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starseneyes · 2 years

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Chenford- Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 12

"Death Notice" aka "Bow Chicka Bow Wow"

SPOILER ALERT: If y'all wanna stay un-spoiled. Run. Just run. I say this with all love, but this is not the place to be. I am going to spoil EVERY SINGLE DETAIL that I notice. But, if you want to digest every morsel of deliciousness with me, come on in!

How'd it all shake out? Let's dive in!

Riding in an Elevator

Let's just call out Tim for stopping the elevator for Lucy, and her little breathless, "thanks". These two are adorbs. Also, shoutout to the makeup, hair, and costume departments who put a lot of work into this scene.

And Tim's eyeroll on the "Detectives" line? I was rolling.

Tamara and Lucy

FINALLY getting to see Tamara, again!

"You're here." "I live here. "I went to bed at one and you still weren't home. "Oh, I came home around then. I must've just missed you. Trivia went late." "And how was Trivia?"

Let's be real. The entire point of this conversation is that Tamara wants to let her know that she's onto Lucy. Tamara wants to talk about this new development, considering last she knew of Tim and Lucy was "This is work" when she caught them macking in the living room.

And Tamara is never going to judge Lucy, and will always give her space. But, it's about time the gal came clean with someone.

"You are such a smooth liar. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, all that undercover training." "I'm not lying. "I saw Tim drop you off."

I love the fact that Lucy literally drops the weight she's been carrying. Not only that, she slides around to sit on the couch and dish with her roomie about her new boyfriend.

Lucy crosses from behind the couch that was separating them and sits on it, leaning down to chat with Tamara. The camera moves down with her, the audience settling in with Lucy.

"Thank God. I am so over coming up with cover stories." "Why the big secret? You're both single." "I mean, we're just keeping things under wraps until we figure things out."

There are so many layers and levels here to the why. But this implies that Tim and Lucy don't want to go public until they have a gameplan. And that really makes sense for both their personalities.

I've seen folks ask, "Why is Tim so cool with this secret dating thing?" Do you know how weird it can be when friends start dating and they spend every. freakin. day. around their other friends? Everyone has an opinion.

Tim doesn't mind delaying that a bit longer. Same with Lucy. But, also, this is a huge transition. Even though they're both secure in the knowledge that they want one another, and they have years of history, they have to figure out who they are together.

"We're not sleeping together." "Why not?"

First off, the music cue had me rolling. Oh. My. Goodness. Director, Editor, whoever came up with that idea? Thank you. I had a much needed giggle.

But, also, remember that this is strange behavior for Lucy. Lucy isn't a one-night-stand girl, but she's also not a "dating you but not doing you" girl.

Tamara's gotta be wondering if Tim misfires or something, at this point, because there ain't no other reason she can think of that Lucy hasn't torn those clothes off by now.

And this is part of the maturity of Tim and Lucy's relationship that I love. They don't need to be sleeping together to be fully committed, but they're also not rushing to get to that moment.

"We're taking it slow. We want to do this right." "So, you're not sure how you feel?" "I know exactly how I feel. I mean, this is the most amazing relationship I've been in since, ever."

Oooh, the "r" word returns. Lucy tried to talk to Tim about their relationship on her last day riding with him as a Rookie and the man was not a fan of putting a label on it.

But, it's also important to note that Tim and Lucy have been dating a matter of weeks and she already knows this is the best relationship of her life. Not only the most important. Best.

"Okay. And you're waiting why… again?"

I hear Tamara's point! If y'all are on the same page and completely committed, why aren't clothes flying through our living room? For one, Tamara might want to get a look at Tim's bare chest in Jackson's honor. For two, what's the hold-up, lady?

I've talked a lot about them savoring this relationship. But, I also think Lucy has been using the "taking it slow" idea as an excuse so she doesn't have to think about the roadblock in her way.

Think about it. Lucy couldn't process through whether or not to date Emmett, so she needed to talk it out with Tim. Lucy couldn't process why she didn't want to move in with Chris until she talked it out with Tim.

What Lucy needs to do is talk it out with Tim. But, Tamara's push is taking Lucy in a different direction. It's not a bad direction.

They could have slept together and it wouldn't have wrecked anything. But, I think the security they have at the end of the episode (Yes, I'm skipping a little... go with me, here) is what Lucy needed.

Tim isn't facing the issue of their professional relationship. This whole episode demonstrates that. They need to take care of that power imbalance, because if they don't, then there's no point in any of this.

To truly be together, there were three things that had to go as outlined by Tim in Season 5, Episode 1. "I'm dating Ashley. And Lucy is with Chris. And I'm her Superior Officer, so..."

Tim told us himself what has to go for them to truly be together. And it's that last one that's still in their way, whether they acknowledge it or not.

"Morning." "Morning."

First, I have to say I love to see them greeting one another fully. Back in 5x06, Lucy kept trying to tell Tim "Good morning" and he kept looking past her or trying to avoid it. Because he was trying to avoid her and his feelings for her.

But that particular obstacle is out of the way because Tim knows how she feels about him and Lucy knows how he feels about her.

Now to the part y'all thirsty folks really care about:

Hands. Glorious hands. Wandering, sexual-desire filled HANDS. Lucy holds her keys in both hands so she can release one as she sidles up alongside Tim. Tim taps on her thigh with his fingers, a little, "hey, honey". Then he tries to catch her finger with his pinkie. In broad daylight. In front of the station. Are you insane, Tim Bradford?!

They can't keep their hands to themselves! Y'all, these two are outside a police station where they both work. Before they were dating, they would stand outside with at least enough room for the entire Holy Trinity. Now, they're practically walking on top of each other and "sneaking" in touches.

But nobody's gonna notice? Yeah, right!!

Tim seems to finally remember himself and wipe that gorgeous grin off of his face. But, oy, I love seeing him so happy!

Both of them quickly make fists with their hands after the initial contact, and Tim even presses his hand against his pocket as though checking for his keys.

But it's Tim's smile that I can't stop rewinding and watching. Look. At. Our. Boy. Have we ever seen him so happy? Tim is beaming and all they did was barely brush one another.

Because much as the physical is amazing, it's about simply being close to the person who makes you happiest in the world. Lucy is Tim's person and he gets to touch her and have secret moments with her.

He's no longer pining across the parking lot. He's walking alongside her knowing she is his as he is hers. And, let's be real, this isn't about being possessive. Lucy isn't a purse any more than Tim is a wallet. It's about knowing that this person is your person. And Tim and Lucy are each other's.

And don’t think I didn’t peep the ring. Lucy chose to put that on this morning when she told him it was naked time, just like she did when she came to the station to tell him Chris was out of the way. The streak continues!

Folks... I haven't made it past the first two words of the scene... Y'all know this is gonna be a looooong one. I hope you have snacks!

"Ummm."

Look how Tim is still smiling as he leans his head closer to hear what she's going to say. So cute.

"Tonight is the night."

Tim was not expecting that. I'm not saying that he doesn't want to add that layer to their relationship. I'm simply saying he wasn't expecting her to announce it in the parking lot at work.

"Oh, really?"

Look at that man's quizzical brow. He wants to be sure he understands perfectly, that he's not misunderstanding. Because, come on, he misread things once before and Lucy set him straight. They've been on the same page for a while, now, and he wants to be sure they still are.

Lucy, meanwhile, has already planned out the outfit she's going to wear when he finally undresses her. Come on. You know she has. After the disaster of running late to their first date because she couldn't pick an outfit, Lucy can't be late to her own apartment.

Lucy's got a plan, and she's ready for her man. Wow, Dr. Suess just got a kinky upgrade, and I didn't even intend it! Anyway...

"Yes. Really."

Come-hither Lucy has made her appearance, folks. Yowza!! The Velvet Voice has traded places, and Lucy is already seducing her man... in the parking lot.

And poor Tim can't even see the way she's looking at him... Like he's whip cream and her tongue can't get enough. Like he's a chai latte and she wants to drink every last drop. Like he's... Okay, you get it. Lucy's got it bad for Tim Bradford and I am here for it!

"My place or yours?"

With doubt out of the way, Tim is wasting no time. And I'm proud of him for it! He is so fully committed to this relationship, and so is she, and it really shows in the confidence they both have.

Let's talk about that for a second. Lucy doesn't look to the future with the guys she dates. She doesn't want labels. She doesn't want to meet the parents. She doesn't invest in the relationship because it's never been worth it before.

Tim is the exception. In the past, it was Tim who didn't want to label their "relationship" (partnership... mentorship), but Lucy has always put a label on it. Even when she blurted out her feelings, she labeled it a "relationship". That was while she was still dating her "work in progress".

Because it's different with Tim. She doesn't want to rush into bed because she wants to savor every second of this. I've said it before, but when you know it's your last anything... you savor it a bit more.

Lucy's already half-joking about grandchildren, and thinking about their future together. She has the confidence that this is built to last—and Tim does, too.

We've talked throughout the series about Lucy's issues with second-guessing, but Tim has his own self-esteem issues. He trusts himself as a cop explicitly, but as a man, far less.

That's why he was so cautious coaching Little League, why he minimizes himself and his wants in relationships. He's so afraid of being his father. He doesn't trust who he is outside of the job.

Lucy has helped him find himself, again. She helped him go after his dreams of Sergeant. She prevented him from sacrificing himself to protect Isabelle. She had his back with the false-fender-bender. I could keep going, but I'll stop.

The broken pieces of a man are almost impossible to put together, but like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, there is a way to mend them into something whole and beautiful. Different from what it was before, but no less complete.

Tim helped Lucy find surety in her decisions, sure, but she helped him find confidence in himself. They balance one another so beautifully, and in the light of one another's love, they're blossoming.

Tim is confident in who he is with Lucy. Lucy is confident in who she is with Tim. There's the promise of forever without the discussion. Because it isn't needed. They both knew as soon as they took this risk, it was all or nothing.

And now, they're taking the next step in their relationship, together.

"Jealous dog or nosy roommate?"

Kojo! Oh, Kojo is going to be so happy that his Mommy and Daddy are finally together. That poor pups been sitting there thinking, "When is the blonde lady who tastes gritty going to leave so I can get Mommy back?" Well, baby boy, your Mommy is coming home.

Just not tonight.

"Tamara knows." "What? You told her?" "No. She has eyes. I didn't have to."

Let's be real. Anybody with eyes (not you, Nolan) knows what's going on here. Tim's been smiley. Lucy and he are now glued to the hip out-of-uniform. He's doing an awful lot of "nothing".

"But she is staying at her friend's tonight. So…"

Suddenly Tamara's knowledge about them is a good thing. "I should go," Tamara once said... No worrying about her walking in on them this time.

And, look, I know some people really wanted to see Tamara catching them. But we already got that in S4 and it was hilariously done.

Not everything has to happen on-camera. Not every item on our wish lists will be fulfilled. And that's okay. This isn't the Chenford show (much as my Metas might suggest otherwise).

That's what fanfics are for! And, believe it or not, I wrote quite a bit back in my college days, mostly for Alias.

We are going to see some gooooooood stuff on-screen, even if we don't get everything we want. So, stick around, eh?

Side Note: It sounds like Eric has a cold! They really mean “the show must go on”. I once did a show with a fever of 102. I knew I wasn’t feeling great but had no idea how bad it was until I got off the stage. Performing’s a funny profession!

Grey whisks in, reminding me I'm supposed to be talking about Chenford and not me. Yikes! Let me get my focus back.

Tim and Lucy need that same splash of cold water because they are looking at one another and Lucy's doing that thing where she presses her lips together while thinking about Tim that is doing things to our boy.

"Mm, this is gonna be awkward. " "It doesn't have to be. We've ridden together hundreds of times." "Never as a couple."

Oooh, we've graduated! First it was "we're dating", then we got the "relationship" mention to Tamara, and now we've got the "couple" label. Nice!

Why am I making such a big deal about this? Lucy doesn't do labels. In that past she did, we know, because she mentions her boyfriends never being good enough for her mother. But with her guys in this show? Nope!

She wanted to keep things casual with Nolan and wouldn't leave her stuff at his place. Emmett was not her boyfriend, as she stated many times. Chris was her "work in progress".

Tim is a labels guy. He likes things to have boxes and labels and organization. His house is very put together and uncluttered.

But I feel like he is taking her lead on this. He knows Lucy. She doesn't do labels. But she does with Tim. Because Tim is the one she's been waiting for... she just didn't know it.

"So, are you telling me you're not gonna be thinking about tonight?" "Not at all. Thank you." "Me, neither."

It's like an un-said bet, except she is totally checking out his ass.

Also, Lucy and Tim opening doors for one another. Wow, is that a metaphor for this episode. Lots of opening and closing doors all over the place.

It started with the elevator with Tim making sure it stayed open and letting Lucy go first. Here, Lucy's the one opening the door for Tim.

Their whole relationship is littered with opening and closing doors. And this entire episode (much as the theme seems to be "judgment" and "the choices we make") is about opening and closing doors.

"I could tell Grey that I got food poisoning." "Just to get out of riding with me?" "I mean, I get the day off. We avoid all this weirdness. Wins all around." "You're overthinking this. We leave our personal life at the door, just like always" "Oh, And you can just shut it off?"

Lucy is the one thinking clearly, here. Look, I love Tim. He's my favorite character (Lucy is a very close second), but he's not facing reality. The reality is—something has to change.

And, oh, that is scary for a person who grew up with instability and clings to what is known and safe. The minute he acknowledges this problem, he won't be able to ignore it, and then they have to face it, and then everything has to change.

"At 7:59, I'm your girlfriend. At 8:01, I'm your, what? Your subordinate?

What. Did. You. Just. SAY!?!?! Lucy Chen, who has resisted calling any of the guys we've seen her date a "boyfriend" just self-identified at Tim Bradford's girlfriend.

