntly, trying to not drag this on for any longer than it needed to be.

Nolan glanced back at Jackson, almost pleading with him to ask how to move forward. Jackson shrugs in a way that said, ‘all you my man’. “Angela, it’s okay to not be okay. Lucy just had surgery and she’s in the hospital. You don’t have to be okay.”

Angela felt her eyes watering right there. “I-I just want to get her out of here. Okay?” She said slightly glaring at him. She would appreciate his compassion if she could stop being blinded by jealousy for a moment to avoid it. 

Another knock on the door. Tim stood up from where he was hunching down almost immediately. The lady doctor from yesterday walked in. “Oh, we got a full house this morning!” She exclaimed looking up from her clipboard. “Well, I have some good news for you, Officer Chen.” She flipped between the pages as she looked down. “I think we can discharge you this afternoon!” 

Lucy glanced over at Angela sharing a look of pure delight. “Wait, really?”

“Yes, but you need to have absolute rest for the next week. Lots of bed rest, lots of fluids, lots of sleep. After two weeks go see your primary care physician and they’ll clear you for duty, and I mean it! If you tweak your stitches doing any physical activity, it’ll be disastrous.” Lucy almost pouted at the mention of being forced into bed for long periods of time. She tried to put on a face of gratitude.

“So, I’m going home?” She said, a smile creeping up her face. 

The doctor rolled her eyes. “Yes, you are.”

Angela pulled into the parking lot of Lucy’s apartment. Angela and Lucy said goodbye to everyone at the hospital as they left. Angela and Nolan had a mutual, albeit unspoken, agreement that Angela would try better to not be as angry towards him as she was today. He understood because today was a particularly bad day. 

Jackson would be back to the apartment after shift, which would be late because he took a later shift to be able to see Lucy out of the hospital. Lucy looked forward to seeing him, and as much as Angela didn’t want to admit it, so did she. Angela shifted the gear from drive to park. “Delivered.” She chuckled as she looked at Lucy who was staring out the window. “Sunshine…”

“Yeah?” Lucy still didn’t divert her energy to focus on Angela, choosing the much more interesting car window. 

“Babe, we’re home. Hold on, let me help you up.” Angela turned off the car and came around to help Lucy into the wheelchair. Lucy was still staring off into space even as they wheeled away. “Luce?”

“Mmm-hmm?” Lucy said as she had her fist pressed up against her cheek for support. 

“Is it the pain meds? You seem kinda loopy.” Angela asked as she wheeled them into her building elevator.

“Yeah, I’m really tired.” Lucy blinked slowly, like the day was wearing on her. “I just wanna take a nap.”

Angela chuckled to herself as the elevator beeped and she wheeled Lucy into the hall. “Yeah, don’t worry sunshine. You’ll be in bed and asleep within the next 10 minutes I can assure you of that.”

“That sounds great.” Lucy leaned into her seat a little bit more. “Can I ask you something?”

Angela arrived at Lucy’s apartment, she grabbed the keys out of her pocket and shoved it in the doorframe. “Anything.” She wheeled her in.

“Why were you so, uh- hostile towards Nolan? The atmosphere was kinda, very tense.” Angela exhaled. She hoped this would not be a conversation topic, today or any day. 

“Uhh, no reason. Why?” She tried to play it off, knowing that the plan was improbable to succeed in any way.

Lucy raised one of her eyebrows in response. “Ange.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “Fine. Jackson might have implied that I may just be a tad bit, well jealous.”

Lucy's mouth was gaped open. “Nooo! No way! Really?” She questioned.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. What a spectacle, might we move on?” Angela said, nervously.

“No way we’re dropping this. Why would you be jealous of Nolan?” Lucy questioned.

“You guys dated-”

“Yeah so what?” Lucy said, bluntly. “I’ve dated plenty of shitty men and they’ve all been a straight disaster.” 

“What can I say, I guess I’m a bit possessive of my lady.” Angela leaned down for a kiss that was well received by Lucy. She was a bit more energized now.

“Damn, straight. But seriously, it’s Nolan?” Lucy questioned. 

“What’s that supposed to imply?” Angela wondered.

“Just that he’s fine. A nice, decent man. Nothing like you, though. You’ve ruined me for all other men.” Lucy said.

“Is that true? Well I guess I should say the same for you.” Angela crossed her arms with a smile on her face. 

“You should,” Lucy yawned out.

“Welp, that was a nice conversation, but off to bed.” Angela instructed.

“I would object, but I’m exhausted.” Angela started wheeling Lucy into her bedroom. Once there she helped get her on the bed.

“Wow, no fight Lucy. Should I be getting used to this new Lucy?” Angela quipped. “New pj’s or current sweats good?”

“One, don’t get used to her, she isn’t here to stay. And two, sweats are good. Uhh, can I get-”

“A hairtie?” Angela guessed the end of her sentence and held up one of Lucy’s favorite hair ties

“Yeah.” Lucy softened as a smile spread across her face. Angela bunched all of Lucy’s hair and tied it together on the top of her head, away from her face. “You know me so well,” Lucy said as Angela laid her back onto the bed and her head laid on top the pillow.

“Don’t I?” Angela smiled. 

“Yeah.” Lucy paused for a second. “Lay with me?” 

“Always.” Angela changed from her current detective clothes, which she had been in for about a day and a half, and switched it out for one of Lucy’s oversized academy shirts. She got right under the covers and laid next to Lucy.

Once settled she could feel Lucy start to relax and her breathing evened within minutes. Eventually the soft snores followed. Angela could feel her eyelids become heavier and heavier before sleep had taken her too. 

She entered a restful sleep, knowing Lucy was safe once again by her side. Nothing would be able to separate them. Not crazed serial killer or faulty organs.