“So what was your training officer like, Officer Chen?”
The reactions of the group around the small table couldn’t have been more different upon hearing this simple question.
John Nolan’s eyes grew wide, he lent forwards slightly in his chair, becoming very interested in his lunch in front of him. His eyes regularly darting to watch the reactions of his friends and colleagues.
Angela Lopez on the other hand lent back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest openly taking in the scene in front of her. Ready.
Lucy Chen let out a slightly nervous cough of surprise as she was mid bite of sandwich, she began chewing frantically so that she could answer the question before someone, mostly likely Angela, could embarrass her.
And lastly Tim Bradford. Who upon Arriving at the table had smiled politely at the new face, who he knew to be Johns new rookie (Nolan had lent across and quietly whispered “Tim Bradford, Metro Liaison sgt” as way of an introduction), and taken his seat next to Lucy. Brushing the quickest kiss against her cheek as he sat, they were both in uniform after all, he hungrily set about demolishing the sandwich Lucy had pushed in front of him. Tim’s demeanour didn’t change upon hearing the question, his eyes didn’t flicker, his focus on the food of in front of him unswerving.
“Please” Lucy said, still swallowing sandwich “it’s lunch time, call me Lucy” she stalled
“Ok, Lucy” Officer Mason smiled “Officer Nolan has been so kind, so helpful! I’ve learnt so much already” she enthuses glancing at John who preens despite the obvious attempt at flattery “and I’ve met Detective Harper, who I know helped train Officer Nolan and Detective Lopez here was also a TO. Everyone seems so different, style wise. So how was your experience?”
“Yeah Lucy, how was your experience?” Angela grins widely, earning the briefest of glares from Lucy
“It was great actually!” Lucy says cheerfully, an involuntary snort of surprise erupts from John, earning him his own glare from Lucy. Tim’s focus remained on his lunch. “He taught me so much and made me the Officer I am today” Officer Mason nodded happily.
“It was all smooth sailing then Officer Chen?” John wasn’t going to let the months hed spent listening to Lucy moan about her nightmare TO slide just because Tim was now her boyfriend!
“Well…” the smile on Lucy’s face dropping for a split second to deliver another well aimed glare at John “if it had all been easy I wouldn’t have learnt as much”
“That’s so true!” Officer Mason enthused “it’s so important to learn from your mistakes” lucy nodded kindly.
“And you always got along?” Angela couldn’t help but take her turn
“No one gets along all the time, spending all that time alone together. There are going to be disagreements, but you work through them as adults, as professionals” Lucy finishes with flourish. She can’t help but notice the slight smile creeping at the corner of Tim’s mouth.
“So it was always very professional?” Angela pressed, before Lucy could wonder what she was getting at Angela continued “he was never unreasonable in his expectations? Didn’t punish you for simple mistakes?”
“Angela” there was a warning note in Lucy’s tone but Angela just grinned. Tim, nearing the end of his meal continued to keep his head down and ignore them all.
“He didn’t ever kick you out the shop and make you walk?”
“Or take your duty belt on a bathroom break” John added helpfully
“ Didn’t get you into a fist fight with a man twice your size”
“Or refuse to let you wear short sleeves in the middle of summer”
“Didn’t” Angela and John were in full swing now “take a picture of you when you fell asleep during a night shift, get it printed on a bunch of shirts and then pass them out around the station!”
“I’d forgotten about that one!” John said with a roaring laugh, turning to an increasingly shocked looking Officer Mason “I wear mine when I garden”
“Didn’t nickname you the goat whisperer, didn’t set a powder bomb off in your face, didn’t”
“Enough” said Lucy quickly eyes flicking between Tim and Officer Mason, trying to judge each persons reaction to the retelling of Rookie Chen’s adventures with her TO. “I think Officer Mason has got the idea” she laughs gently.
Tim, having finished his meal quietly began clearing up his trash.
“I look back on my time as a Rookie with nothing but appreciation and fondness, like I said, it made me the cop I am today. I’m very grateful to my TO for that.
“Wow.” Officer Mason shook her head from side to side “honestly it sounds like a bit of a nightmare! I haven’t heard any of the other rookies mention anything like that, please tell me he’s moved away from being a training officer now”
“Yeah, actually” Lucy says with a grin “I was his last Rookie”
“Except for the one after you that washed out” Angela whispered, as helpful as ever.
“Is he still in the LAPD? What’s he doing now?” Officer Mason gulps, eyes wide.
The sound of chair legs scraping across concrete draws everyone’s attention suddenly as Tim pushes to his feet
“I think he’s the metro liaison sgt now right?” And with that he simply leans down and once again plants a soft kiss on Lucy’s cheek, then silently turns and strides away.
Lucy can't help but chuckle as Officer Mason's already wide eyes bulge and her mouth opens and closes a few times, like a goldfish.
"He really was a great TO, a total pain in the ass, but a great TO" Lucy smiles at the young woman reassuringly.
"And as a boyfriend?" Angela asks, having clearly enjoyed watching it all play out.
"Still great.." Lucy grins wickedly "still a total pain in the ass!"
Lucy: I’m heading over in 20 minutes, what food shall i pick up?
Tim: what ever you feel like is fine with me. No mushrooms, nothing too weird.
Lucy: obviously.
40 minutes later.
Lucy: change of plans, sorry. Tamara’s had a crappy day. I’m going to eat here and talk it over with her a bit. Sorry!
Tim: it’s ok, hope it’s not nothing too bad.
Lucy: she’ll survive, nothing a tub of ice cream can’t fix.
Tim: please tell me that’s not all you two are going to eat?!
Lucy: we would never do that…
Tim: hmmmm
30 minutes later.
Tim: open your door.
Lucy: huh?
Tim: go and open your front door.
Lucy: what have you done?
Tim: just do it, boot.
Lucy: watch it sgt.
Lucy: oh Babe that’s so kind, you didn’t have to do that. You should have knock and come in, that’s enough pizza for 3!
Tim: I didn’t want to interrupt your time with Tamara. I did want you both to eat something other than ice cream though.
Lucy: always look out for me.
Tim: obviously.
Two hours later.
Lucy: go and open your front door.
Tim: lucy it’s late you should be in bed
Lucy: Tim. Stop bossing me around and do as you’re told.
Tim: fine but if there’s an empty pizza box on my door step, I’m going to get you put on front desk duty tomorrow.
Lucy: scary!
The door to Tim’s house swung open, wide. On one side of the doorway stands a tall, semi clothed man, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn. Looking down at the ground expecting to see an empty pizza box, or some such item and instead coming face to face (or as close as they get with there height difference) to a young women, dressed in sweats with what at first glance appears to be one of his sweatshirts.
“Hi” she says simply
“Hi” he echoes, then “it’s late, you should be in bed”
“Well that’s an offer!” She grins widely and he splutters
“I wasn’t…” he chokes out
“I know” Lucy soothes between giggles “I came to say good night…” she takes a step forward, closing the gap between them. Reaching up on to her tip toes and place a hand on his bare chest for balance she kisses him softest on the lips “and… “ she says, breaking the kiss “thank you…” before reaching back up and kissing him again.
This time one hand winds around her waist and the other up into her hair. Keeping her firmly in place. For several moments they stay like that, on his door step, fortunate that the late hour spares them from an audience.
“Are you coming in?” His voice in deep and he stands back a little to welcome her into his house
“I’ve got to get back and get to bed”
“You could just have a drink before driving home” he encourages
“Tim” she looks up at him through her lashes “we both know nothing would get drunk and I would not be getting home and time soon”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing” his eyes twinkle
“See you tomorrow” she says firmly
“Fine” he huffs slightly “ see you tomorrow”
And for the last time she reaches up and leaves a gentle peck on his lips.
She feels his eyes on her as she walks to the kerb and climbs into her car, she doesn’t look back. Her resolve can only hold for so long and the sight of him, shirtless in his doorway, wanting her, well… she’s not superhuman.
So she doesn’t look back.
Doesn’t see him swallow hard.
Doesn’t see him watch her car until she is well out of sight.
Doesn’t seem him place a gentle finger to his lips as he turns and finally shuts the door.
20 minutes later
Lucy: I like it a lot more when we do nothing, together.
Tim: I agree. I actually think I prefer doing most things together with you
Lucy: taxes?
Tim: Lucy
Lucy: getting your teeth cleaned?
Tim: you’re so annoying
Lucy: checking the battery on your smoke alarms
Tim: that’ll teach me for being nice!
Lucy: sorry! I’m sorry, I like being with you too.
“The look on that guys face! It’s like no one had ever turned him down before and that definitely can’t be the case” full of noise and energy Lucy Chen, Angela Lopez and Nyla Harper burst through the doors at Mid Wiltshire station. The three women are all dressed casually but with care and the energy radiating off them was electric. All eyes are instantly drawn to them as they make their way to Angela’s desk and crowd around her computer screen.
“He certainly took a shine to you” Nyla Harper said whilst looking Lucy up and down, eyebrows raised.
“For all the good it did him” Angela laughed heartily.
A blush rose on Lucy’s cheek, both at the idea the man found her most attractive and the roundabout praise she had received from Angela “if he had just kept his hands to himself” she grinned “he wouldn’t have wound up with a face full of dirt”
At first Lucy didn’t register the change in countenance of her friends “and then if he hadn’t tried to touch my leg, whilst on the floor, he wouldn’t have ended up in cuffs…” Lucy had slowed right down by the end of the sentence, finally catching on the the change in her colleagues. Nyla was looking steadfastly at some dirt on the end of her shoe and Angela was suddenly very interested in the cuffs of her sleeves.
It could mean only one thing.
“Hey Tim” Lucy span slowly, her eyes coming level with his broad, solid chest. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his.
“Been having fun?” He barely smiled but his tone couldn’t hide the playful look in his eyes
“They let me come out with them” her voice rising as she jiggled on the balls of her feet “detective practice!”