I'm gonna need a minute, here. Because, OH MY GOSH IT HAPPENED!

I should save that for later, right? Right.

But, nope, I'm losing it. I'm squeeling into a pillow trying not to alert my kids so they run into the room saying, "Mama, Mama!" and then I miss what's next. Because Lucy bad*ass Chen just called herself Tim Bradford's girlfriend.

They've been dating three weeks! Remember Lucy's initial response to why she didn't love Chris when Tim asked. She said they hadn't been together long.

But everything is different with Tim. And it always will be. They were carved from opposite sides of the same stone, destined to reunite when the time was right. Or, we might take Plato's nod and think of the one being split into two, destined to search for their other halves.

"Really?" *models herself* "My duty belt. My taser is on the wrong side. Usually, you'd be all over me for that."

I admit, I didn't notice. Crap. I'm as in love with her as Tim is!

"You did that on purpose? You don't do Tim Tests. I do Tim Tests." "Well, that's 'cause this isn't a Tim Test. It's a Lucy Lesson. And, admit it, you're taking it easy on me. We're not even on duty, yet, and our dynamic has changed."

Damn, Lucy! Holding him accountable!! But I love Tim blowing air out as she said, "Lucy Lesson". He's so exasperated with his woman.

Lucy taps his arm, and I must applaud her restraint. It's definitely a "on-duty Lucy" touch in that her hand is open and barely connects with his arm. But, she's trying to check him.

"Get in the car." "It's called a Shop."

Much as I hate the point, she's absolutely right. Tim and Lucy on-duty dynamic together has changed. And it has to.

"You haven't noticed?" "What? That you're carrying your coffee in your gun hand? Of course, I did. I just haven't said anything because these Lucy Lessons are pointless." "You really don't think you're treating me differently?"

First off, Lucy's touch lingers, this time. Much as she's telling Tim that their dynamic has changed (and he does need to acknowledge it), she's demonstrating it accidentally as much as on-purpose.

Also, remember Tim barking at Lucy for holding her radio in her gun hand in front of Emmett? And how Lucy was angry at Emmett for making an issue of it, because Tim was technically the in the right?

That's where my brain goes, immediately. He rarely goes soft on her, and she always notices. But now Tim Bradford is f*cking mush around his lady.

Tim wants so badly for this not be an issue. It reminds me of him at the restaurant trying not to react to the two men arguing, hoping that it would go away. If he doesn't acknowledge it, it doesn't have to be faced... but this has to be faced.

"You're not a Rookie. You want to change up your duty belt, carry your coffee in your right hand, it's up to you. You know. This isn't about us. I'd give Thornsen the same leeway."

*cough* BULLSHIT *cough*

"This is robbery. Wait a minute, you had your gun! This is armed robbery." "I'm sure your earrings will come up. We will call you when we have them." "I want a receipt" "We don't issue receipts. Look, it's all in the report. If you want to file a complaint, you can do so at the front desk on your way out." "I didn't take the earrings." "I know."

Tim will never accuse you of stealing, but this is a big deal. And Lucy knows it. Tim knows it, too, but he wants to do whatever he can to save her.

FAST FORWARD: And, let's be clear, after exhausting every avenue, he was going to do it... to report her. But he was going to try everything in his power, first.

"God, I've been so focused on us. Did I screw up?"

Damn. This hits hard. Poor Lucy always does her best to do it by the book, the way Tim taught her. Where did the earrings go? Tim doesn't want to acknowledge it, but you can see how soft his eyes go, immediately. He's worried for her. He's not thinking about the earrings—he's thinking about Lucy.

FAST FORWARD: And, yes, I've seen the whole episode, now, so I know. But... I like to write these as though it's the first time. And the first time, I should have seen that Lucy Lesson coming.

I mean, it was so beautifully set up with Tamara commenting on Lucy's ability to lie so smoothly, and then with the string of Lucy Lessons. I should have seen it coming, but I admit I expected the worst and didn't.

I truly expect ships I love to go through horrible pain and be destroyed. I'm learning to trust The Rookie more as the show goes on, but I have a lot of harnessed distrust there to dislodge.

"We'll keep checking until we find them." "Wait, wait, okay. Look. You need to file a memorandum with the chief. It's protocol. I get it." "We're not there, yet."

Tim is avoiding. He's trying to hard to not have to face it. And Lucy's the one being practical, here. She can see that Tim is treating her differently and she knows it can't be that way.

He doesn't want to face it. He once felt responsible for pushing her towards a serial killer. We saw how unhinged he was, and they were nowhere near this level in their relationship, now. If he is the one to write her up and it tanks her career... He'd blame himself.

"Well, how long can it wait?" "I have discretion with things like this. We find the earrings no paperwork necessary." "But if we don't you need to report me to IA." "Maybe janitorial swept them up."

Lucy can see what Tim is clearly (yes, I used their word) missing, here. But she's trying to let him get their on his own. Talking to him about it was getting nowhere, so she changed tactics.

And I love how this is shot. It's giving me major CSI Grissom/Sara vibes. Flashlights and searching while dealing with tension and romance? Yeah, I've got a type.

But, seriously, there's such simplicity in the matching over-the-shoulder shots of them, on opposite sides of this issue, but still very much in line with one another. I love the symbolism, intentional or not.

"We canceled our date." "What happened?" "Well, Tim and I rode together today and it really drove home all of the problems with dating your boss." "It did seem tricky, but I didn't want to say anything. Does that mean you guys are breaking up?" "No."

No hesitation from Lucy. Look, I love Tamara (and her relationship with Lucy is one of my absolute favorites on the show). But, Tamara's view of relationships is filtered through her own experience.

Come on, all of us filter how we see Tim and Lucy through our own experiences, for better or worse. But those once-in-a-lifetime relationships are different. They change how you see your future because for the first time there is a future with that other person.

Tamara hasn't experienced that herself, yet, and based on what she's seen with Lucy, none of her other guys really stuck.

Tamara's known about this relationship one day, so she doesn't know all the details or struggles Tim and Lucy had getting to this point. There's no going back for Tim and Lucy. It isn't even a consideration.

"We'll figure out how to make it work. " "Great. How?"

This is tricky. This is tough. Tim and Lucy have to figure this out, and do it now. There's no more time to put it off, to pretend it's not an issue, to ignore what they know to be true.

Tim puts the people he loves ahead of everything because they are so few and far between.

He didn't want to coach Little League for two seconds, because just being on that field in that position risked him becoming his father.

We all know that risk is near impossible, but Tim doesn't. As a child of abuse, he's haunted by what he's survived and terrified of becoming it.

He will do whatever he needs to for Lucy... but that doesn't make it right. With Isabelle, he was about to go over that line if not for Lucy. We know he's capable.

And, to be fair to Tim, when there was no other recourse, he was willing to do what was right in this case. He hated it, but he was going to do it. Because he is still the man he was... thanks to Lucy.

"Lucy! Your boyfriend's here."

I love Tim's face on "boyfriend". This is likely the first time he's heard himself called Lucy's boyfriend, and it just makes me giggle every time I see it.

Tim has his hands in his pockets, much as he did the last time he stood outside this door, urging her to go to UC school as she feared he was pushing her away.

"Did she tell you I figured it out on my own? I'd make a great detective." "I have no doubt."

Such an interesting quirk to hear Tim echo those words in that doorway, again. Last time it was to Chris about Lucy's level of care. This time, it's about Tamara.

So, I have to believe that on some level, he means it. And that could be a very interesting turn of events if they ever wanted to take Tamara down the path of becoming "the rookie" since they try to have someone in a "rookie" position each season.

"Hey, I thought we canceled." "Uh, we didn't." "Oh."

Now that Lucy doesn't have to hide from Tamara, she goes in for the hug. And I love the way Tim's head ends up in the crook of her arm. It reminds me of the hug from Breakdown in Season 4.

It's like he's nestling into her. Because, it takes effort for him to bend down to that level. I'm always fascinated watching tall/smol ships and how they handle that.

Tim and Lucy have history to draw from, but I look back at The X Files and I giggle thinking about the "Gilly boxes" they had Gillian Anderson stand on to get them framed well in the same shot. I have wondered a time or two if they'd used them for Chenford. No lie!

But I love how... relaxed Lucy is in front of Tamara knowing that she doesn't have to hide Tim, anymore.

But this is a serious discussion, and they need Tamara to skidaddle. "Go on, kiddo. Mom and Dad need to talk."

"You have to report it, now." "I know." "And if it was Aaron, you would have reported him already." "I know. But it's not Aaron. It's you." "And you can't be objective when it comes to me, right?"

Look at Tim's sad face and the shake of his head. But this is where Lucy needed him to go. He needed to see that he is going to treat her differently, and that's not going to work.

"And now endeth the Lucy lesson." *giggle* "The what?" *giggles*

I love this, "What" Because Eric Winter puts so much into it that I am cackling with laughter.

"The earrings were never missing?" "Nope! I set them aside and I gave them back to Sergio after work." "That's evil. And impressive. And evil."

GIRLFRIEND! I am so proud of you. It's like a productive prank. Yes, she manipulated him, but much like some of the Tim Tests, it was what he needed. Tim helped Lucy become a better cop. She's helping him become a better boyfriend.

Because in this case, what he needs to do is be honest with himself. He can't be objective where she's concerned.

"I know, but you weren't facing the problem." "Okay, well now I am. So what do we do?"

These two are absolutely working together. I stan a couple who communicates. Because he slides that "we" in there so fast. Lucy and Tim are learning how to really communicate and work through issues as a couple, and I love seeing that on my screen.

When my husband and I first married, I came from a family where screaming and name-calling was the norm. He came from a family where conflict was ignored because it was "unpleasant". It took forever for us to learn how to have a productive discussion when we were on opposite sides of an issue.

One of the simple pleasures of The Rookie's track record with ships is getting to watch our favorite couples work together. Jyla and Wopez paved the way for Chenford, in that respect.

"We only have two real options." "Break up or one of us leaves Mid-Wilshire."

First off, I love how they never even entertain the option of breaking up. Because that isn't an option for them. Yes, it technically exists as an option, but it's not one Tim and Lucy will ever consider.

They're in this and neither one is giving up on it. No second guessing. No doubt. Tim and Lucy are completely sure about one another and secure in their relationship.

"It should be me." "No. No, you love it here." "No, I do. But there isn't an open Sergeant supervisor job anywhere else in the division. I checked. Which means you would have to take a demotion and that's not happening."

I love that she talked about it. And that she'd already researched other Sergeant positions. That's our girl! Sorry... Tim's girl.

But right this second, I can see the wheels turning in Tim's mind. Lucy is basing her assumption on what she's seen of him in the past.

She knew before Rachel did that he wasn't leaving LA. She didn't know about Ashley trying to pressure him into retiring, but anyone who knows Tim knows he loves patrol.

Different as this is for Lucy, I don't know if she yet realizes how different it is for him.

"Lucy-" "No, it'll be fine. Rookies leave their first station after making P2 all the time." "That's true." "So, this is the best move, right?" "Maybe, but we don't need to decide right now."

Lucy is ready to commit to this decision, and I love it for her and for Tim. Because Lucy is choosing Tim. Forget her friends, her commute, and her comraderie. In this moment, Lucy has chosen Tim. And what other woman in his life has ever done that?

It's a hard, hard decision either way, but they both are on the same page... something has to give.

And someone better do something, because there's footage all over these cameras of an Officer and Sergeant in love. Like, that could be a problem, too, if they don't get on top of it.

Tim and Lucy's Silent Approach

This is their first time in a dangerous situation together as a couple. Tim's trying to keep it straight, and so is Lucy. They have innocents to protect. This isn't earrings. This is human life.

And Tim and Lucy get the job done.

But was it harder because of their relationship? That's the question, here. Lucy already proved that Tim can't be objective because of her, but now they're looking at the other angle—what if that hadn't happened so perfectly?

"Nice work today." "You, too. It's not a bad way to end our partnership, saving a family."

First off, Tim has really embraced complimenting Lucy. Second, Lucy has fully embraced that they are no longer going to be in the same chain of command after today.

Look at her picking the lint off of his shirt, which was a classic relationship test in the series New Girl. And then she's touching him and

"Yeah, although we're still not partners. I mean, on the job, anyway."

Look at her tapping his arm in a very gentle hit. Because, now they are partners. And her adorable smile that coaxes out his loving one. Oh, these two!

"It's going to be so weird going to a different station knowing I'm not gonna to see you all day." "Yeah. And there's no guarantee that our shifts will sync up." "I hadn't thought of that. Wait. Wait, wait. So by doing the right thing, we're going to see each other a lot less?" "Most likely." "No." "Yeah."

Gosh, this is hard for them. Melissa O'Neil broke my heart with how Lucy delivered, "I hadn't thought of that". Because Lucy is often the one who has thought of everything.

But this is an area Tim knows better, and now that they're facing this reality, it kinda sucks. But note how Lucy doesn't change course. Because, much as it sucks, they both know it's the right thing to do so they can stay together.

"I'm going to put in my transfer request in the morning."

This is heart-breaking. Lucy goes to pull the bags out of the Shop, like she always does, but Tim grabs ahold of the one closest to him, waving for her to give him the other. He's carrying her burdens. And look at the way she smiles at him.

They hate that the status quo is going to have to change for them to be together. But they will be together. And that's worth it.

Meanwhile I'm screaming at the screen, "Swoop in and resign first so she can stay!"

"Got a minute." "Sure."

Well, that was fast! Tim closes the door behind him and takes a seat. He didn't even wait to get into plainclothes to have this discussion because he wants to be sure he gets there before Lucy does.

