#lucy chen is adorable and i love her

[augustvandyne]

Lucy Chen x reader

Staff outing and they end up going home together and rushing to work the next day and people start asking questions and Angela and Tim end up figuring it out when reader and Lucy leave work together at the end of the day

nothing

When the alarm clock woke both of you up this morning, your eyes burnt from lack of sleep and your neck was aching from the position you slept in last night.

Last night was a last second outing that John of all people suggested, but it was a much needed break.

So much so that even Tim accepted the invitation.

Everyone had a good time and at the end of the night, Lucy offered to ‘drive you home’ because you’d left your car at the station, riding over to the bar with her.

But the truth was you and Lucy had been dating for some time and hadn’t spent the night together yet. Lucy suggested the two of you should spend the night together. Nothing sexual, but she wanted to sleep in the same bed as you, because as stupid as it sounded, she just wanted to hold you after the week you’ve all had.

She reaches over you to shut the alarm off, settling herself on top of you.

“Hi,” Lucy looks down nervously, an anxious smile on her lips.

“Hi,” You reach up and twirl a few strands of her hair between your fingers. “You’re cute when you wake up.”

“Stop,” Lucy shakes her head and falls back into her spot in bed.

“Come back,” You chuckle and roll over so you’re on top of her.

She looks into your eyes and leans up to put a soft kiss on your lips.

You make a face when her lips leave yours and she puts her hand over her mouth.

“Oh,” She speaks through her fingers. “I have really bad morning breath. I’m so sorry.”

She begins to laugh and you shake your head, removing her hand from her lips to you can get another kiss.

“I don’t care,” You say as you kiss her again. “I just wanted another kiss.”

“That can be arranged,” Lucy moves her hand to snake around your neck to pull you closer when her second alarm goes off.

She groans softly and reaches over to turn the alarm off again.

“Just.. just five more minutes,” Lucy moves back over and pulls your face back to hers.

“Lucy Chen, are you asking for a five minute make out like teenagers?”

“Maybe,” She shrugged, the newfound confidence glowing on her skin.

“I’m down,” You smile and give a soft nip at her lip.

“I cannot believe we are late,” Lucy throws her head back angrily as she swings the door open to the station.

“Luce,” You say in a soft voice, pulling her aside in the lobby. “It’s okay, alright?”

“Well— wha—“

“Shh,” You press a finger to her lips. “We will figure it out, okay? I promise.”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, “Okay.”

Lucy opens her eyes and smiles nervously. “I really want to kiss you right now.”

“What? You didn’t get enough this morning?” You wink and walk through to the main section of the station, making your way towards the locker room.

“Boot!” You suddenly stop at Angela’s words. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting.”

“Um..” You look around and move your bag up on your arm to buy time. “Well Lucy drove me to the bar last night and then home and my car was still here. And you see—“

“I didn’t ask for your whole life story. Just say you left your car and Lucy had to go out of her way to get you,” Angela puts her hand up. “Get changed and hurry. We’re running a high stakes operation today, and you should’ve been in an hour ago.”

“Yes ma’am,” You hurry off and only then does she notice that you’re wearing the same shirt from last night.

You’re all but finished changing when Lucy finally comes through the doors.

“What took you so long?” You ask, taking extra time to pull your shoes on.

“Tim,” She shakes her head, opening her locker and pulling clothes on. “He chewed me out in front of the whole station? Can you believe it? Actually, don’t answer that because we both believe it. I’ve never been late the whole time I’ve worked here — unless it was life threatening — and the one time I accidentally do he has something to say. God, I can’t believe we were late. And they are out there gossiping, and just—“

“Lucy, baby,” You stand and pull her in by her open uniform top, placing another kiss on her lips. “I promise you, it’s going to be okay.”

“Okay,” She nods and presses her lips onto yours again. “We’ll be okay.”

“Chen! L/n! Let’s go!” Angela’s voice booms from the door and you finish putting your shoe on.