Tim’s eyes shifted from Lucy’s joyful face, over her head and waited out his best friend until she finally deemed her cuffs ok and made eye contact with him
“We ran everything by Grey” Angela said hurriedly, ready to pass the buck. Tim just grumbled in response.
“Angela and I were just going to grab some food, you hungry?” Lucy swiftly changed the subject and Tim’s face returned to hers
“Give me 10 minutes to talk to Grey” Lucy’s mouth opened to interrupt “not about you” he pacified her before she had a chance to complain “and I’ll meet you at the food trucks”
“Perfect” Lucy grinned broadly and the group went their separate ways.
The lunch rush had died down by the time Angela and Lucy had taken their seats, Lucy had taken an educated guess and ordered for both herself and Tim. He was quite particular about what he ate but Lucy considered herself an expert in the particulars of Tim.
Angela ate in earnest as they chatted, whilst Lucy picked at her food more slowly.
“I’ll get out of your hair so you and Tim can talk about earlier” Angela grimaced slightly
“What do you mean?” Lucy was perplexed, Angela looked surprised “oh you mean with that guy earlier?”
“Yeah, I doubt he’s thrilled”
“He’ll be fine!” Lucy laughed but Angela remained unconvinced. Lucy leaned back in her chair, took a sip of her drink and carried on “honestly, it really won’t have bothered him as much as you think”
“Tim. Tim Bradford?” Angela leant forward, elbows on the table, food momentarily forgotten “not jealous, of some guy putting his hands on *his* girlfriend”
“It’s work!” Lucy’s expression remained light but her tone was insistent “it’s not like it’s never happened before, I rode with him for ages, you cannot imagine the amount of times I saw him get hit on!”
Angela smiled but pressed on “but your his girlfriend now”
“I would agree with you if we were in a club”
“Can we just take a second to imagine Tim in a club” Angela interrupted. Her faced creased into laughter, Lucy’s eyes glazed over and a smile crept over her lips “ok, stop imagining him at a club. You’re grossing me out” Angela’s laughter increasing.
“If we were in a club he’d probably get a little jealous” Angela snorted “but on the job, well, you sort of expect criminals to do kind of creepy things sometimes. He understands that”
“You can understand something, without liking it”
“Look, ask him yourself!” Lucy pointed over Angela’s shoulder.
Tim joined them both at the table, quickly kissing the top of Lucy’s head as he took a seat, Lucy slid his food in front of him
“Thanks” he said with a smile, lifting a fork towards his mouth he stopped when he glanced between the two women who were watching him keenly “what?” He said with a heavy sigh, setting his fork down.
“We were wondering” Angela ignored Tim crossing his arms, pointedly, across his broad chest “what did you think of Lucy’s take down early?”
“When you were undercover? The guy?” His eyebrow quirked
“That’s the one” Angela confirmed
“I wasn’t there, haven’t read the report” his tone serious “I’m sure it was great though” he offered a smile to Lucy who smiled back, a little apologetically.
“And the guy hitting on Lucy?” Angela moved to the straight forward approach
“An annoyingly common part of the job, we’ve all been there” he said matter of fact-edly
“You’re a very handsome boy” Lucy teased him gently, earning herself a gagging noise from Angela
“I’m not surprised when criminals do something creepy” he said simply.
Lucy turned to Angela beaming “see!” She crowed
“You’ve changed Bradford” Angela said with a smile “right, I’m going to leave you two live birds to finish your lunch. I’ll see you both later” and with that she stood up and walked back to the station to finish the rest of her shift.
Silence reigned for a few minutes, both focused on eating. Or so Tim thought, after a few minutes he noticed that Lucy was mostly just pushing the food around with her fork.
“Do you want me to be jealous?” Tim asked, putting his fork down.
“What? No!” Lucy jumped “that’s stupid”
“Lucy?”
“You would have been jealous before, with other girlfriends though?” She wasn’t quite ready to meet his eyes
“Isabel? Definitely, Rachel? Ashely? Maybe”
“Oh” Lucy said quietly
“Lucy you know this is different, right?” Tim’s large hands reached across the small gap and took hers, rubbing his thumb back and forth across her knuckles
“Yeah Isabel was your wife, of course you’d be jealous”
“Isobel cheated on me, god knows many times, wasted our money on drugs and left me” despite the words he began to smile “Rachel and I were barely even really together, we certainly didn’t *know* each other and Ashley, well” he smiled as he moved a hand from hers and cupped her cheek instead “she was nothing much more than a distraction” at that her eyes snapped up to meet his, a smile starting the break across her features.
“What did you need distracting from” the smile fully erupting fully as she asked him smugly “what we’re you thinking about?”
He resolutely ignored her as he continued “I’ve nothing to be jealous of, I trust you totally. You can look after yourself and I know you”
He leaned across in his chair and kissed her gently on the lips, he let out a deep breath as he lent his forehead against hers.
“So” she whispered against his mouth as she moved in for another kiss “does this mean I’m not allowed to get jealous?”
She laughed as he slid his hand round the back of her head and into her hair, enjoying the fact it wasn’t in its usual tight work bun, he tutted as he pulled her in and kissed her deeply
The door, quietly, clicked shut behind Lucy as she finally made it home.
It must be at least 1am, she hadn’t been keeping track, the apartment was dark and still. Tamara hopefully tucked up peacefully in bed, none the wiser and Lucy’s secret in tact.
A shiver of excitement ran down her spine as she thought back over the last few hours, without thinking her fingers traces over her lips. Feeling the, still slightly swollen, skin all traces of lipstick long since gone.
Her night had started hours before.
She had changed out after her shift was done, she had brought a simple T-shirt and a well worn pair of jeans. Showered, put them on and pulled a drag of lipstick across her lips.
“Any plans tonight, Lucy?” Angela had asked as Lucy had walked out of the locker room, casually swinging her bag over her shoulder.
“Probably just laundry and an early night” she had effortlessly lied and her friend had no reason not to believe her. She had smiled and told Angela to kiss Jack goodnight for her and carried on her way. Out the door and to the parking garage.
She wound her way through the structure, nodding greetings to familiar faces as she made her way to a dark corner. Her heart rate soared as she spotted the truck she was looking for and as she locked eyes with the driver a grin split across her face, she stopped in her tracks before taking a deep breath and carrying on.
Lucy opened the passenger side door and climbed in, immediately turning to face the driver.
“Hi” he reached over and took the bag from her arm. His fingers burned as they trailed down her skin, he leant over and carefully put it on a back seat.
“Hi” she breathed.
Tim was still for a moment as they just smiled at each other “Good day at work?” He asked and she laughed.
“Hmmm I guess, this guy I work with can be a bit of a jerk sometimes though”
“Oh really? How so?”
“He has all these tests for me, he’s not even my training officer any more”
“Well he sound great” Tim puffs out his chest “and very handsome”
Lucy makes an unconvinced sound and Tim pretends to be offended
“He’s alright, I guess” the truck is so large that when she reaches across to kiss him quickly she needs to place her hand on his thigh for balance and it’s not lost on her when a murmur escapes his lips before she closes the gap and lays her gently on his.
But the parking garage at their shared place of work is not the place for this, so she pulls back, sits down and puts her seat belt on.
“So, what are you making me for dinner?”
The journey to Tim’s house isn’t long and they chat easily about their day, funny things Angela has said about her mother in law and how Nolan’s rookie is doing. Being driven around by Tim feels so comfortable and familiar that she forgets that they are actually on their way to their third date until he is pulling up outside his house.
She has been to his house before, of course. As a colleague, as a friend even but never as… as…
Could she think of herself as his girlfriend? He hadn’t called her that yet so maybe she shouldn’t either.
They weren’t friends with benefits, they hadn’t slept together yet.
But you don’t make out with friends for hours and talk about having grandkids together.
Tim opening the car door for her brought her back to the present
“Everything ok?” Tim’s piercing eyes locked with hers as she lowered herself out of the truck
“Yep” she smiled brightly “just thinking about something, ill get your thoughts after dinner though. I’m starving”
Tim led the way into the house and through to the kitchen, stopping to make a quick fuss of the dog before getting two wine glasses out of the cupboard and placing them on the counter.
“Reds in the rack” he says gesturing to his left “whites in the fridge, you choose” as he gets to work readying their meal.
Lucy pours them both a large glass of red wine, she doesn’t ask what they’re eating and instead goes with Tim’s favourite as he is driving her home later and will only get the one glass.
She sits on the sofa, Kojo’s head on her lap, she could fall asleep listening to Tim’s busy sounds from the kitchen and for a moment she lets her eyes close. She lets her imagination wonder, picturing this very scene. Picturing it as her reality everyday, coming home together, taking it in turns to cook. But in her imagination Tim can have a second glass of wine, there’s no need to drive her home, she is home.
She’s lost in her thoughts until Tim plants a gentle kiss on her forehead
“Are you that tired? I can just take you home if you need to get to sleep” she opens her eyes into his concerned face.
“Not at all!” She insists, then blushes slightly “I was actually just imagining what it would be like to do this more often”
“Sleep on the sofa?” He teases
“No” she rolls her eyes “come home with you, cook together, curl up on the sofa and watch a film with a bottle of wine”
“That does sound nice” he comes round to sit next to her, gently pulling her up against him “maybe staying the night”
“Definitely staying the night”
All thoughts of dinner are forgotten until Lucy finally notices a timer going off in the kitchen. She slides both her hands up to his shoulders and pushes as firmly as she can, from underneath him. She may have suggested they wait a while for ‘naked time’ but in the meantime they are finding plenty of ways to occupy their time. And their hands.
Tim groans as he peals himself off of Lucy and sits back up, her t shirt is rucked up and his large hands had covered the warm skin. Lucy pulls it back down as she sits up.
“Dinner ready?” She asks, a blush spreads rapidly over her face as she realises Tim is still sitting, near motionless, on the sofa. He’s clearly taking a moment to compose himself before going to deal with the timer and she relishes the effect she has had on him.