And, it's so easy to say, "Oh, there's Tim Bradford giving more, again." But he really isn't. He's giving exactly what Lucy was willing to give for him. Only this scenario is actually better for them even if it's worse for him.

Because Tim finally has a partner who gives and takes, who will hold his hand through the heartache, and call him on his bullshit, and be the one to hold him when he deals with the rolling emotions of his father finally passing. Tim finally has the love of his life. And that's worth all of this.

"I've been keeping something from you. Lucy and I started dating a few weeks ago." "I suspected as much."

No surprises here. We've always said that Grey was onto these two. But, I think he was waiting for them to come to him since it wasn't impacting anything, yet, from what he could tell.

"Sir, we wouldn't've lied, but we needed time to figure out how we felt."

Which means we've missed some scenes. Look, I know I was the first person to say that we're not going to get to see everything (and y'all fic writers are on it, I'm sure). But I don't think they needed time to figure out how they felt so much as they wanted to make sure the other was fully on the same page.

After half a season of miscommunication, Tim and Lucy are trying to get on the same page at every step. Lucy's "Lucy Lessons" illustrate that they have a ways to go, but also that she knows how to get through to Tim when needed. They've got this.

"And since we're having this talk, I assume it's serious." "It is, but for it to be appropriate, I need to move out of her chain of command."

First off, "it is." That's it. That's all Tim has to say because he has full confidence in Lucy's love. Have we ever seen him so sure? Have we ever seen him so secure in love that he will shift the course of his entire career? Of course not.

Lucy is his sun. She is "the one" that Grey once said starting over would be worth it for.

And Grey doesn't question that it only took a few weeks of dating for Tim and Lucy to get to that conclusion. He's watched them battle against one another and together. He's seen the dance as they wrestled with what they felt, and he wasn't oblivious when dancing around one another shifted into dancing together.

This isn't a "You're marrying a man you just met" scenario. Tim and Lucy have known one another in so many ways. The typical timelines and steps don't apply. Yes, Tim and Lucy are taking their time, but that's never been for lack of assurance in one another's commitment to this relationship.

And now Tim is doing what he needs to to protect that relationship... to put them first. Not Lucy first, as Tim too often has done in his relationships, minimizing himself. He's putting them first.

Grey doesn't love helping Tim with this because he knows he's losing a great Supervising Sergeant who can hold down the fort when he goes on trips to visit his daughter at University. This is going to create a giant hole in the Chain of Command.

But Grey's going to help Tim, anyway. Because, this is a man of integrity—a man who walked into this office to come clean without prodding, who wants to do the right thing, who has finally finally found love after all his heartache and loss.

Who wouldn't want to help a man like that?

"Okay. Unfortunately, there's only one position open that'll do that." "I'll take it." "It's not a great job." "Doesn't matter. I'll take it."

TIM BRADFORD. See this is what we love about Tim. When he's all-in, he's all-in. Before, it was the job. Now, it's Lucy.

He is walking away from the job he loves to get out of her chain of command and keep her from having to leave. This is such an incredible demonstration of love, and despite the Chenford scene following this one, this is the scene that has me in a choke hold.

Tim doesn't ask for a pay scale. He doesn't ask for a job description. Hell, he doesn't even know what the job is. He sees that it meets what he needs to maintain his and Lucy's integrity and not be separated from the woman he loves. That's it. That's what matters.

Some things matter more.

No, he didn't utter the line. But, he's saying it with his actions. By making this sacrifice, he's showing her that a job will never be more important than her. That his love of patrol is great, but his love of Lucy is greater.

Because, at the end of the day, he doesn't want to see Lucy only on alternating Tuesdays and bank holidays. He wants them to have time together so they can continue to build this relationship. He wants them to build a life together. And that takes time.

So, to give them the time... he takes a step back. Because this is true love, damnit.

"So, I've been thinking, Hollywood division would be kind of ideal."

I love Lucy cooking for her man. Because next time it's Tim's turn. This is something neither of them will ever do out of duty or expectation, but because they both enjoy cooking, and this is an expression of love.

Lucy has a whole meal planned out for Tim. There's salad bowls, an open bottle of wine, plates and placemats.

Second, Lucy's about to give me a Wings-style heart attack with how many candles she's lit (the place burned to the ground while the couple hooked up... it's the only episode of that show I remember).

We knew from end of Season 4 that she likes to light candles like my Dad when he was tipsy during a hurricane (so. many. candles), but last time they weren't actually considering naked time.

"Well, it's not necessary. I talked to Grey, And you're looking at the new Court Liaison Sergeant." "But that's a desk job." "Yeah. Out of your chain of command. "You'll be bored out of your mind."

First off, Lucy knows Tim well enough to know he'd never be satisfied in a desk job. She didn't even consider this job when she looked up available jobs. But he took it without looking at the job description. Because some things matter more.

"That doesn't matter. Look, you and I'll get to see each other every day. And you won't have to travel to some, I don't know, far away station where they'll make you work the midnight shift because you're the newbie."

He has a sound argument. My husband and I worked opposite schedules the first year and a half of our marriage. I worked nights and he worked days. It was awful. Building a marriage when you never seen one another is a struggle I wish upon none.

And at this angle, I FINALLY get to confirm that Tim is wearing a shirt that snaps open and closed. It's not even a button-up. He went for snaps. This man came prepared. Talk about understanding the assignment!

"Tim-" "It's done. Okay. No sense in arguing about it."

This is such a husband move. Like, we all know she was willing to be the one to go, but he jumped in first, and it means they get more time together. "Wins all around", right Lucy?

And Tim and Lucy could argue about it (because they are "worth the effort"), but it's unnecessary. What's done is done.

"But we're so good at arguing."

Lucy, now you are reminding me of the couple with the golf clubs. The horny side, I mean, not the property-destruction side. Because, YOWZA, you knew what you were doing leaning over and kissing him like that, leaving enough room for him to stand up and come to you.

Yes, I know there are pieces of tape on the floor showing them where to stand. Shhhh! I'm in Chenfordland, right now, and I'm going to give Lucy full credit for that move.

Tim slips in his "I know" before kissing her, again, practically murmuring it against her lips.

"I know. But I'm hoping that we're good at certain other things, as well."

Welp. THAT happened. I mean, how the heck am I supposed to get through this scene without taking apart every move of the hand, of the lip, of the eye, of the BELT!? Oy vey, y'all, strap in (heh), because this is gonna take a bit.

First off, Lucy's kiss when he was sitting was definitely a come-hither kiss. She's got her arms wrapped around his shoulders for balance, but also to put a little weight on him. I mean, for all we know she likes it on top, right?

As they stand up, she's already got her hands on his shirt, on his chest. She's telegraphing interest as Tim's right hand takes a trail up her thigh to her waist.

And. Look. At. His. SMILE! Tim Bradford just walked away from patrol to take a desk job, but it's all worth it because he's looking into the eyes of his love, and she's staring back at him. And now they're both ready for this next step.

Tim is glowing in the light of her love. I once likened Lucy to the sun and Tim to a star. Now, technically, a sun is a star, right? And some solar systems have more than one sun. Lucy and Tim are each other's light. Neither has ever felt this secure in a relationship. This alive.

Rachel wanted Tim to move. He didn't. Ashley wanted Tim to retire. He didn't. Chris wanted Lucy to move in. She didn't.

Three weeks in and they're both ready to walk away from the job they love for the other? In the words of How I Met Your Mother, "That's love, bitch."

"Want to find out right now?" "Yeah."

Tim's "yeah" is barely above a whisper, but it's there. I wasn't certain it would be subtitled, but I'm so glad they did!

And I love that they are both on the same page. There's no doubt or confusion about what's about to happen. Lucy invited Tim to cross another threshold with her, and he breathed that sweet "Yeah" that's peppered their conversations since they became a couple.

"Yeah" when she said she wanted to get dinner sometime. "Yeah" when acknowledging they would do the right thing but never see each other. His soft little "Yeah"s are multi-purpose.

But that breathless one just now? Oh, that takes the cake, folks!

Lucy wastes no time with Tim's shirt. Her hands were on his snaps before his mouth met hers. No wasting time, here. She starts with one snap at a time, but at the end it's like popcorn, tearing that shirt open because it is in her way.

And her little sounds as she's undressing him? Girlfriend is gone. (and I can say that, now, because I'm never going to get over Lucy Chen being Tim's girlfriend)

C'mon. When she was wiring him to go undercover as the Hit man she was totally scoping those pecs. And let's not forget Rachel's house where all the man was wearing was a towel. Lucy's seen things. Now she wants to fully appreciate them.

There's a difference between admiring artwork from afar and really getting your hands into the clay on the wheel. Lucy's done looking. It's time to get hands-on.

Tim's left hand goes for her face, but he feels the last button give. She pushes the shirt over his shoulders, and as he pulls the sleeves off, completely, Lucy is all eyes on her man.

And what I love about this is that as Lucy is appreciating every inch of Tim's chest, her hands tracing the V toward his pelvis, his eyes are watching her, drinking her in. Seeing her turned on is turning him on all the more.

Her eyes meet his, and she smiles the most serenely sexy smile. This is everything she ever wanted in a relationship, and tonight is everything she ever wanted in a last "first time".

The second he shakes that shirt lose, his lips are back on hers. Her right hand winds around his back, her other on his face. He has both hands on her face, directing each kiss with the surety Lucy once dreamt.

Tim loves to touch Lucy's face. Like the airplane bathroom and the kiss at the food truck. But this kiss is different. Instead of sweet, this is starving.

Tim is starved from his want of Lucy. Forget the dinner Lucy was making... Tonight Tim and Lucy feast on one another.

Lucy got the engine started, but Tim's the one driving, now. And like her dream of him, she's all the more turned on by him taking the lead.

He's firm, but not aggressive, as he kisses her, drinking in every taste of her mouth like it's his first drink of water after days without. Lucy is the only thing to sate his thirst.

Her hand traces his back before both hands land on his belt. She's pulling him as much as he's pushing her toward the bedroom. They walk in step together, like the hottest four-legged, sandwich-style race. Lucy giggles as they go.

Because sexy as this is, it's also still them. Tim and Lucy are enjoying themselves. And we've learned through the course of this relationship, thus far, that comes with some giggles from Lucy.

No doubt, she's built this up in her mind. They both have. But here in this moment, they aren't second-guessing or wondering. Tim's not standing before her, waiting to see if she's interested. Lucy's not thinking about the past and letting it still her.

In this moment, they are both living, breathing, and craving right now.

Tomorrow, there'll be the jobs, and the logistics, and all the other things to worry about. But in this moment, Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen are carefree save the love they carry for one another.

Every kiss is punctuated by desire fueled by love. There's echos of every other kiss they've shared—but these kisses are like breathing. In this moment, Tim and Lucy are one another's oxygen tanks, and the only way to exchange breath is to share it.

They could bee-line right to the bedroom, but Tim can't help himself. He doesn't want to wait to feel himself pressed fully against her—every curve of her body responding to his.

His right hand reaches for the door frame, so when he pushes Lucy back against it, she doesn't hit her head. In fact, his left hand is cradling her head, so it's his hand that meets his hand.

But she feels every muscle, every part of Tim pressing against her, wanting her, aching for her. With every touch of his bare skin against her skin, his taste on her lips, and his pelvis pressed against hers, her desire grows.

Her left hand winds to his neck, as though she could pull him even closer, somehow merging every part of them before they've even made it to the next layer of clothing discarded.

Tim shifts so his left hand is around her waist as she backs into her bedroom, Tim practically on top of her, not wanting to separate an inch now that he's finally here. He can feel her responding to him, and like her lips, he's growing addicted to that feeling.

Tim pushes the door most of the way closed as Lucy giggles, completely free in the wonder of his love. Locks of Lucy's hair catch the frosted glass as the door slams shut—Lucy no doubt with her back against that door (and possibly lifted up by Tim, judging on the placement of her hair in that window).

Tim Bradford once more forgetting the bed behind him because they're going to break it anyway.

Seriously. I fully expect "Lucy needs a new bed" to be a plot point. Just to see her scrolling options on her phone would be enough for me! That bed is not ready for the action it's gonna see tonight.

I have to say, I love that we can hear the scene. The music isn't overpowering this moment, and for someone like me whose ears hear everything, but can't separate if sounds are too close in decibel or pitch, that made the scene.

Back when they kissed in the airplane bathroom, we could hear the sounds of their lips. But this scene was so much sexier with all of Lucy's hums and gentle moans into his mouth. The music volume was perfect to add to the moment without distracting from it.

Fan Fic Writers... go do your thing!

And to Eric Winter, golly, I hope he wasn't too sick. Listening to how much of a voice he has in each scene and gauging shooting scheduled based on how weak it was was amusing. But, seriously, the job of an actor can be killer. Any job in the industry that involves being on-set, really.

My mom is a hair and makeup artist. She worked on a series in Wilmington in the late 90's where one of the lead actresses and she both had the flu. Didn't matter. They both had to work through. Mom has this photo of the two of them passed out on a couch together between scenes. It makes her smile, now, but it reminds me of how hard it can be.

We think about the glitz and glamor. And while that does exist, the hours alone can be a huge deterrent for any sane person. Creating art takes time, patience, and a crew of folks who sacrifice so much of their personal lives to make it happen.

If it's a good crew, it can become like family. If it's a complicated one, it can be incredibly trying to get through 18+ hour days stuck together, short turnarounds, and Fraturday schedules.

Also, I hope poor Melissa O'Neil didn't get sick from Eric Winter because of this scene. Because, golly, it's a weird job, right? I once did a shoot where I had to make-out with two separate men I'd never met before on the same day (no, it wasn't a porno). Like, you're really getting paid to do this. It's so weird.