“I’ll see you out there my love,” You place a rushed kiss onto her cheek and are out the door in a second.

“Took you long enough,” Angela says, lurking by the door.

She squints at you and you put a hand on your chest from her scaring you.

“Oh my— don’t do that,” You furrow your brows together. “What is that face for?”

“Nothing,” She tilts her lips down and shakes her head.

“Doesn’t seem like nothing,” It’s your turn to squint now.

Lucy stumbles out of the locker room, still buttoning up her shirt.

“What are you guys standing out here for?”

“Nothing,” Angela continues shaking her head, looking between the two of you. She leaves the two of you standing with a chuckle.

She walks back over to Tim and the two of them turn away to talk while you and Lucy share a look.

“Let’s go,” Tim turns around after a second. “Not you, Chen. I want L/n with me today.”

“Good job today, boot,” Tim says as the two of you exit the shop.

“Thank you, Officer Bradford,” You nod, eager to be praised from another officer other than your TO.

“You know, with being late and everything.”

You roll your eyes once he turns away from you and you walk behind him to return the war bags.

“The paperwork will be waiting on your desk,” Tim stands beside you awkwardly, his lips resting in a straight line as you return the bags and put your body cam back.

“Do you need something?” You ask with a confused face.

“Nope.”

“Okay so what’s wrong?” You move to walk towards the locker room.

“Nothing,” He shakes his head with the same expression Angela had earlier.

“Okay, what is wrong with you guys?” You raise your voice slightly. “You and Lopez. You keep making that face. Am I not allowed to ask Lucy for a ride to work?”

His eyes change at the use of first name and not last name like you normally would.

You huff and walk off, “Leave the paperwork on my desk.”

“Already planned on it.”

You make your way to your locker, and most of the women were also changing at the same time, so you couldn’t get a fix of the craving you wanted. (Kissing Lucy).

You settled on a few secretive looks in her direction, which very much did not go unnoticed by Angela.

You and Lucy finished at the same time, her going a little slower once you came into the locker room make sure you were done at the same time.

Lucy keeps a hold of your bag strap as the two of you exit the station, Angela following close behind.

Tim is standing at the exit — in a darker area, where Lucy and you can’t see him — waiting for Angela.

They both stand together, watching for the two of you to make any moves that indicate you are more than friends.

You hop in the passenger side of Lucy’s car and the two of them share a look.

“They are so together,” Angela stands with her arms crossed over her chest, sticking one hand out.

“Yeah, I hate to admit, but you’re right,” He slaps a twenty in her palm.

[redpinkwine]

Puts her foot up while saying she gets compliments ahhhhhh she 🥹 is🥹 the 🥹sweetest 🥹 thing 🥹 I've 🥹 ever 🥹seen 🥹

[rookieoneil]

Tim: If I say I love you will you say it back?

Lucy: of course

Tim: I love you

Lucy: it back

Tim: 😐

[bisexualfemalemess]

Oh my god! That season five premiere of the rookie kept us chenfords fed! Like another undercover kiss and all the pda and awkwardness. We’re so locked in for canon chenford!

[leslieseveride]

i love her... so much!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[newobsessionweekly]

Stolen moments

Main masterlist | The Rookie masterlist

Tim Bradford x rookie!reader Fandom: The rookie

Summary: You and Tim find it difficult to have some sort of intimacy due to your busy schedules.

A/N: Here's another Tim one that I loved writing. Not really a fluff girl, but I think I wrote something cute. Hope you like it. Don't forget to leave your feedback, it'll help me. Have a great day bubs and lots of love! 🫧

Fluff

Warnings: Not proofread yet, that's it.

Requested: yes Words: 1.8k Requests for Tim are open! GIF not mine, credits to the owner!

Being a rookie was intense. The constant struggle to keep yourself out of dangerous situations and, even more important, to manage them and go home safe and sound was exhausting. Gladly, your T.O. was understanding and his open, talkative personality helped you through when things get complicated.