Dinner is delicious. The meal Tim has produced is quite simple but it’s just what she needs. They talk about their plans for the week, a case that has Tim stumped and a new sushi restaurant that Lucy is dying to try. She finishes off a second glass of wine and watches as Tim pours her another. She thinks about teasing him that he’s trying to get her drunk but he’s so respectful of her choice to wait that she doesn’t want to seem mean.
Together, they clean away the dishes and once again Lucy gets caught up in the effortless domesticity of the moment. As they move easily around each other she can’t help but watch his body, how tall he is, how strong his arms are. Ok maybe she is feeling a little tipsy.
“So what we’re you thinking about in the car earlier?” He breaks her reverie
“The car?”
“You said you’d tell me after you’d eaten” he pressed
“Oh yes!” Trills Lucy, emboldened by the wine “I was thinking about what I am”
Tim raised an eyebrow are her, tilting his head “a police officer?” He asked clearly confused.
“No!” She laughed “ to you”
“To me?” No idea what she was talking about
“What I should call myself”
“Other than Lucy?…” his eyes widen, just barely “what you should call yourself”
“I know we aren’t going public yet” Tim opens his mouth to interject but Lucy carries on “which is absolutely what we both want” then quickly “right?”
Tim nods, knowing she hasn’t finished yet “but I was thinking”
“Lucy” Tim, interrupting firmly this time with a hand placed on her shoulder “you’re my girlfriend. Unless you don’t want to be?” The grin on her face tells him everything he needs to know “Drunk girlfriend Lucy is hard work” a devilish smile spread across his face as his girlfriend hits him on the shoulder.
“I can leave you know”
“But I don’t think you want to” which earns him a second punch to the shoulder.
They curl up together on the sofa, they tease each other and they kiss. They talk work and family and even a little about past relationships.
Until Tim finally notices the time 11:30pm, time to get Lucy home.
“Lucy” he brushes a stead of hair from her face and behind her ear and she sighs happily “it’s time I drove you home”
She begins to protest but Tim simply points to the clock and the words die in her mouth. They quietly gather up her things, so as not to wake the sleeping canine, Tim slips on a hoodie and grabs his keys.
The journey back to Lucy’s apartment is mostly quiet, a full day at work and the late hour seemingly catching up with them both. Tim pulls up out side and turns off the engine, neither make a move to leave the car. Wanting to eek out as much time alone, together, as possible.
Tim watches as she leans across the centre console, placing a small hand on either side of his face and kissing him deeply, she pulls back a little and her eyes bore into his soul
“Thank you for tonight, it’s been…” she searches for words for a brief moment “perfect” she leans in once again to place a gentle kiss to his lips but his hand rises and winds through her hair and it’s like that they are lost.
It’s at least 20 minutes before Lucy breaks the kiss and they surface, properly, for air. Both taking shuddering breaths, Lucy rubbing her leg. It had not been the most comfortable position but they both seemed to think it was worth it.
“I should go”
“Yes” Tim agrees resolutely, pushing the truck door open and meeting Lucy at her side of the truck “do you want me to walk you up to your door?”
“No, I’m fine. Anyway, I’d probably end up inviting you in and then we’d be having a really awkward conversation with Tamara in the morning!” Tim couldn’t help the groan that escaped his lips “and you didn’t have to deal with her after she walked in on our ‘practice’ kiss so I’d leave you to do all the talking”
“Ok,ok!” And he smiled as Lucy laughed, this may only be date three but they both new Lucy was going to win all their fights “I’ll say good night to you here then” with a wicked smile on his face he crowds her against the truck door and it’s another 20 minutes before they once again finally emerge from the kiss.
As Lucy lies in her bed, oblivious to the eyes that saw just enough of her goodbye with Tim to put everything together, she thinks about the next date and the one after that. The 100th date and 1,000th.
She finally falls asleep with a contented smile on her face.
The lock clicks quietly as he turns the key and slowly pushes the door open. It’s late and he’s tired, he could have gone to his own house but tonight he needed the comfort of her space.
It was so uniquely Lucy and tonight he needed that, she’d been gone a month. 30 long, long days and nights, with no idea when she’d be home.
As Tim pushes open the door to Lucy’s apartment he is struck instantly with the feeling that something isn’t right.
Or maybe it is right but… unexpected.
A comforting smell greets him as he steps inside and removes his shoes. There are familiar keys on the stand next to the door and the sound of the shower running from the bathroom.
He spots her bag, carelessly thrown, on the bed through the open bedroom door and his heartbeat quickens.
She’s home.
Without thinking further he crosses the small kitchen and pushes open the bathroom door and stops dead in his tracks. There she is. The room is full of steam, she’s obviously been in there a while and her wet hair is plastered across her back. Tim doesn’t stop for long, in 2 large strides he is across the bathroom and without pause stepping into the shower behind her.
The water pours over him and he is soaked through in moments. Lucy, who had turned to face the door to the bathroom as it opened stood in front of him mouth agape.
“Hi” is all she manages.
“Hi” is all he is able to reply.
She reaches up on her tiptoes and places a gentle kiss on his lips.
With a deep breath Tim takes a step back, away from her and out of the stream of water. Finally taking her in, his eyes rake over her body. He has felt all encompassing need for Lucy before, it’s not unusual, it’s not new but this time it’s a little different.
He needs to make sure that she is ok, that she’s in one piece, that she really is home and safe.
His eyes rested, first, on a cluster of yellow and brown splodges across the right side of her ribs, bruises from an incident that must have happen around 2 weeks ago. His fingers reached out to brush gently over them.
“Someone tried to kiss me” she explained “I knocked him out” so matter of fact, her eyes watching his reaction closely.
“Mmm hmm” Tim nodded
“This was what happened when he got back up. No one tried it again though” and then with a small smile “I don’t think he’ll ever live it down”
Reaching out he takes her right elbow in his hands and trails his palms down until her hand is in his. He carefully turns her hand over in his as he inspects her skin. Some more of the yellow and brown bruises line up with her ribs, where her arms would have wrapped around her body to protect herself from the blows. He breaths out through his nose before bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it gently before using it to move her round so her can take in her back.
A growl escapes his lips at the fresh purple mark that immediately catches his eye. It starts at her hip and heads down, blooming fully over her cheek. She looks at him over her shoulder and he watches her wince at the look on his face but he’s unable school his expression.
“The extraction got a little rough… I fell” he wants to press further for information but he knows it’s not the time.
She turns for him without prompt, moving slowly. His eyes catch hers as she looks over her other shoulder, she smiles but he isn’t able to return it just yet.
When she is once again facing him she reaches out her other arm and he takes it in his hands just like before, turning it over and delicately tracing lines down the soft skin of her forearm.
“Ok” he says with a sigh so deep his body shivers. He goes to step out of the shower, suddenly very aware that he is fully clothed. But an arm reaches and takes a firm hold at the hem of his t shirt.
“Your turn” he is confused at first, his turn for what? But the hand holding the hem starts to pull up and his brain quickly catches up and he takes over, pulling the shirt up and over his head and throwing casually in the basin.
“All of it” she says glancing at the still clothed portion of his body.
There is no smooth, or graceful way of removing sodden pants and socks but her giggles as he wobbles and tugs of his clothes do more to ease his worried soul than merely checking her body for injuries.
He tries to aim a glare at her but he’s too relieved that she is home to tease him that he ends up just smiling down at her.
Lucy follows his lead, encouraging him to turn and he is reminded of the dangers of his own job when her face creases in concern at a mostly healed wound caused by a knife fight nearly 3 weeks ago. He’d required 5 stitches and had spent 3 days on desk duty.
When he is back to facing her she nods “ok”
Tim steps back under the water, pulling her gently with him and for a moment they let the water course over their bodies as the hold each other close.
It is only when a yawn wracks Lucy’s small frame that Tim once again jumps in to action.
Stepping out of the shower he grabs the towel Lucy had set out for herself, wraps it around his body, heading out of the room he calls over his shoulder “hold on” returning a minute later with a fresh one for her. Turning off the water and holding out his hand he helps her step out the shower and wraps the towel gently around her shoulders.
“You do whatever it is you do before bed” he waves his hands at the lotions and bottles that cover the unit and makes his way out the room. Giving her some privacy.
Tim makes himself busy, he dries and dresses in under wear and an old t shirt, removes her bag from the bed and makes it ready for them to get into. He makes a selection of drinks, warm tea in her favourite mug, a glass of cold water and a random bottle of something from the fridge that has something to do with electrolytes and arranges them on the bedside table on her side of the bed.
A small sigh from the doorway alerts him that she’s finished in the bathroom and he walks over, removing her towel, glancing quickly over her body one last time before handing her one of his old t shirts, the kind she had taken to sleeping in most nights. Her small hand feels tiny in his as he leads her to the bed and helps her climb in.
He can’t help but notice the wince she tries quickly to hide as the bruise on her hip makes contact with the mattress.
“Babe” he whispers, leaning in the kiss her forehead. He runs quickly round to his side and climbs in. Scooting as close to her as possible he runs his hand gently down her leg, hooking his fingers in the crook of her knee and as carefully as possible brings her leg over his body. The bruised parts of her body lift off the mattress and she hums in relief as the pressure fades.
Tim leaves his hand on her leg, drawing patterns with his finger tips as he leaves kisses in her hair where her head now rests on his chest.
He knows that in the morning they will talk, maybe even argue, probably even argue. That he will not be able to hold back his questions indefinitely, that his concern for her well being will ultimately win. But for now he resigns himself to listen to her breathing slow as she quickly drifts off to sleep in his arms.
With one final kiss, before he falls asleep himself, he whispers
The noise from the bar pulsed though Celina’s chest as she pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine.
Grabbing her bag and taking a deep breath Celina pushes open the door to the bar and scans the crowd for familiar faces.
