#chenfordweek25

At the start of season 2, Lucy wants to get to know Tim better on a personal level but one of her first attempts is met by a three word answer: Gym. Dinner. Study (which is more than she would have got in season 1, mind you) that tells her pretty much nothing and actually worries her a bit about his lack of personal life. And so the bet is born. Would he take her advice to focus less on work, try some new hobbies, go on a date? Definitely not. Would he tell her about any of it if he did? Probably not. But that's the beauty of the bet: she appealed to his competitive side and suddenly she has an accuse not only to essentially force him to heed the advice she never actually got to give but also to hear all about it and ask/learn more about him in the process. Like a loop hole, or Trojan horse, to get behind some of Tim's walls. It ends up working better than Lucy ever could have imagined because when Tim starts dating Rachel there's suddenly a connection between their personal lives causing them to discuss things they never would have otherwise (e.g. Lucy's ex and ex-BFF getting married) and allowing them more insight into the other as a person rather than just a cop. They're friends by the end of season 2 (as Lucy astutely points out in 2x19) and I don't think that would have happened without the bet.

Then in 4x06 Lucy's excited to be riding with Tim again (even if it is as his go-fer) after not riding with him for x number of months after she made P2. However, when she offers for Tim (and McGrady) to be on her "task force" he declines meaning another entire shift away from him. So the next bet is born and suddenly Lucy has an excuse to be constantly texting him throughout the day, which she does. It also seems like Lucy is looking for an excuse to spend time with Tim outside of work at this point. If she had won, that "something outside of your comfort zone" likely would have been something that couldn't be completed on shift and when they tie Lucy suggests an out of work activity (escape room) as a tie breaker. Unfortunately, Tim is completely oblivious to this and when he calls off the bet at the end of 4x07 she loses her excuse and so they really spent little time outside of work together until they started dating.

In 7x01 it's finally Tim's turn. He's deeply missing Lucy but trying to respect her need for space. Then she becomes a new TO and he wants to help because he knows how hard it can be but she's not interested and it hits him: will she share with him about how it's going with her new Boot? Probably not. Will she come to him if she's struggling and needs help? Seems unlikely. So he makes a bet of his own and suddenly he has an excuse to consistently check in, to know she's doing okay. It also has the bonus of giving him a reason to just be around her and talk to her in general. A safe, neutral topic, another Trojan horse to get behind walls. Again, it works better than he ever could have imagined. Not only is he there when Lucy has so many issues with Seth and is able to support her through her decisions. But she starts to feel safe with him again, open up to him again and ultimately forgive him. I'm sure this would have happened eventually without the bet but I think without that safe topic and excuse she would have been a lot more avoidant and closed off for longer.

That day was not going to go as expected. The weather forecast had predicted a heatwave the day before, and everyone had prepared for it. Lucy knew what to expect after enduring a heatwave and the chaos it unleashed on the streets—it was typical for Los Angeles. But she woke to dark skies and the sound of wind battering the windows. She turned to look at Tim, his bare back facing her, still fast asleep. Lucy wasn’t sure what time he’d gotten home. His hours at Metro varied daily, and she could only help by making his coffee extra strong. She’d helped him get that job, even if he had not known that at that time, but he enjoyed it, even if it was tough on him and their relationship. They barely spent time together now, except at work.

She slipped out of bed as quietly as she could and headed to the kitchen, where she found Tamara, still in pajamas, preparing breakfast. “Hey, you’re not going to school?” Lucy asked, puzzled, knowing Tamara rarely skipped classes. “We got an email half an hour ago. Classes are canceled due to the storm.” Tamara shrugged and continued making one of her favorite ClipTalk recipes: scrambled eggs and Pop Tarts. Three plates sat in front of her, a sign that she knew Tim was home and was cooking for him, too. Lucy thought it was a sweet gesture, but giggled at the memory of Tim waking up to that breakfast before. The first time Tamara had made it, he’d shot Lucy a pleading look, silently begging her to take his food away and spare him. Lucy had laughed and eaten her breakfast; she didn’t want to seem ungrateful for Tamara’s effort. Plus, it had been worth it to watch Tim struggle to finish his plate with a forced smile to avoid hurting Tamara’s feelings. He cared about her probably just as much as Lucy did, even if he did not say it out loud. That same day, Tim had made Lucy promise to tell Tamara never to make it again—a promise Lucy might have conveniently forgotten. Oops.