John Nolan was a man that you trusted with your life and you grew closer, being not just your training officer, but a very important friend in your life. When between you and Tim things weren't going smoothly, he is your go to person. Mostly because you appreciate his advices and on the other hand because you're stuck with him every day, him reading you like a book.

You and Tim have been together for a few months now and it was clear as day that you adore that man with every breath. Tim is not far away from that, his love for you reflecting in his eyes, some might say he smiled in the last couple of months more than he ever did in his whole career at the station.

Music from Tim's car echoed through your mind as you embraced that still moment. No more people talking through the radio, no sirens whiling down the streets, no gunshots fired. Just you and Tim, singing along the radio, his hand resting on your lap as he squeezed it from time to time, sending chills down your spine, memories from the last night you'd spent together reddening your cheeks.

"I was thinking, maybe, you'd want to move in." Tim broke the silence as he checked the mirrors, his car making its way to the station. You hummed at his words, considering that. No more squeezing out your schedules, no more running around to see each other. More Tim tests on your time off work.

"I'll think about it. I love staying with Lucy though." you told him as he parked the car.

"Seriously? When's the last time you saw Lucy?" he quietly laughed.

"Yesterday."

"When's the last day you've been to your apartment?"

"Last..." you tried to remember what day it was. "Saturday."

"And now it's Friday." he pointed out the fact that you spent a whole week at his place.

"I'll think about it." you smiled at him, making him do the same as Tim was about to closed the distance between you two.

A loud knock on the window made you jump right before your lips could meet and Tim grinned at the sight of Lucy. "Speaking of the devil." he murmured frustrated under his breath, making you laugh as you went to greet her.

"Y/N, here's the mail from this week. Didn't know when you'd come home so I thought..." you thanked her, stuffing the envelopes in your purse. "Morning, officer Bradford." Lucy greeted Tim and he welcomed her with his grumpy face.

"Officer Chen" he didn't leave your side, hoping your best friend would disappear, but she grabbed your arm, rambling about her date, stealing you away from your boyfriend.

The morning briefing concluded, leaving a hasty window of respite before the day's duties would fully take hold. In that fleeting moment, you found yourself alone with Tim, the magnetic pull between you palpable in the air.

"Hey," your boyfriend murmured, his voice low and husky as he closed the distance between you. "Be safe out there today, okay?"

Seeing Tim so handsome in that uniform, made your heart skip a beat. His beautiful blue eyes searching you from head to toe, admiring your beauty and playing a wide smile on his lips. A smile that means sinful thoughts are running in his mind.

His words were a tender caress against your ear, sending shivers down your spine as you leaned in, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Your heart quickened as his hand brushed against yours, the electricity of his touch sending sparks of desire coursing through your veins.

Before you could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the moment, jolting you back to reality. You turned to see Nolan standing before you, his expression expectant as he awaited your response.

"Ready for patrol, Y/N?" Nolan's voice cut through the air, breaking the intimate spell that had enveloped you and Tim.

You blinked, startled by the sudden intrusion, and turned to face your TO with a forced smile. "Yes, sir, ready to go."

Nolan glanced between you and Tim, his expression shifting from curiosity to understanding as he realized the tension that hung heavy in the air. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, his voice tinged with awkwardness. "I'll let you two carry on."

But before he could make his escape, Tim's voice cut through the silence, his tone laced with frustration and determination.

"Be careful out there, both of you," Tim said, his gaze fixed on you with a mix of concern and love. "And stay safe."

With a curt nod, Tim turned on his heel and made his exit, leaving you and Nolan standing in the wake of his departure. As you watched Tim disappear from sight, a swell of emotions washed over you—frustration at the interrupted moment, longing for the connection you shared with Tim, and gratitude for his unwavering concern for your safety.