She takes a few steps further into the room until she notices the smiling face and waving hand of her TO and friend John Nolan. Other faces turn and add their smiles. Aaron Thorsen and Angela Lopez both turn in their seats to wave her over whilst Tim Bradford and Nyla Harper nod their greeting briefly before carrying on their conversation.
Celina picks her way through the tables dotted through the main room of the bar. Every table is crowded and the chatter of patrons vies for supremacy against the music playing from speakers hung at random intervals from the ceiling.
The table her friends and colleagues occupy is almost directly in front of the bar and she plans to head straight there to grab herself a drink but Nolan continues to wave her towards them.
“Lucy’s at the bar already getting the drinks in, she’s already getting your usual so take a seat” John says as she arrives
“Oh wow that’s so kind” Celina smiles. She still feels so new to this tight knit little group, just being invited to grab a drink with them felt like an honour that she hadn’t quite earned.
Celina turned her gaze to the bar area, scanning the stools until she found Lucy Chen’s thick dark hair. She watched as the barman placed 4 bottles in front of the man sat to Lucy’s right and then turned to serve the customer the other side, instead of Lucy. Celina smiled, Lucy was one of the most kind natured and patient people Celina had ever met but when Lucy turned on her stool towards their table it was clear this wasn’t the first time she’d been over looked whilst waiting to order.
But it was the movement to the side, and across the table from Celina that caught her eye.
Just as Lucy made the smallest movement of her head towards them, Tim instantly raised his head. The pair made eye contact as Lucy smiled and shrugged her shoulders, Tim made a show of rolling his eyes and Celina watched as Lucy gave a chuckle and turned back in her seat attempting once again to get the barman’s attention. No one else around the table seemed to notice, or care, that Tim’s eyes stayed on Lucy’s back for a moment longer than necessary and Tim slotted back into the conversation as if nothing had happened.
Celina liked to think of herself as a reader of people.
She knew people.
Their intentions, pasts, spirits, personalities. Compatibilities.
When she had first met Lucy and Tim she had felt how strongly connected they were. She had been surprised to learn they were both in relationships, with other people.
She had learnt from Nolan that Tim had been Lucy’s TO and had tried to convince herself that what she had seen as looks of longing were in fact just the deep connection they had formed during months pushed together in a high stress job.
Within a few weeks of starting her training she had learnt of the trauma Lucy had gone through at the hands of Rosalind Dyer and Caleb Wright and how Tim and found her and dug her out of the ground, with his bare hands.
The pair had every right to feel a deep connection, their bond, their partnership had saved both their lives.
But Celina could not quite convince herself that was it. That there was really nothing more.
They stood too close.
They moved too in sync.
Their eyes were too soft.
Their teasing too close to flirting.
So, with that in mind, Celina watched the pair. It was not long before her patience was rewarded.
Lucy had finally placed her order and was waiting for the drinks to be placed in front of her when a man sat himself in the vacant bar stool next to her. He leaned in, a little closer than strictly necessary, and seemingly introduced himself.
Celina couldn’t make out the conversation but Lucy smiled and casually chatted with the man. Even in the crowded, noisy bar and from a short distance away it was clear Lucy was just being polite. Returning none of the man’s advances and just being her usual, personable self. The man, in his mid 30 fresh from work in a lightly crumpled suit did not seem to register any of that as he plowed on.
It wasn’t long before elbows were nudging and the rest of the table was watching what Celina was.
Celina chanced a look at Tim and was more than a little surprised to see his face calm and relaxed and she was clearly not the only one.
“Aren’t you going to go and help her out?” Aaron levelled the question directly at Tim
“With what?” Tim turned to Aaron, his expression stern.
“I… I mean…” Aaron withered under his gaze “that man’s clearly hitting on your…” he froze “on Lucy”
“She is more than capable of looking after herself” Tim turned back to watch Lucy and Nyla and Angela laughed at the dazed look on Aaron’s face.
As if to illustrate Tim’s point the officers all watched as the man beside Lucy lent in, further still and placed his hand on Lucy’s thigh. Tim bristled visibly but simply said
“Just watch”
The smile never faltered or left Lucy’s face, in fact she closed the gap between her and the man, until her mouth was close to his ear. They all watched Lucy’s mouth move, unable to make out her exact words but as she drew back the expression on the man’s face made the meaning behind those words very clear.
Without ordering his drink the man simply stood up, ashen faced, and left as quickly as he could.
Lucy collected the drinks, having slid the money across the bar and walked happily back to the table.
Celina watched the smug smile creep across Tim’s face as Aaron’s jaw swung open and Nyla and Angela laughed and cheered.
“Hi Celina!” Lucy greeted her causally, passing out drinks.
“What did you say to him?!” Aaron sounded impressed and a little nervous, eliciting a snort from Nyla.
“Oh, nothing that would be considered illegal in the state of California” Lucy continued to smile as she perched on the arm of Tim’s chair and took a swig from her bottle of beer.
Celina was not surprised when Tim’s arm wound around Lucy’s waist, or when his fingers played aimlessly with the hem of her shirt. Or when Lucy lifted her left hand to gently scratch at the short hairs at the nape of his neck.
She was more surprised by everyone else at the tables lack of surprise. The subject of conversation swiftly moved on to an arrest Nyla had made that day and the table was filled with sounds of laughter and friendship.
As Celina her made her way home, several hours later, she couldn’t help but feel a little smug.
She knew they weren’t just friends, that their relationship had to have stretched beyond colleagues.
Tim is not against public displays of affection. Within reason.
He actively likes holding hands with women he is in a relationship with.
He’s been known to put his hand on a lower back, or an arm round a shoulder
And maybe even a quick hug.
He likes to think it was because he was a gentleman, he would tell his partners their relationship was no one else’s business but he was beginning to believe that maybe he’d never been in a relationship where he just couldn’t keep his hands off the other person before…
He has the feeling Lucy is really going to answer this question for him.
Of course in this moment he’s not thinking any of this, he’s not thinking at all. Sitting as close to Lucy as possible in these uncomfortable metal chairs, food forgotten in front of them.
One hand on her knee, the other in her hair. The kiss had built and built, the idea that the other food truck patrons or passers by might see them had not crossed his mind.
The minute she had told him, in that fancy restaurant during their disastrous first ‘first date’, that she wanted them to have their first “real” kiss he had thought about how much he wanted to finally be the one to take control.
The first peck, back in her apartment all those months ago, an embarrassment he needed to make up for. Lucy had followed that very first kiss up with 2 of the most heart racing, knee buckling kisses Tim had ever experienced. He had something to prove.
Not that he was competitive or anything but, he had to at least level the playing field.
It was Lucy who pulled back first, out of breath, flushed cheeks and red lips. She placed her hands on his chest as he reflexively leaned forward to chase another kiss.
“Let me breathe” she giggled slightly and he worked to contain the slightly smug grin that threatened to take over his face
“Sure thing” he leaned back in his chair not taking his eyes off her. He picked at his food as she took a deep drink from her can.
For several minutes they both sat in silence, gazes soft, gentle smiles.
Lucy starts to lean forward in her seat and Tim forces himself to remain still, to focus on the way her hair falls forward over her shoulders. How her smile quirks up on one side as she watches his reaction intently. Her hand reaches up and round to the back of his neck and his eyes close, briefly, at the light touch she leaves on his skin.
Goose bumps erupt on his skin as she trails her finger tips down his neck and along his collar bone. She pauses, momentarily.
“Lucy” it comes out as a whisper when her finger tighten around the collar of his shirt and she draws him firmly to her.
Tim is the first to pull away this time, he feels like he’s losing a battle of wills. Against his own hands. Touching Lucy is a heady mixture of electrifying and familiar. New, but also as it had always been. He knows how her soft face will fit in his hand because he knows every inch of her face as well as he knows his own.
But her words ring in his ears. They shouldn’t rush just because they know each other so well.
So with super human strength he sits back and tries to string together a sentence.
“Angela is going to be insufferable” he rolled his eyes but his smile remained.
“You’re going to tell her?” Lucy didn’t sound nervous but he wanted to reassure her that he wasn’t going to be telling anyone until she was ready.
“Honestly I don’t think I’m going to have to. Detective Lopez will work it out in minutes” then in a moment of bravery “she’s been on at me about us” he says gesturing between them “for some time”
Lucy’s mouth hangs open
“Us?” She stutters “for sometime?!” Her mouth opens and closes like a fish and Tim can’t help but grin “Tim!” She swats at his shoulder. “Explain!”
“She may have worked out that I had feelings for you, maybe even before I was sure” Tim could feel the heat in his cheeks and new a blush was creeping over his face. “She asked some questions, made me ask a few more of myself”
“When?” Was all she asked her eyes locked on his.
“After we kissed, the first time in your apartment” Lucy’s eyes shot wide open “I… I was… confused” he stuttered “I wasn’t expecting to feel what I felt. Does that make sense?”
“Absolutely” she nodded “I feel like things had been a little…” she paused “fuzzy? Before. But after?” She swallowed hard “I thought about that kiss more than I probably should have.” Her gaze dropped to her lap “dreamt about it more than I should have”
Tim felt his heart hammer in his chest at her confession. No words formed, he just stared at her as she fiddled nervously with the hem of her shirt.
Slowly, he reached his hand out. Sliding his fingers along her jaw until her face was resting in his large hand, he lifted her face towards his and placed a single gentle kiss to her lips. As quick as the first, in her apartment but with all the feelings, all the meaning neither of them had been free to express at the time.
“Ok.” Tim said sitting back again “so how many grandchildren are you thinking exactly”
Lucy’s hearty laugh echoed out into the night “Tim!” He was beginning to think her love language was whacking him on the shoulder
“Well I’m just saying, we might not want to take it too slow or…” and just like that they were back to their gentle teasing.
They finally finished their food and arranged that their next date would see Tim cooking for her at his place and after 3 failed attempts at saying goodnight at their cars, that just saw them out of breath and Lucy with wild hair, Tim was finally in his truck on his way home.