Back to the show... There's a line in this episode that Wesley says to Angela that really sticks out for me... kind of the mantra of all the ships of The Rookie "It's not ideal, but we can handle it."

Romance in real life is messy. Too often, I see television shows go one of two ways... full on soap opera or train wreck. There are very few shows I trust with ships, even in hindsight.

The Rookie shows these very real people dealing with very real issues. Kids keeping you on a schedule that prevents you from getting any sleep. Having more kids. Shared calendars. New love and job schedules. All of that is so relatable, and it's so nice to see a show that is committed to showing people work through.

It's a detail that I really appreciate as a real person with real issues.

Anyway, if any of y'all are still alive, I want to thank you for reading. I have so much fun writing these, and the fact that people read and comment and enjoy them still blows me away. Thank you.

See you on the next!"

#Chenford #Lucy Chen #Tim Bradford #Melissa O'Neil #Eric Winter #Lucy x Tim #Tim x Lucy #The Rookie #Meta

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theawkwardanglophile · 6 months

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Hi Tara! I hope you're having a good weekend!

What's been your favorite moments of S6, and what are your hopes for S7?

Thank you so much for the ask, Becca! ☺️

Right now I'm still living in the hospital scene from 6x04. That scene left me so emotional and was so beautifully done.

I looooove the Chenford dance in 6x02 as well. I'm thrilled we got ILYs from them early in the season because I think that really laid the foundation for whatever is coming the rest of the season for them. And the ILYs were wonderful, however, I really hate that Tim's ILY got accidentally spoiled for us. It would've packed such a bigger punch had we not known it was coming. But I'm still so happy we got it.

I also loved the 17st place adorableness!

As for S7, my biggest hope is that we GET one. 🤞 Come on, renewal! After that, I hope they continue to do bigger story arcs like they're doing this season, giving plots and scenes a chance to breathe a little. I know it's their style to pack so much in, but sometimes it feels like whiplash keeping up with everything in an episode!

In addition:

Chenford proposal/moving in together. As much as I love Lucy's apartment, I think it's time for Tim and Lucy to find a new place together. Logistically, they can build a new set for them, and either Tamara can move in, too, or just visit on occasion.

KOJO-where are you, boy? Bring him back! The fact that we've seen ASHLEY interact with Kojo more recently than LUCY doesn't sit well with me.

Give Baby Girl Evers a name!

I REALLY want to see some more group scenes where they are hanging out together off duty, and if we get a full 22 eps, I feel there's more chance to do that. It doesn't have to be action all the time. Let this group have some fun! They've earned it.

More Genny! And it would be interesting to bring Lucy's parents back at some point, too.

I need a scene or two of Tim and Lucy in bed, either going to sleep or waking up, just cuddling together. PLEASE. And maybe a couple of passionate moments? Look, Wopez got to have their hot make-out sesh in the storage room. Can't Chenford have a moment in Tim's office?? I also want to see Tim come up behind Lucy at home and wrap his arms around her waist.

Lucy's career to have some kind of progression. I think we'll get some of that by the end of S6, but I want her to be able to explore some different avenues and find something that she truly loves and is good at, hopefully putting this whole UC trajectory behind her, which seems to be where they're headed.

Tim to call Lucy by a term of endearment/nickname. I'm still hoping for "baby".

#my asks #asked and answered #i love this fandom #chenford #the rookie #the rookie season 6 #the rookie season 7

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thesassywitchofthenortheast · 1 year

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A HC thats currently making me giggle:

Lucy and Tamara drag Tim to the Eras tour (idk if they’re fans but for the sake of this hc they are okay? Okay.)

The dress up, maybe not as extra as some swifties but they do. Lucy puts Tim in a shirt that says “Heartbreak Prince”

They teach him the chants. He hates it

He continuously questions why he’s being dragged to the concert when they can just go together

Lucy just says “cause I want to go with you, too.”

Angela teases him endlessly, “if you just learned to say no to Lucy this wouldn’t be a problem”

Tim huffs. Cause she’s right but he literally can’t do that. Say no to Lucy? When she asks him with that smile and eyes? Never happening. He just needs to accept his fate.

When the day comes and they arrive at SoFi, he grumbles “Never thought I’d be here for anything other than a Rams game.”

Lucy looks at him with a smirk “Yeah well, you also never thought you’d be dating and in love with your former rookie, but here we are.”

Tamara laughs

He tries to he grumpy but seeing how excited and happy Lucy and Tamara are is making it hard

He takes a bunch of pictures for them

A tiny human comes up to him before the show, asks if he wants to trade friendship bracelets. He looks at Lucy who hands him one to trade. He gets down to tiny human’s level and trades bracelets. Lucy practically melts at the interaction

They talk with some officers they know who are there doing security or whatever you call it

When they get to their seats, Tim is adamant that if the, his, girls need anything — food, drinks, merch — he’ll go get it so they don’t have to miss anything.

That earns him a kiss from Lucy

And an eye roll from the puppy

The concert starts, and he watches Lucy the entire time. His heart hurting in that really good Lucy way as he watches how happy she is.

And then rolls his eyes when Taylor comes out and actually starts singing Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince — because now he understands his shirt.

Cruel Summer starts and Tim definitely does not scream the bridge like Lucy and Tamara, but he doesn’t not sing along either… but he’ll never confirm that.

Tamara takes a really cute candid of Chenford during Lover, their arms around each other and her singing softly.

By the end of the Evermore section, Tim is most definitely not having a good time. Nope he’s totally not enjoying himself lol

Idk what the surprise songs would be, but his does laugh at Lucy’s reaction

And again when she covers his eyes during Vigilante Shit.

He whispers to her “you can always do a performance like that for me later.”

Tamara fake gags

Lucy blushes

Come the end, aka Karma, he’s full on dancing with Lucy

He’s back to his grumpy self when they hit the seemingly never ending traffic to leave the stadium.

And the realization that all the glitter than in Lucy and Tamara’s hair is now all over his trunk

But he doesn’t really mind because they’re both happy and had a great time and it’s worth it

And when Angela asks Lucy the next day how it was, she smirks at Tim who just looks at his gf with the biggest heart eyes as she recounts their night

And then when he rolls his eyes and tries to deny he had a good time because she knows he did — but will never admit it.

Years later, when he and Lucy have a daughter, he takes them both to another concert but this time he’s a full swiftie dad and isn’t afraid to show it

#chenford #the rookie #I was thinking about this last night while watching a livestream lol

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violasghost · 4 months

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Random thoughts about Rookie S6 Finale (6X10)

I admit I went into this finale with low expectations due to how the rest of the season has panned out and I'm kind of happy I did. I didn't hate it but it wasn't one of the best Rookie finale's Ive seen either.

First with the Nolan/Bailey baby story line--Why are they forcing this so hard? Nolan and Bailey cant even find time to have a full conversation uninterrupted about bringing a child into their life. If they cant even find time to talk about it, are they going to have time to raise a kid? Just think this is a story line that should have been dropped. It sucks valuable time away from more interesting plots and its really unnecessary. If anyone should have been discussing having kids (pre-breakup at least) it should have been Chenford.

And speaking of Chenford. I did enjoy the Chenford action scene and Lucy saving Tim from being stabbed. It was probably the highlight of the episode as far as action, character growth, and making progress on the police side of things.

I don't really understand the whole Monica/Blair plot. I'm sorry but Blair really seems like a naive simpleton to me. Did she not think that there would not be consequences to recording LAPD patients and blackmailing them? Did she really think Monica (a crooked lawyer) was going to protect her from the LAPD and FBI? Kind of disappointed in Blair to be honest.

The multiple villains this season has also been really confusing. I don't feel like Monica can represent the 'Big Bad' like Rosalyn or even Elijah. Shes a power hungry lawyer who wants money and has probably killed a couple people, but in the context of other big bad's--she's pretty weak. I was hoping they would bring Elijah back as the one who wanted Monica dead since that story line would make more sense with the last scene of him ending with Oscar meeting him in prison, and having plenty of time to plot his revenge.

Bringing me to the cliffhanger at the end. With Bailey's ex breaking out of prison. Haven't we seen this story line before? This is unpopular opinion (and I have no ill will against Jenna Dewan), but I honestly think the best move they could make to return to the action/suspense heyday of S1-S5, would be to kill Bailey. Her character is dead weight. Lately the only time she has been showcased was to basically portray her as Nolan's perfect little wife who has no flaws, and allows him to swoop in as her prince charming every episode, etc. Her death would be really interesting story arc for Nolan, and would allow him to put more focus on his cop-life.

I do also agree with others who are saying that Nolan needs to face some consequences to his actions. Him going rogue in Argentina and disobeying direct orders from the FBI, should be reprimanded. Also he hasn't really been present in his role as TO either. How many episodes has Nolan actually rode with Celina as her TO? 50% of this season. Think he is due for an evaluation.

And then there was the Chenford elevator scene. I also think this scene was over-hyped. Although I'm happy that Tim said what he did, I was hoping to hear something from Lucy. Girl still hasn't gotten her adult conversation yet. Hoping this will still happen in S7. The reason it didn't have me squeeing was due to the body language. One episode before they were holding on for dear life to each other in that very same elevator, and this time Lucy was as far away from Tim as she could get. I know realistically it will likely take time for them to find their way back together, but it just kind of felt a little one step forward two steps back to me.

The silver lining, no major characters died. And they didn't destroy any more relationships. So there's that.

Okay so after writing all that out I realize my take on the finale may be a little critical. I'm hoping to have some more time to reflect over the summer and read other points of view. Its going to be a long wait but I suppose we survived S6, so at least next season after the long wait, instead of a half season, there will be a full season of episodes to better flesh out story lines and character motives.

What did you think?

#the rookie #chenford #tim bradford #lucy chen #lucy x tim #tim and lucy #tucy

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lucyyygg · 6 months

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Hi. I just want to somehow make catharsis about the whole Chenford break up going on and listen other takes on it.

Maybe Im just a girl going through Mercury Retrograde being delulu not wanting to aknowledge they are over. Having said that:

I just know this is not the end for them. But not for plot reasons that we are all speculating. I mean sure for plot reasons is necesary for Tim to get his shit together before taking the next step with Lucy (Eric said in his interview that Tim loves her and its seen in the lie detector scene and all the Tamara moving out storyline that has been going since last season they are sure heading to moving together). Also sure Lucy has suffered many things and is interesting to see her next steps.

But I just know this is for marketing reasons. They need the show to be renewed for another season and a massive cliffhanger like this one when there's a 3 weeks break between episodes where they know people will be engaged on it is a good way on getting that renewal.

They know people still watching the show because Chenford. They have stated they are endgame. But they are producers and writers and plan things ahead in order to keep the show going. Is just trust the process and the fact that they work on this and know what they are doing. I have seen many shows (most of them from ABC) to know they give the fans what they want bc in the end is a product that is sold and know that not doing something your target audience wants equals not product to be sold.

Also, even though Melissa and Eric had said that there are some things coming on Tim and Lucy on the season finale and blah blah blah. They are putting a lot of effort on the breakup promotionally speaking. The interviews released the second the episode finished, the TikToks from Melissa, the whole ice cream promo with letters to the cast about the breakup and they laughing and making jokes (also like the ig account still saying Chenford stan account) is more clear is about making the people engaged and furthermore, making the network renew the show for season 7. They are actors and know they must keep a good relationship with their fans (I mean if you make something that upset your fans then how would you keep getting called to act if you dont have people watching them for you and other actors can), what Im saying Is they are laughing and all of this because they know how it ends and know they end in a place where fans will love it, if not they are basically bullyng us lol.

So long story short: just keeping my peace of mind knowing it is just marketing. By the interviews we know somehow the season finale lets them in a good place, so if season 7 comes maybe we got time to see them making up with more time and development (things this season had been rushed bc the strike, not only here but in most shows) and if there's not season 7 it will end up with Chenford with a sort of an open finale where all points to them giving it another chance in their inmidate future.

Hope i made myself clear. Just wanted to vent haha. And lets chill and cross fingers for season 7 and an Oscar for Melissa and Eric because that break up was so CHEFF KISS like girlll I have felt that pain too.

Hi! So glad to have you vent in my inbox lol!

I know that this isn't forever and I can see why they did it. I hope more people can also think about that as they calm down and as the rest of the season plays out. I'm seeing a lot of negative opinions right now and everyone is entitled to how they feel but the writers aren't dumb, they know what they're doing.

Something like this happening near the end of the season will bring attention to it and hook people in, since they'll wanna watch to see it resolved. Even though that's not gonna happen til season 7 unfortunately.

Also a lot of people criticizing the writers need to realize that the show isn't for them specifically lol. Not targeting anyone but these are commonly used tropes in tv for a reason, they aren't a personal attack. I can think of 10 ships off the top of my head that this happened to. It's a common thing, getting into a relationship that has been anticipated for so long but life gets in the way, so you need to work it out individually, then together happens a lot. And pretty much all of them come out stronger on the other side.

I'm crossing my fingers for season 7! I'm not really worried about cancelation since its rating are pretty good and it's a big streaming hit, but anything can happen unfortunately. Still, I think we're safe lol.

I still haven't rewatched the breakup scene in full because it HURTS. They both killed it but Melissa's face and inflection on her voice makes me wanna curl up and die its so heart wrenching 😭😭.

Thanks for your ask lol I love big, long rants (that sounds sarcastic but I promise it's not)

#the rookie #the rookie spoilers #chenford #ask

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burningblake · 2 years

Note

Chenford + Lucy wanting to take things slow

"You know, suggesting that we adopt your protégé does not exactly fall in line with 'taking things slow'," he points out.

Lucy shakes her head, not being able to help the constant smile on her face. Is this what being in love feels like? Smiling like an idiot all the time? She feels like she has swallowed a hot mess of balloons.