Tim's frustration was touching the ceiling. Both of you had plans that night, leaving him longing for the next time you'd be alone again. A next time tagged with a question mark because of your chaotic lives. He wanted to have you close all the time, to make sure he can protect the woman he loved dearly. But above this excuse, Tim wants you close because he needs you. Every touch and little kiss stolen here and there gives him the strength to carry on with his life, gives him an anchor to hold on when things get messy.

The midday sun beat down on the bustling streets of LA as officers gathered around the street food area for their lunch break.

As you and Tim sat together at the table, the bustling activity around you seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of you in your own little bubble. Tim's touch was gentle yet possessive as he reached for your hand, his fingers intertwining with yours in a silent declaration of affection.

"You know, Y/N, I think moving in together could be a great step for us," Tim said, his voice soft and tender. "We already spend so much time together anyway, and it would make things so much easier."

You nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you leaned into his touch. "I know, Tim. It's just...a big step, you know? I want to make sure we're both ready for it."

Tim's gaze softened, his eyes filled with understanding as he squeezed your hand gently. "Copy that. We'll take things at your pace, okay? No rush."

His touch sent a thrill racing through you, igniting a warmth that spread from your fingertips to the depths of your soul. His thumb traced delicate patterns on the back of your hand, a tender gesture that spoke volumes without a word being spoken.

The connection between you and Tim was electric, a palpable energy that pulsed between you with each passing moment. His gaze was intense, his eyes filled with a mixture of desire and adoration as he leaned in closer, his lips tantalizingly close to yours.

You could feel the heat of his breath against your skin, the anticipation building to a fever pitch as you inched closer to each other. Just as your lips were about to meet, the voices of your beloved colleagues shattered the moment once more, leaving you both frustrated and longing for more.

"No, I mean is great that Henry is visiting me, don't get me wrong. But I feel like this weekend is going to fly by so fast and the chief already approved my OT for both days and I feel like we won't spend so much time together." Nolan ramble about his son and they sat down beside you and Tim.

"Tell me about it." your boyfriend scoffed as he caressed your thigh, his tone tinged with frustration.

For Tim, each interruption felt like a cruel twist of fate, a barrier preventing him from fully expressing the depth of his love for you. He yearned for the stolen moments, the brief glimpses of intimacy that left him craving more. With each interruption, his frustration grew, a silent plea echoing in his mind for just a few moments alone with you.

"I already spoke with him and he's gonna meet us tonight at the bar" you told John as you savoured the food in front of you.

"But I thought he's coming tomorrow." Nolan frowned and Tim raised his eyebrows at your words. He knew you meet them now and then after shift, but he didn't know that was your plan for tonight, instead of spending it with him.

The constant interruptions felt like a cruel reminder of the obstacles standing between you and Tim. You longed for the stolen kisses and whispered words, moments of intimacy that seemed to slip through your fingers before they could fully blossom. Each interruption left you feeling incomplete, aching for the chance to bask in Tim's presence without the prying eyes of your colleagues.

"Surprise."

As the lunch break drew to a close and the time came for you to return to patrol, Tim's frustration was palpable. He shot you a longing look, his eyes silently pleading for just a few more moments alone together.

He walked you to the shop and when you made sure Nolan was already inside and away from your whispering, you turned to him and intertwined your fingers together.

"So that's the plan you have tonight, huh?" he asked you, clearly not feeling very happy that you chose them over you. He had plans too, watching tonight's game with his friends. Some important game he said, but if it was to choose, he'd rather spend the night with you than watch it.

"Well, they asked me to join after you said you have plans. I thought maybe some time apart from each other would be nice." you admit.

"Some more time apart?" he questioned.

"Maybe it's best if I move in." you told him after Nolan informed you about a call that was just dispatched to you. Tim smiled, softly grabbing your cheeks, finally placing a kiss after long hours of watching you from distance.

"I'll see you tonight, Y/N," Tim said, his voice tinged with regret as he watched you leave. "Be safe out there, okay?"