He would see her again in the morning and he new just the thought would send him off to a blissful sleep and just maybe he’d have a few dreams of his own.
Tim could hear the key in the doorway, Lucy would be walking through the door to her apartment any second and would immediately see all his hard work and he was, honestly, super excited.
He had spent his entire day off running round the city picking up bits and pieces, he’d even been to a stationery store to print and laminate things.
And it was time to see if all his hard work would pay off.
On the kitchen island Tim had placed 2 large boxes and a large glass jar. One box was label ‘Taste’, the other ‘Have’ and the jar was labelled ‘Time’. The boxes were full of a variety of parcels, wrapped as neatly as Tim was capable and the jar was full of brightly coloured, miniature envelopes.
Tim stood proudly behind them, nervously shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited for his girlfriend to push open the door.
She stopped instantly, not even halfway through the door, as she spotted him and his unusual set up.
“Hey” Lucy said slowly popping her keys on the little table next to the door “you ok there Babe?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you!” The nervous excitement bursting out of him, coming out from behind the counter and taking her hands.
“I see that!” Lucy’s smile brightened instantly to match his. Tim gets Lucy to sit on a stool facing his surprise.
“So, you remember we talked about me helping you study? For the detectives exam” Lucy nodded, eyes not leaving the boxes and jar in front of her. “Well you both know I wouldn’t be much help with the actual studying” Lucy opened her mouth to protest but Tim silenced her, holding his hand up “it’s ok, but I thought there would be something I would be good at.” He paused, for dramatic effect.
“Go on” impatience pouring out of her as she reached her finger tips towards one of the boxes, clearly intrigued.
“During my time as your TO” Lucy’s face shot round to look at him, an appalled expression on her face and tim couldn’t help but laugh “during my time as your TO I became very good at motivating you to do your best”
“Through fear and humiliation!” Lucy wailed and Tim couldn’t help feeling a little smug
“No. Well maybe, sometimes” he conceded “but it worked didn’t it”
“Hmmmm”
“Well I’m not your TO anymore. I’m your boyfriend so I thought maybe I could try some more Lucy friendly methods of motivation” he finished with a flourish, indicating to the items in front of them.
“Babe” Lucy signed, she stood up and raised herself onto her tiptoes. Her hands slid up his chest and round his neck as she pulled him the final few inches into a slow and tender kiss. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me”
“You haven’t seen what’s in them yet!” He joked earning himself a smack on the shoulder for ruining the moment.
“Well? What’s in them!” She let him go and started pulling one of the boxes towards her.
“Hold on, hold on!” He said placing a hand on each of her shoulders and lowing her back on to the stool “so first I thought ‘what motivates Lucy’ and that wasn’t hard. Food” he placed the ‘taste’ box so the label was facing her, followed by the ‘have’ box “‘cute things’ and last but probably most obviously ‘attention’” he said bringing the jar to the front.
At the last one Lucy laughed and swatted at his arm again “I’m not attention seeking!”
“I don’t mean like that” and he leaned forward to take the jar, kissing her forehead as he moved passed her quickly. He opened the jar and took out one a bright green envelope, opening it and pulling out a little laminated card. After reading it himself he turned it to face Lucy.
‘20 minute foot rub’
It said in bold letters across the middle. Underneath in much smaller letters:
(You can tell me all about the true crime podcast you’re listening to)
Tim was busying himself with sliding the little card back into the envelope and popping it back in the jar so he was slightly taken a back when Lucy launched herself at him, flinging her arms around his neck and burying her damp eyes into the side of his face.
“I figure you can choose something from one of the boxes or jar for every hour of studying you get done but that’s up to you. Some of the food for the ‘taste’ box is in the refrigerator so it doesn’t go bad” he wasn’t sure she was really listening as he wrapped his arms around her waist and then placed a series of kisses up her neck.
“This is just so thoughtful” she pulled away to look him in the eye “it must have taken you all day”
“Probably not as long as reading that book!” Tim laughed “so do you want to earn that first one now?”
Tim came home from work the following evening to Lucy sitting at the kitchen island, the same place she been when he left her that morning. He grinned as he took in all the little gifts and envelopes that surrounded the work station she had set up.
The last few bites of her favourite candy bar, a new picture frame that perfectly matched the colour of her sofa, a zesty smelling candle in a beautiful glass jar. The stack of 5 or 6 laminated cards made his stomach flutter, she had picked those over the more immediate rewards far more often. Picked time with him.
“Right” he said, rubbing his hands together, a huge smile on his face. “Let’s make a start on those cards!”
I really like your chenford stories, have you thought about posting them on Ao3? You would probably get really good reviews
Thanks that’s really sweet!
I haven’t thought about it really no, I read stories on there but don’t have an account. I’ll have a look into it though.
I was thinking I might try asking if people have prompts for me at some point but I’m still in the ‘I think everyone’s going to hate my stuff’ every time I post stage!
“So, are you single?” The woman looks coyly over her shoulder, biting her bottom lip as she looks him up and down.
He does his best to ignore the question, they had met less than 20 minutes ago and she had already called him handsome and sexy and told him she liked his eyes. It wasn’t to say he didn’t like strong, assertive women, he absolutely did, but this time he wasn’t interested.
“Come on darling, we’ve got some time to kill and I could make this interesting” she tried to turn to face him but stopped quickly. Somewhere to the side of the room they could hear giggling, someone was enjoying themselves. “Are you free to have some fun?”
“I have a girlfriend” he conceded, mostly in an effort to get her to leave him alone “I don’t think she’d be too happy with that”
“A girlfriend? So not a wife then. I can work with that” a smug smile creeps over her lips.
“Not yet” he replies cooly. A spluttering noise comes from the same corner that was giggling moments before. He grins.
“Sergeant Bradford” a voice comes from the doorway to the rear of the room “thank you for you patience, we really weren’t expecting so many. Officer Chen, officer Thorsen.” The man leading the joint task force greeted everyone left in the room “transport for those in custody has arrived and we can finally take them in for booking” intel had told them to expect 15 individuals in the building but when they had breached they discovered nearly 30. Bradford, Chen and Thorsen had been left to baby sit for 20 minutes whilst other officers secured the scene, collected evidence and took pictures.
“Your girlfriend wouldn’t approve, huh?” Lucy swivelled in the seat as Tim drove her, Aaron and himself back to the station in the shop. Aaron was sitting in the back, having missed his ride, pretending he couldn’t hear the couple up fronts conversation.
“Well you wouldn’t!” He raised an eyebrow but continued looking at the road.
“But that was the only reason?” She was enjoying teasing him. She always enjoyed teasing him and he did like to make her happy
“Oh totally” he deadpanned “otherwise women I’m arresting come top of my list of ideal partners” Lucy swatted at his shoulder, more gently than normal but then he was driving.
They carried on in this way as they finished the journey. Aaron was relieved to be let out. Being in a confined space, unable to escape that much flirty banter was cloying. He felt very, very single.
“Timothy”
Tim had not long arrived into the station the next morning. Had barely had chance to grab a coffee and sit at his desk in his tiny, cramped office when the door swung open.
“Timothy” the owner of the voice had fixed him with its most knowing and questioning gaze.
“Angela” Tim sighed, he had no idea what was coming but he knew it was best just to let her get it out her system.
“Are you asking Lucy to marry you?” Angela’s face was expressionless. She clearly needed facts and fast.
“Wh.. I…” Tim spluttered. He was really not expecting this “what? No. Why?” He managed.
“Grey and I were going over some of the body cam footage from yesterday.” She began
“Ahhh” the Penny dropping
“And we heard you telling that women you weren’t married… Yet!” Her voice rising higher and higher. She walked up to his desk, placing both palms flat down and suddenly Tim understood what it most be like to be questioned by Detective Lopez. “Do you plan on asking Lucy to marry you?”
“Of course I do” he answers simply, feeling much more composed now he understands her line of questioning. He smiles at the shocked look on his best friends face.
“When?” She leans in closer, excitement etched on ever inch of her face “soon?”
“It depends what you mean by soon?” He might be happy to share but he wasn’t going to make it easy.
“Timothy!” Her tone would be threatening if she wasn’t bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. Angela Lopez loves love and she had been team Chenford long before Lucy and Tim had wised up to what was going on. “By the end of the year?”
“Definitely” he smiled as she bounced faster
“By the end of summer?” She was pushing it, it was already mid April that wouldn’t leave much time.
“Probably” he had a few different ideas but he wasn’t ready to give Angela specifics, yet. He knew that time would come sooner rather than later though
“Oh… my… god” Angela perched on the edge of his desk. Seemly to overwhelmed to stand anymore “you two are going to make such a gorgeous bride and groom” then in a rush “oh and then the babies!”
“Ok, ok” Tim says standing, he starts ushering Angela towards the door “that’s quite enough, one step at a time”
“I’m sorry” Angela places a hand on Tim’s shoulder “I’m telling you the post pregnancy hormones really stay with you!” They both chuckle “ I’m really happy for you Tim”
“She hasn’t said yes yet” he says, he’s not really worried though. When he and lucy talk about the future it’s always so matter of fact. When they are married, when they have children. Never if, from the very beginning.
They stood in Grey’s office smiling at each other for a few more moments before Lucy took a big deep breath.
“Right, I should let you finish” she reaches her hand out and grazes her fingers over his elbow. The motion is quick as a flash but she watches his breath hitch and his eyes widen.
“Yeah, I’ve got hours of work left and you…” he smiled broadly “are a distraction”
Lucy couldn’t believe how quickly and easily they were falling into open flirting with each other. She took three slow steps back, neither of them breaking eye contact. She paused at the door and took another deep breath before walking out of the room and making her way out of the building.
Before she had even got to her car she had her phone in her hand.
Lucy: so, this date. What are you thinking we should do?