"This is different," she argues, nudging him softly on his arm. "Tamara deserves to have parents. And she likes you." She takes a sip from her wine, holding steady eye contact with him.

They are at her apartment again, sitting on her couch in a candlelit, wine-soaked atmosphere. It's impossible not to flash back to that first time he was here, the first time they ever kissed. She feels like everything that happened since then was right in its moment, their romance has been the stuff of movies. And she worries that if they rush any part of it, it might lose some of its perfection. But that doesn't stop her from dreaming about their future together now and then.

It is, of course, all teasing for now. She knows that she and Tim can't officially adopt Tamara, unless they—well, unless they are married. And that's indeed the cross-opposite of pacing their relationship. But perhaps it is the fact that Lucy never had a sense of belonging with her family, perhaps it is the fact that she knows how deeply Tim wishes he was a dad by now, even though he doesn't show it, something about the idea of Tamara being officially their daughter fills her heart with joy.

And then there are other reasons she can't seem to be able to pace herself, despite being the one to set the boundaries in the first place. Currently one of those reasons is his slightly undone shirt revealing a few inches of his bare chest, paired up with his day's stubble. She looks up into his eyes and realizes she's been staring. He chuckles with amusement.

She nudges him with her shoulder. "Don't get cocky."

"Just a little bit," he teases.

"Well," she slowly puts down her wine glass and gets on her feet, "I can't help that you're a very handsome boy," she says, before she leans down to kiss him.

The moment their lips lock, his hands rise to her waist. His breath accelerates and she's quickly drawn into him, opening her mouth to let his taste in. Just a kiss, she tells herself. But the next moment she's sitting on his lap, his hands traveling all up her back and into her hair, her mind completely blank about how far she intends to go with him tonight. Certainly far.

But then the door opens. Speak of the devil.

They both draw apart and turn to face Tamara, who's frozen in shock.

The girl lifts her hand before they can utter a word. "I know, practice," she says, looking embarrassed, before she retreats to her room. After a second, she pops her head out her door. "Could you please practice in your room, though? Cause, I mean, my eyes.."

She disappears again and they both chuckle quietly.

"I guess we just traumatized our future daughter," Tim comments.

Lucy's laugh increases. "Shut up," she chokes. But her heart is glowing in her chest. Perhaps they need to pace this up after all.

#thanks for the prompt #sorry that this is small #this is something that just popped up in my head from seeing the new promo #which i am pretty sure tamara is going to interrupt lol so she was in my mind #the rookie #chenford #chenford fanfic #replies

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lucihens · 6 months

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Hi. I just want to somehow make catharsis about the whole Chenford break up going on and listen other takes on it.

Maybe Im just a girl going through Mercury Retrograde being delulu not wanting to aknowledge they are over. Having said that:

hello dear anon! thank you for being my very first ask!

i hope you won't regret venting to me because this response ended up....well...extensive. i have many many things to say and a lack of adhd medication to contain them.

i would also like to note that i'm not at all experienced with writing think pieces on the internet. but even though i haven't written an essay since college, i can sure yap. and even though i'm a genius /s, this may not make sense to anyone. so here's what my chronic fatigue and i were able to conjure up:

yes, tv shows are primarily for an audience, whether writers and directors do accept that or not, that's what i'm guessing producers have in mind. tv is literally built 'for your viewing pleasure', and with this show in the past, and by past i mean season 5 especially (and the shock and surprise of 4x22), they (whoever they is) have been manically hitting that red button titled 'DO THE THING THEY WANT' just so they can say they did it and you as an audience can't complain. so yes in my experience, shows very often, if not always, write for an audience, otherwise the creators would just be giggling at themselves in their own private screening room at their custom, personalised tv show made only for them. when you give a show to the masses, it is, in certain ways, their's now. so going against everything an audience wants is certainly an interesting move, and since i have a common disease called 'being absolutely befuddled by the varying degrees of human nature' i don't know particularly what their aim is, what they're hoping this will provide an audience, as well as the show as a whole. what i do know however, is that there is not just one kind of audience, within the watchers of the rookie, there is obviously an abundance of angst lovers, an array of fluff lovers, complex think piece people, and apathetic 'this is what i fill the void of a tuesday night with' people (which is potentially what makes up a good portion of the viewers (?), not just the dedicated fandom we see on social media). with this in mind, the creators, the writers, are evidently incapable of satisfying every single diverse/contradictory demographic. so it's unclear which demographic they want to make happy at a given storyline. is this to give the angst lovers what they want? is this to give the comfortable fluff lovers a kick in the rear? or is this just to keep the average viewer interested in this ever-appealing show? i can't speak for them at all so i couldn't say which, but i also haven't a scooby doo. maybe others could give their opinion on which of these they think the creators are aiming for, because i couldnt tell you. then again, maybe it's all of them. maybe we let the rest of the season play out to completion, and we may know for sure. but marketing a show goes hand in hand with keeping the general audience as well as potential new viewers: 1. happy and excited, 2. interested in investing their time into the show. and given that season 6 is a short season: yes, i'm sure the marketing the break up is one of their best bets at keeping ratings up and viewers in, whether it comes directly from outrage or intrigue. and given how some other storylines seem to fall kind of flat (wink wink nol–), especially compared to last season, the initial lucy storylines and the now tim storylines are what is keeping up the hype for such a small season. and i'm sure (hoping) the other characters will have something to add to the s6 plate to further the impact of such a small season and the plots within. but for the most part 'chenford' is such an electric word. drop it in anywhere and the millions(?) who have ever laid eyes on the show just got a shock. and they know that, so of course they'll use it to their advantage in anyway they can.

and with this rambling: one thing i'm sure of, the only thing i'm sure of, is that yes: THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. and not just a slight admiration or a tinge of care. actual undying love. incomprehensible love. i don't know a lot about this topic but i definitely love to aggrandise the concept of love, and especially unto something harmless like fictional characters. in the real world, loving someone isn't always enough for sure. but not loving someone at all can also having no bearing in the upkeep of a relationship (i know this from personal experience). so whether or not two people end up together in real life, has no distinguished rule of 'do this and feel that and you'll be together forever'.

but this is fiction! WE make this stuff up. so we can do whatever we want! we can link A to B and say these characters love each other so they must end up together, and still be flawed along the way, because they are not real. so in my opinion the various ideas like "real relationships have people breaking up", "real relationships have people never getting back together", "real relationships have people never breaking up", and to follow, the incessant "real relationships have good communication!" don't matter anyway because ideas based reality have absolutely no impact in this fictional realm. yes bring in realism, be realistic if you want, but don't let reality dictate your fiction entirely (as well as the inverse). nor should you let reality make you want your fiction to be completely unreal. both fiction and reality have complexity in personality and characterisation. people have personalities and characters have characterisation. the one commonality is imperfection. but just because they are similar doesn't mean they have to be the same. it doesn't mean chenford are realistically doomed. and with this the plot that may unfold could be one unexpected, one unreal, or one completely real. tim and lucy could work through their own storylines, flaws and complexities separately and i'd be glad to see it.

i had a lot of issues with how fan service esque the initial 'canonisation' felt and maybe this is not just to market their show, but to finally listen to the majority of the audience, the particular audience that literally helps them market the show. aka the social media citizens. the ones who talk up a storm about what they love about the show and literally rope others into watching it. maybe they'll finally write them with more specific intentions this time, maybe this is what this is for. not just for drama but to give us what we wanted to watch in the first place but heavily missed out on: pining, feelings, dramatic reconciliation. who knows. we won't. not until the season is over and s7 inevitably comes (it's guaranteed).

i know many become angry with this show about what it does and doesn't do but one thing that helps me survive is this: it doesn't matter, the episodes exist anyway. they will continue to exist even if they don't have what we want. all we can do is feel every feeling this show evokes because that's really what it is to be entertained, at least for me. we're not the creators at the end of the day, no matter how much we've created. if something happens we don't like, we don't like it and we talk about how we don't like it. if we do like it, we talk about how we like it. and we praise the actors anyway, for the characters they bless us with. and the creatives, who gave us the masterpiece that is season 2.

and with that, i conclude. this definitely got away from me like the runaway train in my adhd brain. i wrote this sleepy and fatigued and i think i might be brain dead so if there are contradictions or things that make not a bit of sense feel free to call me out on it! especially those who are more experienced yappers, i'd definitely like to know what you disagree with or think has no place in this piece.

anyway, fin. thank you anon and TLDR; chenford will be fine and the show will always favour exploiting the most loved characters for marketing but with every PR box of ice cream sent and every article written brings in one more viewer to our beloved show and at least we'd stand a chance of a season 10.

#ask #you are watching mental illness #i could never in my life keep the word count to 500 words #you're getting 1000 #i don't even know if this makes sense to anyone #but it's where my own logic and the little guy in my brain takes me #i may be stupid #finally posting my views on the internet is terrifying #be nice please #i'm just a silly little guy #she/her though

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ceknight · 2 years

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Finally finished the last-minute gift shopping for my nieces (it's Chinese New Year tomorrow so early "Happy New Year!" to you~), now I have time to write down some of my thoughts for the last episode.

First I have to say it again that badass Lucy is the BEST! She totally got me there! Up until the "thus endeth the Lucy Lesson" line I honestly thought she did lose the earring and I was thinking: It's not the relationship that's distracting you honey it’s the constant need to make a cover-up story! Though we enjoy the secret-relationship era but maybe it's time you guys come clean? And then BANG surprise surprise, well-played girl, well-played.

This episode just confirmed again why chenford is perfect together, we all know that Lucy solve her problems by talking them out loud and analyze them, and then Tim is the one to listen (with fake eye rolls), either offer his own opinions or prevent Lucy from over-analyzing things, and also just try to calm her down. Tim is the opposite, he try to bury the problems deep inside and hope it will go away , sometimes( like he was hurt because Ashley broke up with him AFTER HE JUST WENT THROUGH A MAJOR SURGERY) it will go away quite quick, sometimes it will just came blast in his face(like with Isobel before he found her pass-out and realize she's not having an affair) , Lucy is the one to push him to face the problems, make efforts to solve them proactively instead of hiding behind a "everything's all right or sort of" façade. They know each other so well that Lucy never take offence in his fake eye roll attitude and in this episode, we see Tim is not the least bit annoyed with Lucy even though he's spent a whole day worrying himself sick, and it turns out to be a test, because he understand why she's doing it. This kind of trust and understanding is a beautiful thing to see.

I saw a comment on twitter that accusing Lucy of once again "putting her job in the background" and acting immature and I'll say this is absolute bullshit. One thing I'm always admiring for both Lucy and Tim is that they take their jobs as cops seriously, that's why they want to "do things right". What if Lucy's taser is on the wrong side? Its just a small matter; what if Lucy indeed lost the earing and Tim didn't report her? Lucy as hell didn't steal it so it’s a small matter. But with this job, you don't know what will come next, they still worked together perfectly in the hostage situation but what if one of them hesitated a second because they got distracted worrying about the other? We'll never know. By "experimenting" in a controlled environment (thus the Lucy Lesson) they both acknowledge that they can't keep working that way because it will endanger the job, a job that will affect the lives of themselves and other people's. It's not "putting her job in the background", only by acknowledging a potential risk can the risk be avoided, the Lucy Lesson is the exact opposite of "immature".

Since we are talking about how serious they take their job, I would like to address the "Chris" problem. To be fair, since Chris is not a major character and hasn't appear that much, we can only have a vague idea of his character through the bits and pieces. Put my chenford-shipping mind aside, on the appearance, Chris and Lucy seem compatible, they are both young, good-looking people just entering a new occupation and want to make a name of their own, and presumably they are from the similar cultural background (we know Lucy speaks Cantonese and based on the actor, Chris is likely from a family with Asian roots). HOWEVER, the first entering of Chris we saw him quickly put felon tag on a minor, it's not "wrong", but this indicate his heart might not be in the same place as Lucy's . Lucy found her calling in this job because it allows her to help other people, in the "checklist" episode we saw that she won't try to forward her career citing the poor woman for the false plates, even though she's doing this under the rules of the law, and for Tim it’s the same (remember his approving smile?) Can you imagine Chris making the same decision in that scenario? 'cause I can't. Tim and Lucy both care about the people they serve and protect. I'm not saying Chris is not a good guy ,but he seems more like Del Monte (who used to overcharge) in that regard, he might care, but based on the bits and pieces, he might just doesn't care as much. As Aaron said, he's nowhere near Lucy's level (So not a cinnamon roll, WESLEY is a cinnamon roll). AND, I'll bet good money that Lucy's mother will approve Chris over Tim, so obviously Chris can't be the one.

But that doesn't mean chenford is in no fault dealing with their previous relationships. Tim was left of the hook easily, Ashely broke up with him so there's no consequence from Ashely. Chris is a different story, and since Tim is now a COURT liason(I know the team is trying to help him get a new position but I doubt it will happen that quick), he is likely to encounter with Chris, it will be interesting to see what happens next.

#chenford #lucy chen #tim bradford #the rookie

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isca-tide · 1 month

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6x10 aka I can go back to my life once I finish this episode and stop thinking about Chenford and Lucy and this show every 5 minutes, right? Right?! These hitpeople are really lucky no-one was looking out their window right then. Nolan and Bailey's habit of sitting on a chair and watching the other sleep is pretty creepy, I have to admit. There's nothing wrong with a tender loving sleep vigil when the other person is in hospital or sick and nothing sweeter than watching your partner sleep while you're cosied up in bed together. Or catching yourself gazing lovingly at their sleeping form while you're doing other things. But...sitting there is...yeah. You do you, Bailan. Whatever makes you happy. Blair, shut the fuck up you whiny little piece of shit. Ahem. Sorry. Is letting Blair out of their sight really a good idea?