You nodded, a bittersweet smile playing at the corners of your lips as you bid him farewell. And as you headed back out onto the streets, the memory of Tim's tender touch and loving gaze lingered in your mind, a reminder of the love that bound you together, even in the face of interruptions and obstacles.

[callsign-dexter]

Unraveling Desires

Request: Ohhhh those are great! ❤️

39. "Another kiss like that and I won't be held responsible for my actions." with Tim Bradford pleeeease 😊

Prompt: Another kiss like that and I won't be held responsible for my actions.

Pairings: Tim Bradford x Police K-9 Officer!Wife!Reader

Warnings:

Kiss Prompts

Masterlist

You and Tim had known each other for a while now and awhile means that you both are married and have been for 5 years. You two truly loved each other and wouldn’t trade each other for other people. You two were happy with each other and you wouldn’t change that for anything. The both of you sometimes had the same shift and while he was with a trainee you were out on your own and loving it you were also a K-9 handler, you absolutely adored Lucy Chen and she was a good friend you also have her dirt on Tim that she could use against him. When he found out you were doing this you usually got it when he saw you next but you weren’t complaining.

It just happened that you both had the same shift this time and you loved it because you could tease your husband and he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. You had just woken up to the sound of your alarm going off. You laid there in a bed for a few minutes watching your husband sleep and then smirked when a brilliant idea came to your mind. You leaned over and snuggled into him and then you slowly started to kiss him. First you started at the shell of his ear and then slowly made your way down his neck. He started to stir but had yet to wake up. You smirked and continued your attack and you slowly started to kiss his shirtless chest and trailing your hand up and down his stomach getting close to where you knew he needed you the most but you didn’t. You started to kiss down his sternum and then to his stomach and right before you got to his underwear started you looked up and noticed him looking at you and you smiled “Good morning.” You said and then got up and strutted to the bathroom and you could just see the look on his face.

“Hey, get over here and finish what you started.” He said sitting up on his elbows and you turned around with your toothbrush in your hand.

“What if I don’t?” You asked after you spit out the toothpaste and rinsed out your mouth. Then crawled into bed and startled him. He smirked and then flipped you over where he was now straddling you and he started kissing you.

“You’ll find out.” He said and then kissed you and trailed down until he got to your pajama pants and then stopped and then looked up and smirked then got off and started to get ready for the day.

“Fucking tease.” You said and he smirked.

“You started it, wife.” He said 

“Oh, it’s on, husband.” You said and the both of you got ready. Where he changes at the station you don’t since you have your K-9 partner, Rocky. Once changed you walked out of the bedroom to where Rocky was kenneled and let him out. You let him out and then fed him. When you got done Tim had walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, Rocky greeted him and then you were handing him his coffee cup.

“Wanna try and meet up for lunch?” You asked him and he nodded.

“You know I do; everyone loves seeing you and Rocky.” He said and at the sound of his name the Mahogany colored Belgian Malinois perked up and barked at his name and you and Tim laughed. You walked over to where you kept his stuff and got his collar that said ‘POLICE K-9 DO NOT TOUCH’ you called him over and spoke the command to sit in German and he did so and you clipped the collar on. You then slipped his bullet proof vest on. Tim looked at you in awe. He loved it when you spoke a different language. “You two have a good day. Rocky, you protect our girl.” He said and he barked as if saying ‘You got it!’ and then walked over and kissed you and you kissed back and off you went with your loyal partner out the door and into the K-9 police cruiser. Normally all police cars had to stay at the station but K-9 handlers were allowed to take theirs home because they have to transport their animal.

You drove to the station to check in and start your day. The drive was pretty quick and you made it there in no time just about the time your husband pulled in at the same time and you rolled your eyes. You parked your cruiser in the designated parking spot and got out letting Rocky out at the same time. Tim walked over and waited for you. “Were you tailing us?” You asked with a hint of playfulness in your voice.

“Now why would I do that?” He asked and then pecked you on the lips and you pushed him away.

“We’re at work.” You said but smirked because you and he knew that you didn’t care. 