The three little dots spring up instantly and Lucy grins knowing he must have had his phone in his hands to respond that fast.
Tim: how about we decide when first?
Before she can reply the dots are back
Tim: if I suggest tomorrow does that make me look eager?
Lucy laughs as she climbs into her car
Lucy: a little eager but I’m not mad about it!
Tim: good because I am eager.
Lucy: you are adorable
She knows he won’t be able to leave the bait and she’s not disappointed
Tim: I can change my mind you know Chen
Lucy: you don’t intimidate me, sir.
She takes great pleasure in picturing his glitched out face as she watches the dots appear and disappear over and over.
Lucy: how about we talk it through tomorrow. I think I’m distracting you again!
Tim: if I don’t finish this paperwork Grey may never let me leave and we’ll be having our first date in the break room with terrible coffee and Smitty in the corner slurping soup. Talk tomorrow Lucy
Lucy waited for a minute in case Tim had more to say before starting her engine and beginning the journey. The whole way home her mind races. This is actually happening. Finally.
She arrives home and instead of trying to sleep she grabs her laptop, climbs on her bed and starts researching. When she finally drifts off to sleep there are many tabs open, restaurants, hikes and more.
Tim wakes before his alarm the next morning, he dresses quickly. He and Lucy are due in to work at the same time but he can’t help but arrive early, just in case.
He beams when she pulls her car in next to his less than 5 minutes after he arrives at the station. They look at each other through their windows before they both climb out.
His breath catches, his heart hammers. He doesn’t know why he feels more nervous than the night before but in the light of day everything suddenly feels so real.
Lucy is standing in front of him, smiling up at him. He knows he should say something, anything but The stupid grin remains.
“Hi” she sounds as nervous and excited as he feels
“Hi” he manages and they stand there. Neither knowing how to move forward and neither really wanting to break the moment.
Fortuitously a colleague walks past and calls a greeting or Tim feels like they would have stayed like that for the whole shift, dopey smiles and soft eyes. It’s exactly the wake up he needed. He gives himself a little shakes and turns to lead them both into the station.
Just as Tim is about to bring up the topic of their first date Lucy starts “So, I did some research”
“Yeah?”
“Mmhmm”
“So what do you suggest?” Tim raised an eyebrow
“I’ve got a list of restaurants, classics, fusion” she pauses and looks up at him “romantic”
“I like the sound of that” Tim feels like keeping his relationship with Lucy a secret might be harder than he expected as he reminds himself to take half a step back. They’ve never been good at ‘personal space’ but the building certainly wasn’t crowded, there really was no need to stand quite so close.
“I made a ‘wild card’ list, too” she added, seemingly unaware of his inner thoughts as she instantly fills the gap back up with a small step forward. “Paintball, shooting range. Those kinds of things, your kind of activities”
He’d kiss her if he could. He will kiss her, not right now but this date is going to have to happen sooner rather than later.
“Send me your lists and the nights you’re free this week” he captures her gaze “I’ll do the rest”
“Ok” she holds his gaze
“I have to go, be safe.” He turns and walks off quickly.
Lucy sends him the lists as promised. He’s managed to find 10 minutes in his day to sit down at his desk and open his email. The message begins:
Lucy: It feels like we’ve waited so long for this, I don’t want to wait anymore. I’m free tomorrow night, I don’t care where we go or what we do. Let’s just not wait anymore.
For a moment Tim couldn’t breathe, the moment Lucy had told him he was the most important relationship in her life had felt, surreal, magical. It seemed like a dream. These reminders that what they were doing meant as much to her as it did to him proved that this was all real.
Tim decided then that he would make this first date special and to do that he needed help.
Aaron was minding his own business, he had paperwork to fill in. So much paperwork.
It meant that when Sergeant Bradford arrived at his desk he was completely unprepared.
“I have a job for you” the gruff voice came from behind his shoulder and he jumped sending papers skidding across the desk.
Aaron scrambled to pull the pieces of paper back into a neat pile “Sir, I’m… yes ok, of course sir.” He turned and looked up into the face of the much taller man “what do you need” finally feeling composed.
“You have connections” Aaron blinked, was that supposed to be a question
“You need my sword guys number?” He tried “I’m not sure if my mom would be happy for me to expense another private jet just yet.”
Tim just glared at him, Aaron was getting used to this look on Tim’s. It was his companion for most of his day.
“Restaurants” was all Tim said, his expression not changing. Aaron smiled broadly, this was his world. His area of expertise.
“Sure! I’ve got contacts at some of the best places in town” his glow of pride didn’t last long as Tim continued to stare
“Tomorrow night, 8pm.” Tim handed him a piece of paper. Aaron opened it, it simply had the names of two restaurants. “One of those”
Aaron’s eyes widened, two of the hardest to get into and most romantic restaurants in the city “for how many?”
Tim’s only response was to glare harder.
“Two, of course” Aaron spluttered “I’ll make some calls” he sat back down at his desk and took out his phone. He looked back up into his sergeant’s face to see it soften a little.
Lucy took careful aim, this was her last chance. After this she was out of ammo and her cover was blown. A warm breeze blew and the damp hairs on the back of her neck stood up but she was too focused on the sounds around her and the motion in front of her.
The sun was beginning to set and she knew she was running out of time, no back up was coming. It was just her.
She watched as her target momentarily stepped out from behind a tree, maybe 20ft straight ahead. She readied herself, he stepped back into the cover after quickly taking stock of his surroundings and she knew that the next time he broke she would have to take her shot.
That’s when she heard it.
A sing song voice calling out.
“Lucy?”
“Where are you hiding Lucy?”
Lucy smiled, he must be desperate if he was sinking to these levels, she mustn’t be the only one short of ammo.
The voice is coming from some distance to her left but she remains focused on the man in the trees straight ahead. Her heart begins to pound faster, she has to move now before his back up arrives.
Her surroundings are largely unfamiliar, tall trees line the border of an immaculate lawn. The shadows of the trees have grown longer and longer since she found herself sheltering behind a dense ornamental hedge.
And then it happens. The voice rings out, closer this time.
“Come on Lucy!”
It’s frustrated, done with these games.
The man, her target, steps out from behind his cover. Searching for the voice.
She leaps up all at once ammo in hand.
One arm straight out, for aim, she hurls the water balloon with all her might and watches as it sales through the air. Watches as if in slow motion as it connects with the side of Tim’s head and explodes. The water coats his face, hair and shoulders as he turns with a shocked expression to look directly at her.
“You rat!” He yells and runs for her. She squeals as he closes in on her, wraps his soggy arms around her and spins her until she is dizzy. He settles her feet on the ground but doesn’t let go, arms wrapped around her waist.
She fights to catch her breath as she laughs heartily and he shakes his head over her, showering her in drops of water.
“Lucy!” The voice rings out triumphantly as Jack’s little legs propel him the final distance to her. Lucy bends down and scoops him up, he is already wet from their battle (before her and Tim got a little carried away) and doesn’t mind her damp embrace.
“Jack, quick let’s run back to the house and eat all the ice cream before Tim!” And she takes off with the boy laughing in her arms whilst Tim makes a show of lumbering after them.
Angela, Wesley and Patrice watch the three emerge from the end of the garden, though they hear them coming well before. Angela is holding the baby, now nearly six months old and smiles as she watches her best friend. His smile so wide and genuine. They had all been invited to lunch at Patrice’s beautiful house to celebrate Angela and Wesley’s wedding anniversary. Tim as ‘man of honour’ had been included and Jack had insisted, though she was already coming with Tim, that Lucy come too.
“Quick!” Lucy called as they neared the relaxed group “we need ice cream! Before the monster arrives” Jack squeals and wiggles in her arms.
“How about I tame the monster and we all have ice cream?” Angela suggests, she hands the monster the little girl before heading into the kitchen. As she walks back out she takes a moment to take in the scene.
Lucy and Jack are sitting next to each other on a picnic blanket. Tim opposite them has her daughter, facing out, on his lap. They are the picture of domesticity.
“Ice creams ready” she calls and they look up big smiles all round.
Lucy walked up to Tim as he stood at the fridge door, he was wondering what to make them for dinner but mostly looking for an excuse to order something in. She came to stand behind him, slipping her arms around his waist and pulling herself flush up against him.
“What did you do?”Tim was immediately suspicious.
“I asked you a question first!”Lucy giggled, a little nervously
“Luuuccyyy” he said, turn around in her arms and taking a step back. He looked down at her, making the most of his considerable height “it depends on what you’ve done” he was half smiling, lucy had a way of getting him into situations he’d preferred to have avoided.
“Isn’t true love supposed to be unconditional?!” She ran her fingers up his arm and gazed up at him through her eyelashes. But Tim was clearly not going to be easily swayed.
“It definitely depends.” He chuckled, moving past her to look half heartedly in a cupboard “Did you use the last of the coffee or did you sign me up for another ‘make a dream’ kid? Because the last time you started a conversation this way I spent my day hunting for our very own mini Houdini”
“Is that really your example of the worst thing I could do? You’re worried I’ve signed you up to babysit again?” Lucy playfully punched him on the arm, she followed Tim through her small kitchen as he made his way to the pile of take out menus having clearly given up on the idea of cooking.
“We lost him. A lot.” Tim sat down on the sofa and looked up at Lucy from behind a menu. He smiled at the memory, despite himself. Getting to spend days like that with Lucy, at the precinct or on patrol, we’re now few and far between. She sat down, crossed legged, next to him, her whole body turned towards him.
“So you admit it wasn’t just my fault we lost him!” She cried triumphantly jabbing him on the chest with her finger
“Ow!” He said rubbing the spot she had poked “Lucy, stop trying to distract me.” He put the menus down, finally a serious look on his face “What have you done?”
Lucy took a deep breath.
“I said we’d go on a double date.”
“Right.” It was clear he didn’t think this sounded so terrible, he tolerated Wesley and could just spend most of his time talking to Angela “With?”
