#lucytim

“Tim,” I stood up and grabbed my coat from the back of my chair. “Come on. You look like you are about to fall over. When you get some sleep you can come back and we can try it all again in the morning.” 

Tim was about to speak, protesting probably, but he stopped himself. “You are right. No use arguing.” 

“Smart man,” I smirked and waited for him to stand up. “You can walk me to my car then.” 

“Sure,” he shrugged on his jacket. “It is past midnight so I wouldn’t want you wandering the streets by yourself.” Tim teased as we walked out the door into an empty precinct. The second shift was already out on the streets so the precinct was like a ghost town. 

“Are you worried about me? I am a qualified police officer,” I glare at him. “I can handle myself just fine.” 

“Oh, I know that,” Tim chuckled. “I am more worried about the other guys.” 

“Oh, you little…” I shove his shoulder playfully, smiling up at Tim’s large frame. 

“I am just saying,” Tim chuckled before we turned into the parking garage. 

“You are the worst,” I shake my head but I can’t help but smile (though I try to hide it as best as I can). Just then I look up to unlock my car when I notice the windows were broken in and dents all over. I rush over, looking over the car. The tires are slashed, the paint is messed up, and there is a letter pinned to the hood of my car. 

“Lucy,” Tim’s hands rest on my shoulder as he looks around for any sign of who did this. But of course, whoever is responsible is long gone at this point. “Lucy, what does the note say?” 

I open the letter and take a deep breath before reading the contents of it out loud. “This is only a warning. The next time it will be your apartment in Wilshire. Heed our words. Stop looking into the case.” 

“Shit,” Tim said, already pulling his phone out. 

“They know where I live,” I repeat to myself in shock. “How do they know that?” 

“Lucy, calm down,” Tim says as he is waiting for the other line to pick up. “Let’s go inside while I call the others. We should make sure no one else got a note like this.” 

“What about your car?” I look around as if expecting to see Tim’s truck in shambles. 

“I park in the Sargent’s lot,” Tim’s hand went to my lower back as he started to guide me towards the exits. “I think we should get inside.” 

Tim makes his phone call as we go back up to our floor. I don’t really listen, as all my worries are mainly focused on my car and the threat to my life. When Tim is finished we head to his office and he closes the door behind us before helping me to his couch. 

“Hey,” Tim’s voice was soft and full of concern. “Care to share your thoughts?” 

“Not really,” I say in all honesty. 

“Lucy,” Tim repeated my name with such a tone that I felt he was scolding me for not speaking. “Come on. Your mind has to be going a hundred miles an hour right now. And you and I both know that keeping that in will just make you spiral.” 

“I just need a moment,” I leaned back into the couch and closed my eyes. Somehow I feel both sleepy and restless at the same time. 

Tim pull a chair to sit in front of me, and we sit in silence for a few minutes as I let my mind run through all the facts. I take one last deep breath before finding the courage to speak. “They knew my apartment. I don’t think it will be safe to go back there.” 

“Agreed,” Tim nods. 

“How they found it out is another thing. I don’t share anything on social media, and the only place that would know my address would be here.” I looked around at the office, trying to find anything to distract me. Of course, Tim’s only decorations were a football and a plant I gave him to spruce up his desk. 

“What are you thinking?” Tim leaned forward to hear more. 

“That you need to decorate more,” I blurt out without thinking before covering my mouth with my sleeve. “I am sorry. That was rude.” 

“It’s alright,” Tim cracks a smile. “I would be more concerned if you didn’t say anything, actually.” 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door, causing both Tim and I to look up and see Nolan and Angela standing outside and Nyla walking forward with cups of coffee. Tim stands up and unlocks the door to welcome everyone while I make room on the couch beside me. 

“Hey,” Nolan’s concern shows. “How are you feeling?” 

“Spooked,” I stand and hug Nolan. “Sorry about calling you so late.” 

“What are you guys even doing here so late,” Angela comes over and takes me into her arms for a hug. “I mean, it is past midnight.” 

“We decided to stick around,” I shrug it off. 

“You are just lucky I wasn’t in bed yet,” Nyla gives me a one-handed hug as the others take their coffee orders out of her hand. “Otherwise I would not be here right now.” 

“I understand,” I nod, knowing that Nyla is being truthful. 

“Where is your car then?” Angela clapped her hands, ready to start her investigation. “Let’s get to work.” 

“Nolan, stay with Lucy,” Tim ordered before turning to walk out of the room. 

“What a minute!” I stood up and rushed to stand in front of Tim. “I don’t need a babysitter. You don’t have to order Nolan to stay with me.” 

“Just explain everything to Nolan. Fill him in and start brainstorming,” Tim tried to play it off like he wasn’t actually trying to get me to stay in his office. 

“I can just tell him while we look at my car,” I stand up straighter, showing Tim that I wasn’t going to take his crap excuses. 

“For crying out loud…” Tim ran his hand through his hair in frustration before looking to the others for help. 

“Hey,” Nolan stepped forward and pulled my arm so I would look at him. “Stay here and let's get everything written down and in the file for the case. We will need this information if we want to build a good case.”

I let out a sigh before standing down. Tim also sighs in relief before turning and giving Nolan and nod of thanks. I glare at Tim as he and the others left, and only when I could no longer see him, did I turn back to Nolan. 