“Your point is?” He asked and you shook your head and the both of you started your walk in. You had different bosses since you were in different departments but it was on the same floor. You once again parted ways while he got dressed and you went to check in with your boss. Once you were done you walked by the briefing room and smirked seeing your husband sitting there and when he caught sight of Rocky, he looked at you and smiled and then you were on your way. Wade Grey caught this but didn’t say anything. Both you and Tim were well respected in both of your departments and they knew not to mess with you. 

By the time they were out on the road you had been out for at least 30 minutes and when you heard them check in you smirked “Time to have some fun.” You said and got on the radio. “About time you guys got to work.” You said and waited for a response and Tim was the first.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Tim asked 

“I am. Been working for about 30 minutes now.” You said with a smirk and you could just see him roll his eyes. It was silent for about 10 minutes then Lucy came over the radio. The over the radio banter went back and forth. You all answered some calls and some you ended up together on. Nolan, Jackson, Angela, and Talia loved you and when they saw you and Rocky in action they were always in awe. After the call Tim met you at your cruiser leaning up on it. 

“You’re so sexy when you’re in action.” He said and you rolled your eyes but smiled as you put Rocky into his built-in kennel and you left the door open.

“So are you.” You replied and he smirked just then another call came in for a K-9 unit and you responded and then turned to your husband “Duty calls.” You said and closed Rocky’s door and hopped into the driver's side and headed off to the call. The call involved some tracking but, in the end, you got the suspect. 

Lunch time rolled around and you met Tim and the others at the usual place and went and sat with them while taking Rocky with you so he could stretch his legs. “Y/N how do you keep this man in line?” Angela asked with a smirk and Tim rolled his eyes and you laughed.

“It's easy. I just withhold sex. Works like a charm every time.” You said and they laughed with you while he rolled his eyes but he knew it was true.

“Do you like working in the K-9 department?” Nolan asked and you smiled and nodded.

“I love it. Rocky here is my companion and he listens and doesn’t talk back.” You said and they laughed.

“Hey, I listen.” Tim said 

“Yes, but you also talk back sometimes.” You said and he rolled his eyes “Love you.” You spoke

“I love you too.” He replied

“How did you meet?” Lucy asked 

“I actually met Tim on a call and he was so impressed by Rocky and I that he asked me out and the rest is history.” You said and before they could respond your radio went off requesting K-9 back-up and you responded and off you and Rocky went. 

You didn’t see any of them again for the rest of the day and night. The next time you saw Tim was when he had gotten home and you were already home. You had already changed and had dinner going when he walked through the door. “There’s my sexy wife.” He said and you smiled and walked over and wrapped his arms around your hips.

“And there is my handsome husband.” You said turning your head to kiss him. “How was your day?” You asked him when you released each other from the kiss.

“Long. Had a lot more calls this time.” He said “Yours?” He asked going to fridge and opening it to grab two beers and petting Rocky’s head.

“It was good. We had a lot of calls too and some traffic stops.” You said and he nodded and took the beer when he offered it.

“Nobody got hurt?” He asked and you shook your head.

“Nope, just the suspects that decided to hide or run.” You said chuckling and so did he. You turned off the stove “Supper is ready.” You said and he grabbed two plates and handed you one. You both got your plates and went and sat down and began to eat.

Supper was eaten in a comfortable setting with some talking about anything and everything. It was done you went over and startled his lap and kissed him with passion and fire and he responded. When you pulled away his pupils were blown and you had no doubt yours was too. “Another kiss like that and I won't be held responsible for my actions.” He said and a smirk grew on your face and you kissed him again with the same ferocity as the first kiss and he knew what you wanted. He got up quickly knocking the chair over and then started for the bedroom planning on finishing what you both started that morning. You were in for a long night and you were so ready for it and so was he.

