Work Text:
Once Lucy gets approval from Grey, she knows she has to talk to Tim. But not as Sergeant Chen, but as live in girlfriend Lucy.
She knows how he feels about undercover work and she doesn’t blame him. She understands that he will be worried and also as watch commander he will be looking out for her. She also knows her boyfriend and he’s not going to say anything to hold her back. He’s more open now but at the same time he is conflicted.
She waits until they get home and they are both settled into bed. She turns to look at him, he already looks like he’s in another world.
He knows.
“Tim—”
“I know what you are going to say.” He says. “I support you Lucy. I do. But—”
“This is still a tough subject for you.” Lucy finishes for him. “I know babe.”
“You are good at this and I know you will get justice for those girls.” He says.
“But?”
“I will worry about you.” He says and he leans in to kiss her. “I can’t help it.” She rubs his arm a little.
“I know.” She says. “But I’m going to be okay. You will be okay.” Lucy watches his face, looks for anything that might prove her wrong.
But Tim is good about keeping it in, he’s good at pretending everything is okay.
(Even when it’s not).
She loves that he’s being supportive but at the same time.. she still wants honestly.
“You don’t want me to do this do you?” She asks. Tim turns to look at her. “It’s four weeks and then I will be home.”
“I don’t know. You just moved in. It will be like you are moving out again.” He says. Lucy sighs, she knows this is killing him. And at the moment, nothing she says is going to reassure him. It’s not like leaving him behind is her first choice.
Because it’s not.
She gives him a kiss after putting the image of her coming back after 4 weeks in his head and then she goes to take a shower.
This is not going to be easy. At all. But they were going to make it through because they are stronger now.
They would be okay.
***
Lucy has said bye to Tim once before going on an undercover op. But back then, their relationship was new. It was fresh and they weren’t as open with one another. They weren’t living together (despite Tim always being at the apartment) and they hadn’t said I love you yet (despite feeling that way pretty early on).
It was different back then.
She was used to being on her own, she was used to not having anyone to come home to.
And even back then Tim was hesitant to let go. He put himself in charge of it, just to make sure she was okay.
And she loves him for that.
A lot.
But this time around, he would still be in the loop but he wouldn’t be able to watch her every move.
It was killing him, and he didn’t say a word as she packed her bag. It was full of beach clothes and swim suits. She could feel his eyes on her as she slipped bikini into the bag.
“Why haven’t I seen that before?” He asks. She turns to look at him, a soft smile on her face.
“You hate the beach.” She points out.
“Doesn’t mean I would hate that.” He replies. “I didn’t know you had this many swim suits.”
“I bought some for this.” She says. “I can’t wear the same one everyday.”
“It’s a shame I don’t get to see you in them.” He says. She drops the bikini into the bag and makes her way over to him.
“Maybe you will.” She says.
“We can’t hookup Lucy, that might compromise the operation.” He says but his resolve is melting a little.
“It didn’t stop you last time.” She says. Tim doesn’t say anything. “I guess we will have to make a beach trip when I get back.”
“I guess we will.”
“I won’t be gone forever Tim.” She says and she pulls him closer. She loves having him close, and she has to admit four weeks without Tim will be brutal.
“I know.”
“You are going to miss me.” She teases. Tim doesn’t lose the expression on his face.
“Who says I will?” He asks and she rolls her eyes. “Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. You do hog the blankets.”
“Shut up!” She says hitting him on the arm. “I was going to give you a sneak peek of the bikinis but never mind.” Tim’s expression changes then and he moves his hands down to lift up her shirt but she smacks them away.
“Nope.”
“I’m sorry babe.” He says. “You don’t hog the blankets.” Lucy shakes her head and moves out of her reach.
“Nice try Bradford.”
“Luce.” He protests. “Four weeks.”
“You have gone longer than that without me.” She says. “You will survive.”
“I can’t sleep without you next to me.” He says and that makes Lucy pause for a quick second. He said that he spent enough nights without her before they got back together. And she had spent enough nights without him.
And now she was just leaving him again.
It wasn’t forever but she knows it won’t be easy. She will miss him. He will miss her but then they will eventually come back together and everything would be okay.
“I can’t sleep without you next to me either babe.” Lucy says. “But at least you get our big comfortable bed. I get a bed in a van. On a beach.”
“Ugh the beach.” Tim grumbles. Lucy grins at him and pulls him down for a kiss.
“I love you.” Lucy says. “You are going to be just fine.”
“So will you.” Tim says. “Can you promise me something?”
“Yes,” Lucy says. “What is it?” Tim takes a deep breath, and she realizes how hard this is for him. He was actually being honest with her and she appreciates that.
A lot.
“Please come home to me.” He says leaning in and pressing his forehead against hers. “Please.”
“I will come home to you and save you from your boring and empty video game life.” Lucy says teasingly. Tim’s face doesn’t change. She puts her hand on his cheek. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” He breathes out and he kisses her again. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”