Okay so I know the board changes through the shots, but they really couldn't have put Lucy's name on there? I know it's probably more related to cops who may have had contact with Blair or been on or involved with failed calls, but you really couldn't put Lucy on there? I will believe that Aaron was about to write her name when he got interrupted. Or that Lucy is so above and beyond reproach that they didn't even need to put her on the no list. I mean, there's a lot more officers who aren't in any of the columns but still. Come on. Also Nickerson you're still on my shit list for the betting pool. Smitty is too but ya know, Smitty. Where is my feral Tim worried about Lucy being potentially exposed with Monica and Blair both in the running and in connection with Bautista? Gimme them fics. He knows she's capable but surely last episode at least. Or just fretting to Angela and Nyla? C'mon. Give me a crumb. Charlie, just accidentally pretend to look the other way when someone tries to kill Monica. Please. Also why do I keep typing Monico instead of Monica. It's getting tiresome to retype. So the only solution is for Monica to disappear. Ugh, c'mon Oscar. I liked you but you're bringing more Bailan BS back into our lives? I mean, it's better than Monica I guess. I can deal with that. And again, I really don't hate Bailan as a couple or individually. Blair, shut up. Stop whining, yes it is your fault. Okay also yes, sorry actress playing the hitwoman, but that Irish accent is awful. Why would you want her using an accent that isn't hers? It's not vital to the story, is it? God these kids are so well behaved. Charlie, c'mon. You're better than this. Lucy coming in the save the day. Oh my god Tim's eyes. Aaron and Lopez at the helm of their favourite ship and sighting calmer waters. Aaagh. Charlie yes! Good girl. God I wish I could pull off a pixie cut like that. Nyla immediately cosying up under a blankie. I still love you, you're just minus some points, that's all. Oh, my heart. Look at them back in a car together again. They can't help but open up to each other when they're in a shop at work. Even if it's not an actual shop. It's so natural to them, being like this. Side by side. No matter what happens between them, this is their safe space. They're a perfect team when they've got a job to do. They can joke, they can smile. She even hits him a little off camera. You can hear it and see him jostle slightly in response. Those tactile little teasing moments. Ahhhhh. Lucy casually catching one of the hitmen and then swooping by to save her man. God she's amazing. I adore this chase scene so much. And not just because Lucy is a fucking badass. Okay, mainly because she's a fucking badass. The second she spots Tim in trouble there is no hesitation. She knows what she has to do and she is not going to fail. I hope that look in Angela's eyes is utter starstruck awe at how badass Lucy is. And though she doesn't get any recognition about what she did from anyone except Tim, I hope we get some mentions of it in S7. Just a little 'oh hey, didn't she jump out of a moving truck onto another, choke a hitman out and rescue another officer?' Also, it's insanely unfair how fucking gorgeous she looks in this entire scene. This scene really does slap though. The music and how it's shot. Perfect. Oh my god the looks between them. Lucy standing up there like a fucking boss. Tim can't help but keep looking back up to her, injured and exhausted as he is. She just lept in, fucking soared over, and choked out that guy to save his life. I'm sad we lose out people going nuts over how epic that was so we can get this scene but it is what it is. Where's the fanfic of everyone praising Lucy for her badassery, please and thank you? This is the last we'll see of Blair and Monica, right? Please? Please say yes. Pretty please? Nah, sorry fam, she's not Irish.

Nolan, Blair is a piece of work. Stop being so stupid. God, if they save Blair and she ends up back in the show I will do so peeved. She better be left in jail and never seen again I swear to god. Monica can go disappear and never return too. Please. Poor Aaron. Sweetie. Blair you're going to be the reason he leaves us in universe and I will never forgive you for that. I mean everything else you've done is awful too but yeah. Sincerely, never reappear. Oh the lift/elevator. Is this the new parking lot for scenes with them? What can I say about this scene that hasn't already been said? Their faces. Their eyes. His softest voice. I literally can't with these two. And I know for some people a love confession would've been perfect. I mean I wouldn't have said no to a 'I'm sorry, I love you and I always will' but this was good too. He knows he can't just leave her and then waltz back. He knows he has to go slowly and carefully. It has to be her choice this time. But god we better get some good adult conversations between them in S7. Lucy deserves a chance to talk to him about everything properly. I want to see the small doses but I also want to see the mature adult talks. I want to see them heal separately and together. I want to see them get all the good things that were taken away from them this season. I need to see Lucy being appreciated and recognised and respected. By Tim and by everyone else. It's the least she's owed. Give her her dues, give her some stripes, give her everything she's earned and worked for. I don't hate the idea of Oscar and Jason being the new S7 problem. Just make sure it involves everyone else and not just Bailan, okay? We've never actually seen Tim and Lucy interact with Oscar, right? Could be interesting. I did have a wild fic idea a while back that Jason would pay some guys to kidnap Bailey but Lucy ends up borrowing Bailey/John's car that day and gets taken instead. Short brunette, easy mistake. And then, ya know, we'd get feral Tim AND badass Lucy saving herself. Think about it.

Weird to be finish though. All caught up. I'm a little relieved honestly, I was dreading catching up to S6. It's weird knowing everything that happens for the most part, watching all the Lucy and Chenford scenes in advance, and then going through it episode by episode. It has been nice being able to ramble my thoughts out somewhere. I haven't hated it but it'll be kind of nice being in a fandom again as the episodes come out each week. Well, depending on the episodes. I guess we'll see. I may reappear for some fic prompts or even some half-baked awful attempts at fics if the mood strikes, but otherwise I'll mostly be reblogging gifs until January and maybe occasionally crying into the void. Now excuse me while I go rewatch DOD forever because that episode is just perfection.

#isca rambles #isca prompts #also why does tumblr randomly decide not to let you post sometimes?#sometimes I remove one word and it'll work #othertimes I have to go through and test which sentences it'll allow which it won't #and sometimes like now I just clicked backspace and it saved again #c'mon tumblr #do i get my life back now #i'm free right?#i can do stuff #my brain will let me?#riiiight?!

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sunjaesol · 3 years

Text

to build a home with you

chenford | drabble | post-canon | written on the commute | title: to build a home // the cinematic orchestra

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"Luce... what are you doing?"

His girlfriend looks away from cleansing their living room, not even fazed by his dubious tone and expression. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"After that guy broke in—"

"Asshole."

"—it disrupted the peace of our space," she explains.

An amused smile quirks up his lips. "You sound like your mom."

"Uh, that's not a compliment, Tim."

"I know," he quips. "Look, babe, it's just sage."

She stands her ground. "What if it makes me feel safe?"

"That's great..." Meeting her in the middle, he gently grabs her shoulders. "But I don't want you to rely on superstition."

Reflexively, her arms curl around his neck with a smirk she adopted from him, one that looked awfully good on her. "I'm sorry, officer Bradford, but... who always wears their 'lucky' socks to a football game?"

His eyes narrow, once stern yet now playful, and pulls her closer. The sage really hits his nose from this proximity, but his focus solely stays on Lucy. The nauseating memory of finding her buried alive, of having to hand over control to Nyla because he wouldn't understand, to then later realise she had terrible nightmares and couldn't date anyone without an otherwise thorough background check. Which, according to her, sucked the romance and intrigue out of a date.

Lucy Chen has many quirks and sometimes he needs to remind himself that a handful of those aren't by choice. Sage it is, then.

"Okay," he utters, kissing her forehead in lieu of surrendering. "You're amazing, if I haven't told you that recently."

She grins. "I know. Why now?"

"Someone broke in two days ago and you're..." Struggling to make sense, forever the half of the relationship that needed to dig for words, he presses his forehead against hers instead. "And you're really brave."

"Tim..."

"I don't know how else to put it, but it's true," he says, matter-of-fact, and cups her cheeks so she won't bashfully look away — though he must admit that's what made his heart start skipping beats in the shop, seeing her face light up like that. "And you know it."

Her smile widens and pecks him on the lips, chaste, and he almost chases after her when she continues cleansing the apartment. Tim moved in soon after they started dating. His house had long lost his luster and joy after everything with Isabelle and his suffocating loneliness, that he needed a change of scenery regardless of Lucy. It was hell of a convenient timing though.

Lucy and him needed to feel what it's like to live together. Staying over for a couple days is one thing, but seeing the dirty laundry, smelling the farts and catching one another in a bad moment? — whole other ballgame.

"Oh, and also—" Her head pops from behind the bathroom door, mischief clear in her shimmering eyes. "—what're you going to do with that ring in your pants drawer? Has it been there a while, or...?"

"Detective exam isn't for another year, Chen," he smoothly replies, hopelessly trying to keep his voice levelled. His girlfriend may be seven years younger, but she sure isn't less observant because of it.

Her brows raise, unimpressed. "You're making me wait a year?"

Tim smirks, "I can make you wait however long I want, babe."

"Not really. I'm thirty-one. But sure, Tim, maybe I'll just cleanse the romance out of the opal then." The humor wipes from her face to show a tender gaze, her body leaning against the threshold as she takes him in.

He stares right back, drinking her in like he's done since the first day, though different circumstances, and quietly wonders how in the hell this amazing woman chose him.

Playing along, he grabs the sage from her grasp and throws it in the sink, wanting her full attention. He knows what she means with thirty-one, a biological clock he'll never fully comprehend but Angela made him quite privy of during her pregnancy of Jackson. He knows she wants to be married first before she gets pregnant. He knows it all.

Placing kisses on her lips, cheek and ear, he whispers, "If I proposed to you tomorrow, would you say yes?"

"Depends," she mumbles, feigning casualty when he can feel her accelarating heart, "if you mean it. If you actually want to propose. If it's not a Tim-test."

"You're a P3," he chuckles. "Is this a Lucy-test?"

She kisses him, long and languid, and he figures that yes, he could propose to her tomorrow. He won't, still needing to buy groceries for her favourite meal and making sure everyone's up for drinks on Saturday, but he could. He could drop on one knee right now and be so sure, more sure than anything in his life.

Whispering against her lips, he goes, "I love you, Luce. I love you." And then, bolder, "And I love whatever we make... together."

Her eyes shine with ardent love, face burrowed in his chest as he presses his nose in her hair.

"I dream of a girl," she quietly admits.

His heart stutters in place, holding her tighter to him. A game of House people their age liked playing, fantasising about children and school districts and book clubs. He normally rolls his eyes at that behaviour, but now he loves participating. Because it's Lucy. Because he wants all of that with her.

"Hm?"

"She has your eyes and my hair and she doesn't like psych or policework at all. She's her own... little person."

"I want her to have your eyes," he counters.

She looks up. "What if it's a boy?"

"Same answer."

"What if it's twins?"

He smirks. "Then we give one away."

Gently swatting his arm, Lucy retracts herself from the embrace and plucks the dwindling sage from the sink, shooting him a look that reads: don't mess with me anymore until I'm done.

So he lets her — but not before he scoops her up and kisses the taste of soon on her lips, breath and bloodstream. Soon, he'll propose. Soon, they'll marry. Soon, a little human will waggle around the place.

They'll have everything they ever dreamed of.

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@alphinias @chenfordsource @tim-lucy @jjskiaras

#chenford #legit wrote this in one flow so idk how good this is #the rookie fanfiction #the rookie #otp: save me a dance

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centralperkchenford · 1 year

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Chenford + truth or dare 🤔

Chenford ❤️ I've always been attracted to you Luce!

Once again I combined two prompts. I felt like I could fit it into this one!

And my waves meet your shore ever and evermore

“Truth or dare.” Lucy asked Tim one day. They were on the couch, Lucy’s head on Tim’s chest. Tim looked down at her with an amused expression on his face.

“What?”

“Truth or dare.” She repeated. “Choose one.”

“What are we seventh grade girls?” He asked a little exasperated.

“You sure are acting like one.” She said rolling her eyes. “Just choose one Tim.”

He sighed heavily running his fingers through her hair. “You are such a menace.” She reached out to pinch him and he yelped in pain.

“Definitely a seventh grade girl now Bradford.” She said laughing the expression on his face.

“Fine. Truth.” He said and he felt Lucy adjust herself so she was looking directly at him.

“Really? I took you more as a dare kind of guy.”

“Yes. Really. Now are you going to ask me something or not?” He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wasn’t a dare kind of guy but maybe that was because he never played truth or dare.

Lucy laid back down on his lap and he continued running his fingers through her hair. She sighed happily at the feeling of his fingers in her hair. He loved running his fingers through her hair, it was so soft and silky. He couldn’t believe how domestic he had gotten since getting together with Lucy. If someone told him this is where he would be five years ago, he would have laughed in their face.

“Do you think we would be together right now if Chris hadn’t been such a dick that day?”

Tim’s fingers stilled in her hair and he looked down at her. He guessed they were asking the hard questions right away.

“I-I don’t know Luce. I don’t think I would have known you were unhappy.”

“Do you think I would have figured it out on my own?”

Tim sighed. He wasn’t sure if he would have been brave enough. All he wanted was for Lucy to be happy, if Chris hadn’t kept calling about houses. If Tim hadn’t seen how unhappy Lucy was he never would have made his move. He would have thought she was still happy with Chris.

“I would hope so baby. You weren’t happy.” He said gently.

“I stayed because it was safe.” She said quietly.

“Lucy…” he said trailing off. She sat up again and looked at him and smiled but it didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Your turn.” She said. He raised his eyebrows at her. He thought this would have been over after his answers.

“Seriously?”

“Yes.” She said simply. “Ask me.”

He sighed a little resigned. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.” She said quickly. And despite his protest of this game he had a question at the ready.

“Did you kiss me in the airplane bathroom because you wanted to make it look realistic or because you wanted to kiss me again?”