Tag list:

@kmc1989

@els-marvelvsp

@atarmychick007

@nyx2021

@grandstrangerphantom

@angenu01-blog

@talesofreading

[timandlucy]

the darkness reminds us where light can be

Pairing: Lucy Chen/Tim Bradford

Rating: G

Timeline: Vaguely some time in the future when Chenford is happy.

Word count: 1,301

Summary:

Mornings can be a very hectic part of the day for Lucy. More times than she'd like, she falls into bed after a long shift—only to wake to the sound of her alarm too early, snooze it a couple times and end up rushing through her morning routine because she's late for work. Again. But some mornings—the mornings where she doesn't really have to be anywhere—have become Lucy's favorite.

Read on AO3

Mornings can be a very hectic part of the day for Lucy.

More times than she'd like, she falls into bed after a long shift—only to wake to the sound of her alarm too early, snooze it a couple times and end up rushing through her morning routine because she's late for work. Again.

But some mornings—the mornings where she doesn't really have to be anywhere—have become Lucy's favorite. Mornings where she gets to be gently awakened by the sunshine seeping through the window, as she stretches her limbs one by one lazily, not thinking about how productive she needs to be later in the day. Mornings when she can lazily stumble out of bed, open the window, make herself some coffee and sip it slowly, enjoying the natural light that's flooding her living room.

Mornings when she wakes up in Tim's bed, enveloped in his warm arms, without any sort of haste, when she can just revel in the safety of his embrace and—

"What are you doing?" She asks—her reverie interrupted by the realization that her boyfriend has taken her hand hostage. How can she blame him, when his hand is soft yet calloused in hers and he's gazing at her with adoration.

She glances sideways at his sleepy appearance—he's propped up against the bed frame, hair tousled like only she gets to see. None of the put-together Sergeant Bradford, all sharp lines and hard edges, though she loves every side of him somewhat fiercely. But this—this is the man she loves. The man staring at her with so much love it's overflowing. The man who couldn't bear the thought of losing her, so he went against his very core to work on becoming the man worthy of her. Not that he ever wasn't. The man she's going to spend the rest of her life with.

"What, I can't be holding your hand?"

Lucy tries—unsuccessfully—to hide her grin. She could easily pull away if she wanted, but the truth is, she's dreamed of this moment for so long. This exact moment was the bright light that got her through the tough times they went through. Now that it's finally happening, she just wants to exist in it. She still can't fully grasp that after all the heartache, they were able to pick up the pieces of their shattered relationship and make it even better.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with…?" She asks, the question a little cheeky but still valid. She scoots up in bed, leaning into the soft pillow and glancing at him with a familiar glint in her eyes.

"This has everything to do with…"

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[newwritergirl]

The mistakes we make

Masterlist

|One Shot- Tim Bradford x OC|

Summary: Tim and Grace has been neighbors and best friends nearly since the day she moved to LA. But one mistake drives them apart. When Grace is attacked in her own house will Tim be able to help her?

Trigger Warnings: Tim x OC, mentions of past bad relationship and cheating, mentions of miscarriage, woman attacked at home, violent assailant, moody Tim, unfair Tim, tears and sadness, fluff?, no Chenford!, no Lucy Chen!

Word Count: 13k+

A/N: Okay, that escalated quickly. I just wanted to get this idea out of my head and write a one shot, but it got longer than I wanted but I got carried away. Well here it is, enjoy (if you like). Reblogs are, as always, the reader-writer-love-language <3

With a sigh Grace lets herself fall back into the soft cushions of Tim's spacious sofa. Countless nights she has spent in the cozy house of her friend Timothy and today is no exception. When she first literally stumbled into the grumpy cop's life she would've laughed if someone told her that day that Tim is going to become her best friend, her rock or just her helpful neighbor. Grace was just about to carry another heavy box into her new home when the sweaty tornado of this attractive man took off for his regular morning run with his adorable dog Kojo. Deep in thought with a big box crushed into her ribcage she didn't pay attention to the upcoming runner on the pavement. Not only the heavy carton full of all her collected magazines dropped with a heavy thud on her front yard, no, the blue eyed stranger also found himself laying in a tangled mess of limps on the soft meadow of the woman's new home.