She looked sheepish
“… John and Bailey”
“Ok.” Tim’s disappointment was written all over his face, but this is what he had taken on when he had chosen a partner in someone like Lucy “not my first choice but it’s just one evening”
“Great” Lucy smiled but it was an uneasy smile, there was definitely more. Tim could read her like a book.
“Lucy” he probed “what else?” She didn’t say anything, or look at him “Lucy?”
“The only time we were all free was the ___.” She said in a rush
The cogs in his brain started ticking, that date sounded familiar
“Wait that’s…”
“ the Rams are playing the ___ in the ___” she looked at him apologetically “I know! I’m so, so sorry!” Lucy grasped his bicep “So you get to decide, we can go to their house or we can all go to yours. That way you can still watch, at least, and I’ll do all the shopping and all the cooking. And did I mention I’m sorry and that I love you!” She stopped suddenly, waiting for him to respond. Tim’s gaze was steady, he was enjoy her being flustered for a change.
“Just know that you are going to owe me” Tim finally said with a smouldering look, once again Lucy playfully punched his shoulder. Instantly at ease. “I mean it” he quirked an eyebrow.
A wide smile spread across Lucy’s face
“I can live with that” she leant in to kiss him, all thoughts of dinner slipping from Tim’s mind.
—————————————————————————
If it’s not already blatantly clear, I have no knowledge of American sports, sports teams or competitions and no desire to learn. Please fill in the blanks however you want!
Tim was sitting at his desk in his office, he wasn’t 100% sure but he’d guess it was late afternoon, anywhere between 2 and 4pm. His half eaten lunch pushed off to the side, replaced by a never ending pile of paperwork.
It had been ‘one of those days’, the ones where you don’t stop all day but feel like you’ve accomplished nothing. Tim hated those days.
Tim wasn’t surprised by the knock at his door, people often stopped in at his cramped, dingey, little office. To share progress on a case, ask a question and sometimes just for a catch up. He wasn’t sure which one he hated most.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever really get used to it, but one thing he was used to was people waiting to be told they could enter before opening the door and coming in. Especially when the blind to his, internal, window was down. As it was now. He was privy to sensitive information and took frequent calls packed with need to know intelligence, that people couldn’t just walk in on.
But the knock came, before he had a chance to invite them in, the door was being opened. Wade Grey was an imposing man and his large frame seemed to fill the small office, he took a step forward and closed the door behind him.
Tim was immediately on edge, he saw Grey almost everyday. In the bullpen, at roll call but during a shift where they were both in the building they mostly communicated by phone. So for him to have made the active choice to seek him out in person had Tim pushing up out of his chair, ready to jump in head first with what ever emergency Grey was about to detail.
Grey raised his hand. Tim stilled.
“She’s ok.”
“What?” Tim’s brain jumped in so many directions, as he stayed hovering half in his seat half out.
“She’s ok.” Grey repeated calmly “she’s already at the hospital. She’s ok”
Tim’s brain caught up all at once as he flew out of the chair and went to push past Grey. The older man placed a firm hand on Tim’s chest. “She’s ok”
“Stop saying that and tell me what’s going on” Tim all but yelled.
“She’s received a blow to the head. A bat. She lost consciousness for several minutes but was coming round as the medics arrived and was answering questions as they put her in the rig” Grey voice remained calm and steady. Tim wasn’t sure how, how could anyone stay calm when the world seemed to have tilted 90 degrees in an instant.
“Ok.” Tim took a breath, the blood pumping past his ears was almost deafening but the voice in his head was suddenly louder. Pull yourself together, it shouted. She’s ok, she’s at the hospital and she’s ok. He turned back to his desk, grabbed his phone and his keys and turned back around to face Grey “Tell whoever needs to be told that I’m out for… for however long. I don’t know”
“Tim, I’m driving” Grey’s tone broked no argument.
The two men quickly and quietly got into Tim’s truck. They drove in silence for some time, Tim could tell Grey was waiting for him to get over the shock.
“Was she alone?” Tim asked finally, breaking the silence.
“No Aaron was with her. The called into a noise disturbance, things got out of hand. Neither of them did anything wrong, from what I have gathered so far. Aaron called for back up and medics as soon as he was able.” Grey detailed.
“Ok” the silence stretched on longer.” I should call Tamara” Tim mused
Grey reassured Tim that Aaron was already on that. The rest of the short journey was made in silence. Tim tapped out a pattern on his thigh, stopping himself from asking Grey why he was driving so conservatively.
They reach the hospital, Grey let Tim out at the entrance and went off to park. Tim followed directions to Lucy’s room, meeting Aaron at the entrance to the ward.
“Tim” said the young man, clearly anguished “we didn’t see it coming, I’m so sorry”
“Grey explained everything. Don’t worry. Which room is hers?” He reassured the man as much as he could. His need to see her face had become desperate. Until he actually saw her, heard her breathing, touched her warm skin he wouldn’t truly believe that she was ok.
Aaron led the way, stopping at the door.
Tim took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
And there she was, slightly propped up, cables and wires attaching her to machines, a drip in her arm, her eyes open. But most importantly, at the sight of him, a small smile on her face. Tim breathed out.
“Hi babe” she said quietly “I’m ok. I promise”
“I can see” he joked “you’ve never looked better” he walked over, pulling the uncomfortable looking chair in the room close to the bed and settling into it. He reached out a touched her arm, warm.
“I’ve got something for you” Lucy said glancing at a piece of paper near her hand. He reached down and took it, opening up to read what was written there. “I didn’t think you’d actually believe me when I said I was ok and the drs are busy so I had Aaron write down their exact words”
Tim’s eyes widened, he read:
Miss Chen arrived conscious and alert. She was treated for a laceration to the back on the head. A range of tests were performed and a concussion diagnosed. Miss Chen will be kept in for observation and released when we are happy with her recovery. We expect Miss Chen to make a full and fast recovery.
Tim could tell from Aaron’s shaky script that he’d had trouble keeping up and had certainty paraphrased the drs words but Lucy looked so proud of herself for thinking to do it he just smiled at her.
Tim gently laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his lips, he kissed them gently. He listened to the rhythmic beeping of the machines and felt his breathing slow and his heart, which had been racing, was calming. He ran his free hand through his hair, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. It was a feeling he was used to, it usually came after a fight, or a chase. The adrenaline leaving his body. He wished he could climb into the bed next to her, but he didn’t want to jostle her, it was clear she had an almighty headache.
When Grey knocked quietly on the door 30 minutes later Tim barely looked up, he had his head resting on the side of Lucy’s bed, playing absentmindedly with her fingers. When Grey was followed into the room by Tamara, Tim stood up. Immediately he walked over to the young woman and wrapped his arms around her. They hugged awkwardly for a minute, neither of them comfortable but rather comforted that it’s something Lucy would do.
“Awwww” came a voice behind them “hospitalisation was all it took to stop you two bickering, if I’d have known…”
“I give it a week” laughed Grey.
Grey stayed for around an hour, long enough to catch up with Lucy’s drs and get Lucy’s account of events first hand. He then excused himself and turned his attention to forcing Aaron home to get some sleep.
Tim allowed Tamara some alone time with Lucy, he hadn’t wanted to leave at all but he knew if he was going to persuade the girl to go home for the night he would have to let them have some quality time together first. Lucy was Tamara’s sister, mom, best friend and teacher all rolled into one and Tim respected how important the relationship was to both women.
He paced around the corridors for a while before heading for the gift shop. His eyes bulged at the prices but he ended up picking out a small, but cheerful, bear and, deciding he’d given the women enough time, headed back up to Lucy’s room. Determined to drive Tamara home, pick up some of Lucy’s things before heading back to Lucy’s side for the night.
Arriving back to the room he was met with Tamara sitting on the bed, near Lucy’s feet. She was giving a Blow by blow of a conversation she’d had with some friend or another, that neither he or Lucy had ever met, but Lucy was clearly fully invested. He didn’t know how she did it.
Eventually he was able to interrupt, Tamara told Lucy she’d see her the next day and that she loved her, she glanced up at Tim and said “I’ll wait outside, don’t get too gross this is a public place” Tim sighed and rolled his eyes.
He stood hovering for a minute, not sure how to express the sheer overwhelming emotion of the last few hours. Lucy interrupted his thoughts.
“I’m ok” she said simply. He walked over and kissed her on the forehead as gently as he could. “I love you” she whispered.
“I…” he tried to reply but the words got caught in his throat. He brushed his lips against hers. His feelings suddenly to big for words but he owed it to her to try “I love you too” Tim smiled “I’ll be back as soon as I can, try and sleep”
He left the room, spotting Tamara chatting to a nurse at the end of the corridor he set off in her direction.
“What was yours and Isabel’s wedding like?” The question is so casual. The immediate response is a toothbrush clattering into the sink.
“What?” Lucy was ready for the level of surprise in Tim’s voice when he managed to reply.
“We were called to a fight at a wedding reception today, the father of the bride had had far too much to drink and got into a fist fight with the best man over some comments in his speech” Lucy was clearly enjoying recounting the drama “apparently the bride had dated a few of the grooms friends before they decided to settle down together and her father wasn’t happy with that being joked about!” Lucy looked at Tim but as always was disappointed that he wasn’t as invested as she was in the lives of complete strangers. “Anyway, it got me thinking. You’ve never mentioned your wedding, now I’m curious”
Tim was now stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised. He was ready for bed in an old T-shirt and shorts, bags under his eyes, very ready for their shared day off the next day.
“You’re surprised I haven’t told you about my wedding. To my ex-wife?” He remained in the door way, watching her sat on the bed rubbing in hand cream. She looked curious, but calm. He felt This could only go badly but he didn’t want to come across secretive.
“I’m just surprised I don’t know anything about it, other than your age. I don’t know the date, the location, the style. Anything!”
“And you want to know these things?” Tim really couldn’t understand why. Lucy had supported him through the very end of his marriage, she knew all about the toughest times they had been through but only a smattering of the good.