Lucy sat up turning to face Tim fully and tucking her legs beneath her. He watched her face as she thought about it, no doubt replaying it in her mind.

He replayed it in his mind every single day until they got together. They way she grabbed him and put her soft lips on him kissing him harder and rougher than she had in her apartment. It felt more desperate to him. It felt like once she had kissed him she couldn’t get enough. Of course that could of been wishful thinking on his part.

“It was part because we needed to make it look realistic and part because I wanted to. It was mostly that I wanted to. I—” she paused and then continued frowning at him slightly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just didn’t know how you felt Lucy. I was all up in my feelings.”

Lucy nodded slightly. “I was confused too Tim. I never thought you would actually want to talk about it but then you did. And to be honest that confused me even more.

He knew it took them awhile to get where they were today but he was so glad they did it right.

“Truth or dare.” She said again. She scooted closer to him, throwing a leg over his leg and laying her head on his chest. Tim grumbled something incoherent and Lucy laughed.

“Truth.” He said finally after a few minutes of silence.

“Were you going to wash me out when I was a rookie?” She asked not looking at him. Tim sighed. He drummed his fingers on her thighs. He knew was an ass back in the day, he had dug himself in a deep dark hole. Isabel had disappeared, all his scars from his father. He was a version of himself that he hated. And Lucy had come in the middle of A sunshine in the midst of his dark clouds. He found Lucy annoying at first and he tried to push her away but somehow she wormed her way into his heart and put her hooks in. After Caleb had kidnapped Lucy and he had almost lost her he never wanted to let her go.

“I mean that was my plan.” He admitted. “But you kind of found a way around that.”

Lucy snorted. “ I kind of found a way around it?”

“Yes. You challenged me, you never gave up on me. And we have been through a lot together and apart. So I wanted to keep training you because you deserved it.”

Lucy leaned forward to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“For what? Doing my job?” He asked and he kissed her again. “Always.”

“No for never giving up on me. For pushing me even when I hated it. For finishing what you started. ”

Tim was silent as he studied her. He wasn’t sure what he did to deserve her but he was so happy he had her. He was glad he got the hot shot rookie.

“Truth or dare?” He asked her. And she grinned at him, probably happy he was finally getting into it.

“Truth.” She said softly. Tim smiled at her and then thought about what he wanted to ask her. He turned to her.

“Am I really the most important relationship in your life? Before your parents? Tamara?”

Lucy huffed out a breath and closed her eyes before she started talking. “ First of all I don’t talk to my parents. They don’t support me at all. They push me aside because I am not who they want me to be. Tamara is important to me. She’s the little sister I never had and didn’t know I needed. I would be devastated if I lost her. But you? I wouldn’t survive losing you Tim. You are just too important to me. Just thinking about it…” she trailed off and Tim pulled her closer.

His heart broke for her. He so wished she had a better relationship with her parents. He wished they would be proud of her because they had so much to be proud of

“Well it’s a good thing I feel the same way Luce.” He kissed the top of her head. There was a long silence and he thought maybe at long last it was over. But he should have known his girlfriend would keep going.

“Truth or dare-last one.” She said smiling at the look on his face.

“Truth.” He answered softly.

“When did you know you had feelings for me?” She asked a little muffled and he glance down to see her face buried in his chest.

The truth was Tim couldn’t really pinpoint an exact time when he started to fall for Lucy. It just kind of happened all at once. She was suddenly all he could think of, he wanted to be near her all the time. He wanted her to be his and he wanted to be hers. He knew after the kiss in her apartment it definitely escalated his feelings but he knew he felt more even before then. He had always been attracted to her even when he knew he couldn’t be.

“I don’t know Luce.” He said honestly. “I have always been attracted to you. You just radiate this beautiful happiness. I wanted to hate it at first but after awhile I just wanted to protect it. But when I started having feelings for you? I just don’t know. I could think of several times when..it felt like we were more than friends but—”

He shrugged and then lifted Lucy’s head up off his chest. “I don’t know but once I started falling for you.. I couldn’t stop even if I tried. I don’t think I ever will.”

Lucy’s eyes were full of tears as she pulled him in for a kiss. “I love you so much.” She whispered. “I will never stop falling in love with you either Tim.”

Tim pulled her closer. “I love you too baby. Always.”

There was a long period of silence and he heard Lucy’s breathing slow down a little and she knew she was falling asleep. He was about to wake her up when she blinked blearily at him.

“Truth or dare.” She asked him and he sighed heavily. She just grinned up at him.

“Dare.” He said and she broke out into a grin.

“I dare you to tell take me to bed and tell me everything you want to do to me tonight. Every naughty thing.”

Tim gulped and looked at her and she was grinning at him.

“I think I can do that.” He whispered his voice low and rough. “I think I can definitely do that.”

He stood up from the couch and bent down to sweep her up. She giggled and buried her face in his neck. He grinned and carried her into the bedroom kicking the door shut.

God he loved her. And he couldn’t wait to fulfill this dare.

#chenford fanfic #chenford #the rookie #tim x lucy #tim bradford #lucy chen #anon answered #tumblr prompt #chenford fic #lucy x tim #i love them

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starseneyes · 2 years

Text

Chenford REWIND- Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 3 Ep 14 & Season 4 Ep 1

Hello, beautiful humans (and the random cat or dog who might be looking over someone's shoulder).

I had a request for 4x01, but it didn't feel complete without the context of 3x14, since they flow into one another. So, I hope you'll bear with me as we dive into both.

SPOILER WARNING: This is a spoiler zone. I will spoiler all of these two episodes, and reference past material. I do try to write these as though I'm watching them for the first time, but please bear in mind that I am up to date to 5x12.

Ready? Let's dive in!

Threshold

"You can never let down your guard. Never relax. Because if it comes, when it comes, you will have to do everything right. Because one wrong word, one wrong move, one wrong look, and you're dead."

Holy cold open, Batman! You may think, "Why is she starting a Chenford meta with Nyla's speech?" Because... these are the stakes.

This is what's at risk on this op, and everyone knows it... including Tim. His ex-wife did UC, so he's intimately familiar with the pang and anxiety of not knowing what's going down with someone you love when they're on assignment like this.

But I think it's important for the audience to be reminded of the stakes. Lucy Chen didn't chose a safe job to begin with, going into law enforcement as an officer. But UC is a totally different beast. Instead of heading into the lion's den armed with all your tools, you're going in often blind and alone.

Lucy Tips Off The Cops

Let's be real, Lucy spotted the car and decided to send a message. She has no phone, no way to contact anyone, and she needs to make sure that this goes clean.

Best way to do that? Tip off someone on the other side. She saw her opportunity, and she took it. Smart gal.

"It's Lucy." "What do we do?" "Treat it like any other stop, but we do not run anyone in that car."

Tim spots her face in the mirror before he even gets out of the car. Jackson is obviously worried, but Tim keeps his concern in check while they're in the Shop together. He knows from his years of experience that the only thing they can do is stay calm and not blow her cover.

"There's no way these cops are gonna let us go."

I love Lucy's glance back at the mirror and Tim's back at her. It's likely a trick of editing, but it gives us the feeling that they're in sync—they're looking for one another, in this moment, but for different reasons.

Tim wants to be sure she's safe. She wants to be sure he makes it out of this alive.

"Look, before we start shooting cops in broad daylight, just let me try something, okay?" "What?" "Flirting. I haven't gotten a ticket since I was 16. I know how to get out of them, okay? Just trust me."

She's looking in the mirror, again, at him. He's looking back. She's hoping and praying he'll play along.

And, honestly, he's the perfect person for this. There are so many other officers that this wouldn't have worked with. But Tim and Lucy have a very deep running trust and respect for one another.

Plus, Tim knows how UC goes better that most. He's already prepped Jackson on how to proceed, and he's going to take point.

"I'm sorry, officer, was I going too fast?"

Tim's clenching his jaw so often I'm afraid it's going to seize. While he's doing a good job of keeping his emotions in check, they're there. He can read from the situation that it's not a good one.

"Yes, ma'am. You almost caused an accident." "We're in a hurry. It's my brother's birthday and I haven't gotten any party supplies."

Clever Girl. (yes, that's a Jurassic Park reference. I AM nearing 40, so it's totally my childhood). Lucy's sneaking in information and hoping Tim's going to grab onto it.

"License and registration, please." "C'mon, you don't really need that, do you?"

Tim has leaned towards her, placing a hand on the car door. It's not a move he'd normally make, but it's Lucy. Lucy seizes the opportunity to place her hand atop his.

Tim glances down at her hand, putting the pieces together of what she's doing. Because, come on, Season 3 Lucy would not randomly place her hand on his.

He knows this is a message... I don't know if he understands the situation is fraught with mortal danger, but he knows he needs to stop what he's doing and pay attention to what she's doing.

"You should come to the party after work. We'd have fun." "Yeah, I bet we would."

Tim chuckles a little before his line, and the "yeah" to me is in answer to her. Because what she's just told him is that this party isn't happening, yet. She doesn't need him, yet.

And much as Tim hates this, he's going to follow protocol and he's going to walk away. Lucy holds his gaze, and while we don't see the reverse, I'm sure he's feeling her message.

"Alright, I'm gonna let you go with a warning this time. But slow down, okay?" "Yeah, I promise."

She puts some smile into her voice, but it drops from her face as soon as she meets his eyes, again.

"Thank you so much."

That was for Tim. Thank you for hearing me. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for not blowing my cover. Thank you for trusting me.

"Yeah. Have fun at that party."

The "Yeah" is for Lucy. Yeah, I hate this but I'm doing it. Yeah, I know you can handle this. Yeah, I've got your back and always will.

The second line is for the car to show that her ploy to flirt with him worked. And Tim holds her gaze a last second before he walks away.

"See? Cops are easy. You just gotta know how to play them."

But she's watching him in the mirror the whole walk back to make sure he's safe. He has no idea she just saved his life.

"She is clear that if she is in over her head, she can pull herself out." "She won't, and you know it. There's no quit in Chen."

Remember their conversation after DOD? It was the first time Tim pointed out Lucy's lack of "Quit", and I'm glad it comes back, here. Tim knows Lucy well enough to know that she will see it through to the end. Like him, Lucy Chen finishes what she starts.

Gosh, these two are such a match made in heaven. But, they're not there, yet.

"Look, she's due for a check-in at Midnight. I will take her temperature then. If I feel like she's in too deep, then we can go get her."

Why does this feel like a friend trying to calm a worried spouse? It does, right? Lucy is no longer his Rookie, but he's very concerned about her well being.

"Call me right after." "Alright."

We're still in the phase of other people telling Tim how Lucy's doing—but Tim needing to know. And I don't think he even knows why he needs to know. But some part of him needs to know that she is okay.

Because much as their relationship shifts over the years, I think this whole ordeal pulls a lot to the surface that was lingering beneath. Yes, I know as someone who is up-to-date with 5x12 that there are many new obstacles, issues, and arguments coming their way. But this episode is important.

Tim is worrying more than he should about a fellow officer. Yes, we have seen how fiercely loyal he can be to those who cares about. But Tim is taking the worried husband position, here. And it's so bloody inappropriate, but Nyla doesn't call him on it.

But the woman's not oblivious. She's known Tim a long time, and she knows well enough that it's not the time to argue with him. She's going to placate him and get him out of her hair.

"Lucy missed her check-in." "She's cooking."

Excuse me. Timothy Bradford, did you come all the way back to the station just to check on your not-Boot? Like, you didn't even trust Nyla to call you? Instead you're showing up at the station to check on your girl.

Tim, we see you!

"You don't know that for sure." "She's either cooking or she's dead." "She's not dead." "Then she's making product. From the chemicals she stole, we know it's meth. Alright. That takes four to eight hours. Look, you and I both know it's against the law for her to allow product she cooked to hit the streets. If we don't find her, she's gonna stop it by herself... or die trying."

And now Nyla's listening to him. Watch the wheels turn as she processes what he's saying (which is mostly for the audience because, as he pointed out, Nyla already knows all this).

Again, they're telling us the stakes. We have to understand what Lucy is willing to do. And why it's stressing Tim the eff out.

"You're not a nobody, are you?" "No, I'm a cop and you're under arrest." "You stole my line." "I thought you said she needed rescuing."

Tim. Look at you braggin' on your girl. We know he was worried about her. He wouldn't have driven all the way to the station in the middle of the night if he wasn't. But in front of her, he's bragging on her and her badass self.

We stan a man who doesn't fear a strong woman.

"How'd you guys get here so fast? Not that I'm complaining." "When you didn't report in last night, Sergeant Grey called the chief who called every law enforcement agency in Southern California." "400 cops just spent the night looking for you."

Including your husband, who hasn't slept all night knowing you were out here and needed help. Tim is already going above and beyond for Lucy. For all of his "not my job" talk, he's the one who's really there for her. He's the one checking in on her. He's the one worrying about her.

And, let's be real, Lucy's never had anyone like that in her life. Her parents haven't supported her, and non of the guys she's dated have stuck. But her former TO, hard-ass Tim Bradford is the guy who steps up to play husband when she's in danger.

"I need superglue, hair pins, and your badge."

First off, how on-brand is it for Tim Bradford to show up to a wedding and still have his badge on him? And how awesome is it that his future step-daughter already knows it?

"Thank you both for believing in me."

This line hits hard based on Lucy's background. Her parents have been un-supportive in her ambition. She hasn't really had people in her life who believed in her, but the more she's at Mid-Wilshire, the more she's finding a whole new family.

Found family tropes are my jam because I live in one. 20 years ago, one night at University orientation, I met the people who would be the best friends of my life. We are raising our children together. We vacation together. We party together. We mourn together.

Because, for whatever reason, sometimes we need more than our blood family. Found family is a gift, and I'm so thrilled for mine. And that Lucy Chen found hers.

