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Tim is proud of Lucy for sticking the case out. He’s proud of her for not giving up on finding the machete.
(He wasn’t going to give up either, he would have stayed all night looking for it with her.)
He is glad it is over with though, and they can leave it behind for now.
(Until Smitty messes up again and he was definitely going to mess up again.)
He loves knowing that he helped her, and he hopes her court case was successful. He hopes that the judge understood the delay even if it was a little confusing.
He is just packing up when Lucy comes to the door, looking excited. She tells him they won the case and the judge was too confused to ask any questions. Tim didn’t blame him at all, he was still confused himself.
He is proud of her once again, and he’s not sure he will ever stop being proud of her. He is just grateful that he has her in his life again. And not just at work where she comes to him for help, she has always done that. But at home too, their home. They were finally settling in as live in boyfriend and girlfriend. And it was better than he ever thought possible.
He loves her little bits of Lucy spread around the house, he loves coming home and smelling whatever she was cooking. He loves that she usually always has a beer waiting for him or vice versa.
He loves that she wakes up early to take Kojo for a walk because she knows he wants to rest a little longer.
He usually has the coffee ready, but sometimes he will wake up and she will have already done it. He loves that usually she is able to sleep in and he wakes her up in his own way.
He loves that on weekends and their days off, he makes her breakfast or they go out to eat and they bring Kojo along.
(That’s mostly Lucy’s doing but he really doesn’t mind).
He just loves that this is his life now, and he gets to go home with her. He doesn’t have to go home alone anymore. He doesn’t have to climb into bed, and have the other side be empty and cold.
Because she is there.
And she fills his life and his home with warmth.
He tells her to take the win, and then tells her he made a 10 minute lecture so nobody can use ignorance as an excuse for mislaying cases.
“You know you are a really good watch commander.” Lucy says. Tim’s heart swells a little. He’s used to Lucy giving him compliments but after the craziness of the past few days.
“I’m figuring it out.” He says. Lucy smiles a little bigger at him.
“No, listen no matter what kind of craziness is going on at the station you are the center of calm. And the rest of us need that. I need that.” She says. Tim gives her a smile, he hears what she is saying behind those words and he appreciates it.
A lot.
“Thank you.” He says. She hums softly and he blows out a breath. Smitty might have messed everything up but they figured it out like they always did.
No matter what.
***
Tim is just finishing up dinner when Lucy steps into the kitchen. She has changed out of her court clothes, and into one of his old shirts and some loose pants. He hair is tied up into a bun and she looks perfect.
He’s really not sure how he got so lucky.
“Hey,” he says. “Dinner is almost ready.” She nods and then pulls him towards her. Her hand lands on his waist and he wraps his arms around her too.
“I meant what I said earlier.” She says and she has a serious look on her face. “You are a good watch commander.”
“Well—” Tim starts. He hasn’t felt like he has been doing a good job, because of Smitty and his laziness it caused a whole big mess. And then because of that it had the brass questioning him.
“No.” She says. “No if ands or buts. You are a good watch commander. You are a good leader. Just because Smitty messed up doesn’t make you bad.”
“It makes me look bad and like I don’t have a handle on my officers.” He points out.
“Baby, Smitty would have done this under Grey too. It doesn’t matter. It’s Smitty.”
“Okay but—”
“No buts.” She says again. “Just accept that you are doing a good job despite all the twists and turns.” Tim lets out a breath, she has a point.
“Okay.” He says. “For now.”
“I’ll take it.” She says. “And like I said you are the center of calm. And everyone needs that.”
“Even you.” He says remembering her words from earlier and the look on her face that said it meant so much more.
“Definitely me.” She says and pulls him down for another kiss. “I need you all the time.”
“Oh yeah?” He asks raising an eyebrow at her. Their dinner is almost ready but he has a feeling they are going to have it… later.
“You need me all the time huh?” He asks wiggling his eyebrows. “Tell me more Luce.” Lucy rolls her eyes but moves her arms up to around his neck.
“I’m just glad that I don’t have to drive all the way to your house just to spend time with you.” She says. “I can have you all the time.” Tim knows exactly what she is talking about, he wasn’t expecting her to show up on his doorstep on April Fool’s day either but he is glad she did. Even if it was only for 24 hours, even if he did have to hold on to her as long as possible. He knew the minute she walked out his door, it was over and he wouldn’t have that warm bubbly feeling anymore.
He is very grateful that she is here with him….permanently.
“Me too.” He says. “You are stuck with me.” Lucy grins at him, and then he backs her towards the bedroom. He is grateful he cooked something that could be warmed up later because right now he has something else to do.
“I’m glad I’m stuck with you.” She says and they both step into the bedroom. “You will feed me after this right?”
“Me too and absolutely.” He says. “I love you Lucy.”
“I love you too Tim.”
Even if the last few days were full of confusion and worry. They made it through like they always did. They had each other to lean on and he knows they could make it through anything.
Together.
Always.