“I do” Lucy grinned at her own pun. Tim rolled his eyes.
“Ok. We got married in May, the exact day doesn’t matter. Near Isabel’s home town, a church and then an elderly relatives garden for the reception. Style? We were young, we didn’t want to spend much. It wasn’t fancy but it was..” he paused, was it wrong to say perfect. It had felt it at the time. Was it a disservice to describe it any other way, but how would Lucy feel?
“It sounds perfect” Lucy finished for him. He walked over and sat on his side of the bed, not getting under the covers, ready to answer more questions. “What was Isabel’s dress like?” She was smiling and he felt himself relax a little more.
“Traditional? Big, white and fluffy. I think Isabel would have like more of the glitz” he looked Lucy in the eye, knowingly “but that’s not really me.”
She laughed “no, it’s not”
Tim reached over and pulled Lucy, already dressed and ready for bed, over on top his side. Her head on his chest and his fingers tracing patterns onto her arm.
“What about you?” It was definitely easier to ask her this without her looking at him.
“Hmm?”
“What do you imagine your wedding will look like” he swallowed heavily.
“My wedding?” She turned her face to look up into his.
“If you could have anything you wanted” he gazed back down at her. Taking her hand in his and circling his long calloused fingers around her ring finger slowly.
“I’m not sure, it’s not something I dreamed about as a girl. I wouldn’t want a big wedding, I’d maybe be happy to elope” she glances up to see a slight look of surprise on his face “I’d want Tamara with me of course, she’d never forgive me. But I think I’d be ok to leave the drama of my mother behind” Tim kisses the top of her head as she continues. “A beach maybe, or even vegas! A dress with flowing sleeves, maybe some
Colour and sushi!” She was starting to enjoy this “we definitely have to have sushi. We could invite some of the guys from work Angela, of course, Nyla, Nolan. Genny and the boys.” She stopped suddenly. It had not escaped either Tim or Lucy that she has switched from ‘I’ to
‘We’. Tim had stopped moving his hand in hers.
To Lucy it felt like hours passed, she was just about to open her mouth to attempt some damage control when
“Nolan? I don’t dislike him but you want him at our wedding?”
“I thought I could have whatever I wanted?” She smiled against his chest
“But Nolan?”
They talked like this for a while longer, until Lucy heard Tim’s breathing start to slow, his hand dropped from her back where it had been drawing patterns.
“Tim?” She whispered. No response, instead of waking him she climbed off the bed and found a blanket to drape of his before climbing under the covers herself.
She felt proud of them. Their relationship was anything but traditional, they knew each other so well and their connection was so strong that when Tim had finally asked Lucy out it had felt like they had agreed to a
Whole life together. Not just a date. It was easy to just assume they were on the same page but tonight they had managed to confirm it.
As she was drifting off to sleep she smiled thinking about the last think he had said to her before falling asleep him self.
“I’d go to the court tomorrow, all That matters is you”
It’s nearly lunch time and Genny is stood at her kitchen counter preparing a meal for her family. She’s watching her boys throw a ball back and forth in the garden, which sounds idyllic but took half an hour of arguing and bribing to get them both to turn off their phones and games. She has some bright and breezy music playing in the background as she chops salad and prepares meat for the BBQ.
Tim, her brother, is coming over. He does this regularly, he’s kept to his promise of being more active in their lives and Genny loves it. From stepping in to coach little league, to Sunday lunches, to actually babysitting for the one, disastrous, date she’d dared to go on since moving to the city.
But today was a little different, today Genny was making a little extra effort. Today was the day Tim was finally introducing her to Lucy. His girlfriend.
Of course Genny had met Lucy several times already, in fact Genny was pretty sure she had already made up her mind what kind of person Lucy was. And she loved her! Anyone who could make her hard nosed brother squirm with a look, stop in his tracks with one touch and make him laugh, really laugh was worth her weight in gold.
Tim had always talked more about Lucy than any other colleague, she’d heard stories of Angela and his watch commander, but Lucy had quickly become a regular feature of their catch up phone calls. Then she had met Lucy and seen the shift in her brother’s behaviour, his desire to be around her. Once she had moved to the city, with Ashley out the picture, she had been amused to see the pair of them trying to hide their obvious affection for each other from her. Then the calls to look after Kujo had started, not just ‘can you drop in and take him for a walk’ during a shift but requests to have him over night. She new he had a dog sitter and only asked her as a last resort and she didn’t mind at all, the boys loved Kujo and it stopped them begging her for a pet for themselves. It was clear he was regularly spending the night away from home, on top of his normal shifts.
So when Genny had called to invite him over for lunch she had been keen to extend the invitation to Lucy but was a little unsure as to how her notoriously private brother would take it.
“Hey Tim, is this a good time?”
“As good as any”
“Perfect, how would you like to come over for lunch on Sunday?”
“Actually that works for me, as long as I can bring the dog?”
“Of course. Actually… as you’ve mentioned bringing someone…”
“Genny?”
“Is there anyone else you’d like to bring?”
“…”
“It’s just an offer, anyone you’d like to bring would be welcome”
“… thanks, I’ll ask.”
“Perfect. Let me know if she has any food preferences, see you both at the weekend!”
And she had quickly hung up the phone.
Genny heard Tim’s truck pull up outside but forced herself to stay in the kitchen and wait for the knock at the door, she was determined not appear too keen. After a couple of minutes she heard hushed voices outside the door and then, eventually a knock. As she swung the door open she was greeted immediately by Kujo’s nose pushing its way forward, she bent to stroke his head and then straightened up, first, into the beaming face of Lucy Chen and then looking up into the serious face of her brother.
Genny took in Lucy’s arm casually looped through Tim’s, the way the woman’s body was turn in towards his. “Hi! Genny thanks so much for inviting us over. I brought garlic bread”
Tim bent down and unclipped the dogs lead, letting him run off in search of the boys in the garden.
“Hi Genny” he lent forward and hugged her briefly, he moved back, placed his hand on Lucy’s lower back and ushered her forward into the house.
Genny welcomed them both in and led the way to the kitchen. She fixed them both drinks and they chatted about work, house renovations and the boys. Genny watched her guests move around each other. The way Lucy’s body turned in his direction as he moved about the kitchen, how his hands moved to touch some part of her whenever she was in reach. The way Tim smiled at Lucy’s endless gentle teasing, no sign of irritation just warmth and affection as he rolled his eyes and chuckled and in return Lucy’s constant good humour. She seemed to find his grumpy demeanour endearing, which Genny new from personal experience was a must if you were going to spend any real time with Tim.
Time had come to put the meat on the grill. Tim stood, passing a plate of kebabs to Lucy and picking up the steaks himself and the pair walked out into the garden. Genny watched her two buys walk over to the couple, they had both met Lucy at Tyler’s little league match and the four quickly struck up an easy conversation. After a few minutes of chatting, whilst Tim loaded up the grill, Lucy moved off into the garden with the boys and they all started playing catch. Tim watched them from the grill, fiddling with the heat before turning a walking back inside the house.
“That’s a mighty big smile you have there big brother” Genny ventured, somewhat bravely.
“It really is great to have you and the boys back”
“Riiight” she earns herself a sharp look from her brother “and it doesn’t have anything to do with your friend? The beautiful, energetic, witty woman, who hangs on your every word and chooses to spend her precious days off playing catch with your nephews?”
“Maybe” to her amazement the gruff exterior melts and she seizes her chance to push his boundaries a little.
“She it, isn’t she?”
He sighs deeply “without doubt.”
“Marriage?”
“If she’ll have me”
“Oh she will, she loves you”
“She does, doesn’t she” and Genny is shocked by the surprise in his voice.
“You’re a pretty great guy”
Their conversation ends quickly as Lucy runs back in to tell Tim it’s probably best he comes to turn the meat as things are getting a little smoky outside.
The rest of the afternoon runs like clockwork, they sit down to eat. Tim asks the boys about school and Lucy picks out their more child friendly adventures to share at the table. The boys practically beg for Lucy to come and throw the ball around with them after the food is cleared away but Genny sends them off. “Uncle Tim and Lucy want to spend some of their day off together boys”
The adults move inside, Genny taking the comfy chair, leaving the couple to the well worn sofa. Tim takes the corner, arm out along the back of the sofa until Lucy folds herself into his side and his arm automatically tucks in around her. Genny gets up to make coffee for herself and Lucy, from the kitchen she watches Tim dip his head and kiss the woman he clearly loves on the forehead. They talk quietly, contentedly. Lucy’s hand touches his chest and Genny turns away. It’s too sweet and innocent and she wants them to have their moment of privacy.
Genny’s guest stay until the end of Lucy’s cup of coffee. Genny offers to have Kujo for the night as thanks for Lucy doing a great job of wearing the boys out and Tim eagerly agrees. As Tim pops to the car to grab some of the dogs supplies Genny takes the opportunity to talk to Lucy alone.
“Thank you so much for having me over” Lucy hugs Genny warmly
“You’re very welcome, don’t wait for that brother of mine to invite you back. You’re welcome here any time. All the Bradford boys love you” and then because she can’t help herself “not just the oldest one” she adds pointedly. Her smiles widens as she watches the colour rise in Lucy’s cheek. “Maybe we could go for lunch?” She asks as Tim walks back through the door with an armful of supplies.
“Only if you bring pictures of teenage Tim!” Lucy playfully jabs him in the ribs
“No” Tim puts both hands on Lucy’s hips and pushes her out the door “it was nice knowing you Genny, sorry it had to end this way” he jokes crossly as Genny blows him a kiss and waves.
She watches them drive off, shuts the door and walks back to her comfy chair. She picks her laptop up off the coffee table and opens the website to her favourite clothes shop, selects dresses and starts browsing “I hope they have a summer wedding” she says to herself as she clicks on a floaty garment “this will be perfect.”