"To tell the truth, I kind of missed it."

Lucy's eyes trail past Nyla and Grey... to where Tim talks with Officer Jan. Tell me she didn't miss Tim! While she was alone in that hotel room playing chess with herself? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

"Um, will you excuse me?"

Nyla takes a sip of her drink, going with the flow. Unsurprising that the woman who was missing is going to talk to the man who was obsessed with her being missing. But, Grey's, "Where the heck is she going?" cracks me up. He full on turns around to see why Lucy would cut off a conversation with her Sergeant. Of course, it's Tim.

Officer Jan seems to know when to get out of the way of true love and excuses himself.

And Tim. Can't. Help. Himself.

Lucy is stunning in that green dress with the red lips, her hair pulled back, but still flowing, and that slit. Girlfriend understood the assignment and showed up to the wedding in style.

Tim's eyes trace over her with an abandon we've rarely seen from him. He's not over-thinking this moment. He's not in work-mode. It's very rare, at this point, that we see him and Lucy outside the structure of their status as Officers.

But here, in the ambiance of romance, Tim Bradford checks Lucy Chen out.

"Nice suit. Nova would be impressed." "Nova was a little thirsty." "I like to think of her as assertive." "Mm."

Flirty Banter Alert. Folks, we have flirty banter. And Tim smiling at her!? This scene took me out the first time I watched it. Because Tim's not a smiley person by default. He's a bit broody, grumpy, gruff, and non-plussed. And that's fine.

But there are situations that make him smile, and I love that Lucy Chen flirting with him is now on the list.

"First solo op and you take down two major drug traffickers. Not bad." "Thank you."

That's a huge compliment from Tim. And that's what Lucy wanted. Her little Praise Kink wanted to hear what Tim had to say, and she hoped it would be good. Lucy turns to walk away, but even as she's moving away from him, his mind is stuck on her.

You can see the wheels turning in his mind. He just spent the entire night looking for this woman, worried out of his mind for her. He hasn't felt that kind of attachment in a really long time, and something in him is seizing this moment.

And you know the circumstances are just right. Lucy made it through the night, proved her badass self, and now she's wearing that stunning dress and she's a few feet away from him. He doesn't want her that far away.

"Hey Chen." "Yeah?"

Lucy looks back, with zero expectations.

"Save me a dance."

He says it as he walks away to join another conversation. Because he's not ready to fully face what he feels, yet, but he also wants to make sure he doesn't miss this moment.

Saying it on the move means he doesn't have to watch her face to see how it registers... He's not ready to see her response, but he somehow knows it will be "yes".

And look at Lucy Chen. He's still framed in the shot, which I find fascinating. Like, what was the mentality behind it? To show he's not really that far away? Not really that unattainable? Just out of reach?

Lucy nearly twirls with the impact of those words. They stir something in her akin to her Praise Kink, which I really think also ties into her Tim Kink.

Because, come on, there's been something between them for ages. Like, they could have had angry sex and it been fiery and explosive but that flame never matured to a stable fire—one to be fed by love and dedication to one another.

They're not there, yet. But in the beauty of the wedding setting, Tim Bradford asked Lucy Chen to dance. And that can never be taken back. It's a part of their story forever, now. The veils over Tim's heart started to come down just enough to let a little light in.

Life and Death

"I almost got us all killed." "That trip wire was nearly invisible. I only saw it because I had the right angle." "That's not the point. I should have known to look." "Well that sounds like a failure in training. Perhaps you should bring it up with Tim." "Can you imagine?"

Let's be real... Lucy's best friend was killed. They were just at Lopez's wedding waiting for her to walk down the aisle, and now she's missing. Lucy's beating herself up for not being perfect, and the way Nolan tries to cheer her up is by ragging on Tim.

And, come on, we know they've done enough of that over the years. To Nolan's credit, he's trying to get her to chuckle, at the very least, and stop being so hard on herself.

And, no, I'm not addressing N*cy. Not ever. But they make good friends.

"I can't go back to the apartment. his empty room." "You don't have to. You can stay with me." "I don't want to impose." "No. Lucy, you shouldn't be alone right now." "Thanks." "Yeah."

"Lucy". Not "Chen". Lucy. At this stage, he doesn't address her as Lucy, often. But right now, they're all vulnerable and exposed.

Just a few days ago he was worried sick about Lucy. They got her back and had the emotional high of that combined with the euphoria of a wedding... only to be tossed back into uncertainty and heartache with the loss of Jackson and Angela's abduction.

Emotions are running high for all of them. And sometimes that necessitates stripping away formalities for the sake of survival.

Tim of a few years ago wouldn't have extended this to Lucy. But he knows her, now. She's a friend. She's someone who he cares about who is hurting. And he won't let her go through it alone.

That says so much about Tim Bradford. About how he can be so rough around the edges and yet so soft for those who he cares about.

"I'll take the couch." "Wait, I thought you were setting that up for me."

Lucy. In. Tim's. Clothes. I mean, we've seen her sleeping before and her shirt sleeves are nowhere NEAR that roomy. This implies she rode with him to his place, and that they didn't bother stopping by hers.

I know there's nothing sexual about it, at this point, but it's still so incredibly metaphorical. He's letting her into his world. Because, damnit, this former Rookie is already under his skin... even if he's not ready to face it, yet.

And she's wearing the moonstone ring. It was hers and now it's strangely theirs. She wore it. He found it. He carried it. And now she wears it, again. It's traveled with both of them, and its history is all the more complex for it.

"I'm not gonna have a guest sleep on the couch." "And I'm not gonna kick you out of your own bed. Come on. Get up."

First off, I love that Tim admits to thinking of Lucy as a "guest". This isn't a work-thing in any way. This is a friend thing. He's being here for her emotionally as a friend. Not so long ago, Tim would have denied the moniker, but there's no denying it, now. "We're friends".

Tim doesn't fight her any further. After all, he's doing all this to try to be there for her, to support her. They're friends. We saw how far he'd go for Lopez to make sure she had a dream wedding. And with this act of love, we can see he's done pretending Lucy is nothing more than his former-Boot.

"Um... do you need anything?"

Have you ever seen Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson? The late, great Alan Rickman's character, Colonel Brandon, is aching when the girl of his dreams, Kate Winslet's character, is ill. He asks for an occupation... for something he can do. And I feel like Tim is a kindred spirit.

When Lucy was taken in DOD, he couldn't sit still. He needed to do something. He's helping her now because he needs to give her more than words. He's more of a "show" guy, remember? He's showing Lucy that he cares, and he wants to make sure he gives her what she needs.

"The last 24 hours back?"

Ah. Another post-DOD parallel. Because Lucy's still looking for her time machine. This time, Tim feels less responsible for her pain... but he still would do anything to stop it.

"I'm afraid I don't have that power." "A hug?"

It's a long shot, asking Tim Bradford for a hug. At least, that's what Lucy thinks. But Tim Bradford would do anything to ease her pain. "Give me an occupation", his heart cries.

"Yeah, come here."

He crosses to her and pulls her close. Lucy sniffles as she leans against him, and his hand briefly goes to her hair, as it did in DOD when he first held her on the ground as she sobbed.

It's the first time since then that they've been this close. It's a terrible, sad reason, again, that brings them together. But proximity makes it harder to ignore the growing gravitational pull.

"It's okay." "Thanks."

He pulls away from her, not letting it linger. His eyes go back to the couch, where he was ready to sleep for the night. But it's his hands that have my attention.

His right hand gives her left forearm a gentle squeeze of encouragement. And his left rubs up and down her right. The short embrace is lingering. He doesn't want to stop touching her.

And this isn't the passion of two people looking at one another and thinking, "The one." There's a raw need here to feel something other than the heartache and pain.

Holding her in his arms, he feels it. That all he has to do is not break away to feel something completely different, and for her to feel it, too.

He looks down to her and sees this beautiful, vulnerable woman in his arms. There's a charge that passes between them as her eyes flick up to meet his. There's an openness there, on her part, looking for some comfort.

That's why she asked for the hug, right? Physical comfort. But there's something else now that's pulling him toward her as much as he's tearing himself away. Because he would never take advantage.

Lucy is hurting. Her best friend is dead. And no matter what Tim is feeling in this moment, he's not going to make a move. The last thing he wants to do is take advantage of someone who is hurting.

With a quick glance at her lips, he removes himself from the situation. And that's when Lucy realizes why.

Besides asking her to dance a few days ago, Lucy has no reason to think that Tim would have any interest in her. She hasn't seen the way he worries when she isn't there. She hasn't seen how his face softens when he asks others how she's doing. She hasn't seen him wrestling with what he feels for his former Rookie.

This is the first time she's seen it. He was right there holding her one moment, and with the briefest charge, he retreated. Yes, he did the right thing. But he left Lucy Chen standing there, speechless.

Did she imagine it?

Tim goes to his room and closes the door. He lays down on the bed he turned down for Lucy. I mean, come on, that's such amazing care! It looks like this is his side of the bed (closest to the door in case of emergency, furthest from the window), and he was giving it to her.

He lies down and tries to clear his head of the woman on the other side of the door.

Lucy heads for the couch, but her eyes trail back to his door. She didn't imagine it. Look, Lucy is confident in herself, sexually, and Comfort Coitus is not out-of-the-question for her. It would feel good to feel good.

And the bonus is that maybe it would allow her to explore whatever there is between her and Tim. Because even though neither of them would put a name to it, at this point, there's something there.

Tim closes his eyes, but opens them, again. Because when his eyes close, he sees her. His gaze trails back to the door. Because he's second-guessing himself. Maybe she would want it, too. Maybe he should have asked. Maybe he shouldn't have been so hasty.

And Lucy's on the couch looking back at that door. Because the more she lies there, the more she thinks about what it would be like to be with Tim Bradford. And if he's willing to be with her, too, why the hell not?

Tim looks away from the door and pumps his pillow up behind him, as if that minor adjustment will adjust his thoughts away from the gorgeous woman on his couch. He looks almost disappointed in himself. "What are you thinking?" Because Tim Bradford isn't ready for this, yet.

Would it be awesome sex? Hell, yeah. Would it be the best foundation for a relationship? No. There's still so much for these characters to unpack on their own and together. For Chenford to really work, it has to happen at a time when they're both emotionally healthy enough for it to work. We're not there, yet.

But, damn, Lucy wants to be. She finally can't take it anymore and throws off the blanket. She stands, taking her first steps towards Tim's bedroom. It's a risk, sure, but in this moment, she's willing to take it.

And, remember, I said all of this is a combination of the perfect circumstances to bring them here. Separated from the moment, she'll second-guess it as much as he'll try to deny it to himself. But in this moment, Lucy Chen makes a bold move.

Just in time for Tim to walk out the door on the phone with answers. Lucy tries to hide that she was on his way to him because the moment has passed. For him to see her on her feet now would be embarrassing and awkward, right?

"We'll be right there."

This implies others know that Lucy came home with him tonight. And because they all know Tim so well, they wouldn't even suspect that something might've happened between them. Tim's wounds from Isabelle haven't yet healed, and he'd be a fool to fall for another UC, right? Right!?

Yeah, boy's already falling... but he's not ready to face it, yet. And now there's no room to discuss what might have been because they're both focused on the task at hand—saving Angela.

"What about Max?" "Who the hell's Max?"

Look, this isn't Chenford, but this is one of those general appreciations of Eric Winter because Tim always reacts. Even when he's in a group of people, Tim reacts.

You might say, "Well, duh, people react". But some actors almost pull back on their characters when they're not the center of attention. When the camera is capturing him, Eric Winter is Tim Bradford. The man acts with his entire body, all the way through his fingers.

So, if you happen to watch this scene, watch Tim's face after that last line there. It sends me rolling, and it's nice to have a smile in the middle of a heavy episode.

"Did you get her?" "No."

There is something poetic about Tim calling her right at the moment she was ready to fall apart. Now she has a task... an occupation... something to busy her mind.

"We're going to Plan B." "I don't like Plan B." "Join the club. It's what we've got."

Lucy gets set up while the others get ready on their end.

TIM

Look, I don't know if this was a mistake or if Lucy goes back and forth on what she has on her phone for him, but right now, it says "TIM" when he calls. And that makes me feel all sorts of things in the context of this episode for Chenford.

"Tim? Please be careful."

"Because I can't lose anyone else." A wall has come down between them that they can never erect (heh), again. No, they didn't sleep together. But Tim let her into his world. He let her into his home. His clothes. His arms.

And that brings them that much closer to one another.

"I always am."

Nyla, my apologies that you're the one to have to witness all this Chenford goodness the past two episodes. Like, this seriously sounds like a sign-off between a worried wife and a man confident in his abilities.

Tim and Lucy at the Party

Look, I know it's little, but I love the touch that three months later, when we see them outside of work, he's still standing by her side.

This episode is a real catalyst, I think, for so much of what happens in S4 between these two.

FAST FORWARD: Tim dates a short-haired blonde girl who is nothing like Lucy all season and is awkward and embarrassed when Lucy finds out about her (via him arguing with his sister). Come on. Tell me that man wasn't running from his feelings for Lucy! And that hug later in the season wouldn't have been possible without this one. It all starts here.

As always, thank you for reading! If you have a request, please leave it in the comments and I'll take it under consideration! I really love writing these.

On a day like today when I've been in constant pain, it's been a grand distraction when I wasn't helping with Pinewood Derby cars, jumping on the trampoline, playing "telephone" with the kids, patty-cake, movie night, getting poster supplies for Student Council, and paying bills. Typical Saturday around here! May yours be a joy.

#Chenford #Lucy Chen #Tim Bradford #Eric Winter #Melissa O'Neil #The Rookie #Meta #Lucy x Tim #Tim x Lucy

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