“I will be fine,” I roll my eyes, annoyed and too tired to think straight.

“Don’t fight,” Nolan turned to me in a calming and in friendly tone. “Just let one of us take you home for the night. We can go to your apartment and get your things, but if they know where you live already, they might have a way of getting into your apartment.” 

That sent shivers down my spine. 

“You can stay with me,” Tim offered while he searched through the papers at his desk. “And where is that form you need to sign to get it on file that your personal property was damaged at work. We have to get one of those filled out before we leave.” 

“Already done,” I walked over and handed him the form. “I thought you would want to file it before the morning.” 

“Good,” Tim took it and went to his computer. As he was typing in the information, the others were talking about all the damage done to my car. Though my car wasn’t perfect, after today it was pretty much totaled, which meant I would have to get a new car. 

“What?” Tim said, looking up from his computer as he noticed I was staring off into space. “What is the matter?” 

“Nothing,” I turned back to him. “And there is no need to host me. I will be fine at a hotel.”

“What is the problem? You have stayed at my place before without this much protest.” Tim pointed out the obvious, but I didn’t care. It was still embarrassing to have to ask my old T.O. to host me for the night. 

“I don’t want to intrude,” I take a step back. “Besides, this is sort of my mess. I don’t want to drag you into it.” 

“I was dragged into it the second we took this case,” Tim leaned back in his chair and reached into his front pocket to hand me a few pictures. “I grabbed these while we were searching your car. The forensic team will be here in an hour, so I thought you would want these in case we can’t get your car back for a while.” 

“Thanks,” I smiled, looking down at the photos. I have one of Nolan, Jackson, and I on the first day of being a rookie. Then I have one of my parents and I at a holiday party. And the last was one of Tim and I after a run with Cujo. These are all precious to me. 

“It was nothing,” Tim stood up. “So, let's get home. It's already two in the morning, so you should just come back to my place for the night.” 

“I don’t know…” 

“Lucy,” the way Tim says my name makes my heart skip a beat. 

“Alright,” I nod. 

“Good,” Tim smiles in triumph before turning to the others. “Nightshift is taking over for now and casing the car. There is nothing else we can do, so everyone should go home and get some rest. We have the day off tomorrow, so sleep in if you need and we can meet later in the afternoon.” 

I always liked when Tim takes command like this. He is so strict and knows what he talks about, which turns me on. I know it is wrong to crush on your old T.O. the way that I do, but something about Tim makes me feel safe when I am around him. 

“Sounds good,” Angla nods in agreement with her friend. “Besides, the coffee was not enough to keep me up all night.” 

“Yeah,” Nyla nods. “I feel ready to slump over and sleep a whole day. Who knows how Nolan feels. He missed his nightly nap.” 

“Hey!” Nolan looked offended. “Just because you are tired doesn’t give you the right to hurt me with your words.” 

“Oh, calm down,” Nyla pats Nolan’s shoulder. “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.” 

“Alright everyone,” I step forward before everyone's lack of sleep causes us to get into a fight. “It is time for us to head home.” 

Everyone started to gather their things and Tim locked up his office before we headed down to the parking area. On the ride down from the elevator, Angela leaned over my shoulder and looked at the photos in my hands. 

“Those are nice,” she commented. 

“Thanks,” I smiled and hand her my photos to look at. 

“What do they mean? Any special meaning?” Nyla came into our conversation. 

“They are just important moments in my life and people I care about. I have been meaning to get the group photo from Angela’s wedding printed, but I keep forgetting.” I explain to them. 

“I have a couple extra from my wedding,” Angela says. “I can bring in one if you would like?” 

“I would love that,” I smiled. 

“I will send myself a reminder to bring one in on my next shift.” Angela pats my shoulder. 

The elevator dings and the doors open, letting all of us get out. I say goodbye to everyone before leaving with Tim to his special parking area. Without a word, I climb into Tim’s large truck and he pulls out into the busy street. It wasn’t a long ride to Tim’s house, but my eyelids grew heavy and I didn’t notice until it was too late, but I had fallen asleep. 

“Hey,” Tim’s voice broke through my dreams. “We are at my place, Lucy. Wake up.” Tim’s voice was comforting, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Lucy? Lucy, you have to wake up now. Or else I will have to carry you inside.” 

“No,” I shake my head, but the smile doesn’t fade. “I can walk.” 

“Come on,” Tim said before opening his car door and getting out. A few seconds later my door opens and Tim helps me to unbuckle my seat belt. “Can you walk?” 

“Yeah,” I nod and sit up. “I am fine.” Tim helps me down from his truck and gives me his arm to lean on while we walk to his front door. Once inside Tim let Cujo outside for the bathroom and I head over to his living room and fall onto his couch. 

“What are you doing?” Tim asks as he walks into the room. 

“Going to bed,” I mumbled into the cushions. 

“Not here,” Tim walks over. “You can sleep on the bed tonight.” 

“We already had this conversation,” I rolled my eyes, even though I was only doing it to the couch and Tim couldn’t actually see me. “I am fine sleeping on your couch, and you can sleep on your bed.” 

“You are my guest,” Tim protests. 

“And I don’t want to put you out of your way,” I sit up enough to turn my head towards him. “Now, stop arguing and go to bed. It is three in the morning and if I don’t get some sleep soon I am going to be a zombie.” 

“We wouldn’t want that,” Tim chuckles.