Her focus shifted from the food to the window when a loud crash—probably a branch slamming against it—snapped her back to the storm mention. It wasn’t good news, and it meant they’d need to head to work early. Who knew what chaos this weather would bring? “You’re not staying here. Get dressed, the station’s safer if this gets worse,” Lucy told Tamara. Before Tamara could protest that she’d be fine at home, Lucy cut her off. “I’m not taking no for an answer. This building isn’t safe in a storm. Get dressed. I’ll wake Tim.”

Tamara rolled her eyes, turned off the stove, and abandoned the food as she headed to her room. Before she entered, she glanced back, yelling with a grin, “Wake up, Tim! Your favorite breakfast is ready!” She laughed, clearly aware Tim hadn’t enjoyed it last time. Little menace. Lucy couldn’t help but laugh before heading to the bedroom, where she found Tim hiding his face under a pillow. “Not the Pop Tarts again,” he mumbled, his voice muffled by the fabric, but Lucy knew exactly what he meant.

A moment later, she climbed onto the bed, straddling Tim and resting her face against his chest briefly. She needed the closeness. His arms wrapped around her waist instantly, pulling her as close as possible. “You’re in luck. We might not have time for breakfast. There’s a storm coming, and it looks bad,” she said, lifting the pillow from his face. His brows furrowed as he registered the howling wind outside. “I take it back. I’d take Pop Tarts over a storm any day,” he sighed, pulling her in for a brief kiss, shorter than he’d have liked. “We need to get dressed. Last night I was following a lead, and storm or no storm, I need to make an arrest.”

He started to get up, forcing Lucy to slide off him. “Take me with you. I’ll be your partner today,” Lucy said, excited to learn who they were arresting. She moved quickly around the room, gathering her clothes while Tim did the same. She loved being part of special operations, even if it wasn’t as a detective. She was determined to use her skills without losing hope about her future..

That is, until Tim said, “No. I’m taking someone from Metro. You shouldn’t patrol today.” Lucy froze, caught off guard. She knew Tim was overprotective of her. He worried too much, and it had sparked arguments before when she mentioned jobs he deemed risky. Still, she wanted him to trust her and believe she could handle herself. “If the weather’s as bad as they say, people will need help. I’m patrolling today, with or without you.” Her tone was firm. She knew her job was to help people, and she’d do it no matter what.

“Do you know how many people get lost in a storm? Have you ever worked through one? No, you haven’t. I have. This isn’t the time to test yourself,” Tim said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to make his point. He just wanted Lucy to be safe.

“When will it be the time, then? Take me with you, and I’ll be safe,” she countered, frustration rising. It was too early for this argument—any time would be too early for it. 

“Lucy, it’s dangerous.”

“It’s as dangerous for you as it is for me—” She saw him open his mouth to argue and cut him off. “And don’t try to convince me otherwise. You’re the one who’s been shot before.” She turned her back, dressing quickly as she ignored Tim’s loud sighs.

After a long silence, Tim finally relented. “Fine. But if I say stay in the shop, you stay there.”

Lucy, finishing her tight hair bun, looked at Tim with a wide smile and stepped closer to kiss his cheek. “I’m not staying in any shop, and you can’t take it back now.”

It was going to be a long day, Tim thought. “Let’s get you through your first storm. Come on, Boot.” Lucy rolled her eyes at the old nickname but let it slide since she’d won their little argument. Lucy 1, Tim 0—at least for now.

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