Instead of checking up if his master is alright Kojo happily greeted the new addition to his neighborhood. Laughing at the tail wiggling dog she asked the stranger if he's alright, but she got nothing more than a grumped mumble and some curse words. Just as Grace wanted to introduce herself the unfriendly stranger grabbed the leash of his dog and took off. Great first impression.

Some days later she was more than surprised to see the same unfriendly grump opening the door to the house right beside her. With a huge batch of homemade baked goods the woman wanted to introduce herself to her next door neighbor, not expecting to see the attractive but moody man she knocked down on her moving day. Fortunately his dog was still on her side.

Nowadays she can't imagine her life without Tim. Over the last three years she helped him through a lot of rough patches of life, he dried her tears and the two, no the three of them were inseparable. Of course Tim and Grace are only good friends and neighbors, but deep down she harbors feelings for the cop since the first day he was somewhat friendly to her.

Tim on the other side asks himself everyday why he deserves such a good and supportive and attractive woman in his life. After the whole disaster with his ex-wife he swore to himself to never fall in love with someone ever again. But here he is, in love with his best friend.

"Come here, baby." Grace pats the unoccupied place beside her, "Good boy, aren't you?". With a content huff Kojo lays his fury head on the woman's thighs, fully aware that Grace is going to scratch his head until he is fast asleep on the usually prohibited sofa.

Patting the soft fur is always some kind of therapy for Grace, she loves to pamper the dog.

"Why is it always Kojo who gets the most loving attention from you?" Tim says in his usual sassy tone. Grace feels her cheeks redden. She would love to give Tim the same loving attention as she gives his dog, but she knows that he is just her friend and neighbor so she bottles up her feelings one more time and even deeper into her already broken heart.

It's one of their cozy nights they spend together with Kojo in Tim's home and she loves every second of it.

---

 "All I'm saying is that I'm not sure if she is the right one, Tim." Grace tells her friend while shrugging her shoulders.

"You told me to get into the dating game and now I found some decent woman I want to be romantically involved with and now she is not good enough for me?"

Yes of course Grace encouraged her friend to get back on the horse so to speak, to have some proper dates and not meaningless one night stands. She knows that Tim is the relationship type he just wants to play the hard emotionless guy who doesn't need love and affection in his life. But Lisa, she's not the type of woman Grace would call relationship material. Weeks ago they were out to celebrate Angela's birthday. It was a nice evening in their favorite bar and later that evening this girl Lisa started to flirt with Tim. She was more than drunk and very unfriendly to all of them but Tim must've seen something in her that Grace and their friends didn't see and still don't see now weeks ago.

"I'm just worried, Timmy. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't know…she doesn't seem like the woman who… I don't know…" Grace tries to explain her concerns but before she gets any further the blue eyed LAPD cop interrupts her harshly.

"You tell me she's not good enough to be my girlfriend but you don't know why?" Tim huffs. Of course she knows why Lisa is far away from being good enough for Tim. Lisa is a good-time girl, always on the search for the next party. Every weekend she's out with her girls, drinking, partying and who knows what else. Tim on the other hand, well he is Tim. A disciplined man with a stressful job. How many times he told Grace in the last years how grateful he is for the quiet and cozy evenings they had together. He needs a shoulder a to lean on, a solid home to come to after a stressful shift on the LA streets. Not another woman who is intoxicating herself in the countless bars around the city.

"I just mean, she is always out partying with her friends, drinking and…" but Grace doesn't get any further with her attempt to explain herself. She feels that Tim's mood is getting worse and the situation out of hand.

"Ooooh, now I know," his voice growing louder which leads Kojo to let out a whine and burying his fury head further into Grace's shins, "you think I'm going to make the same mistake I did with Isabel. Got a thing for addicts. You think I'm stupid enough to let myself being dragged into another bad relationship?"

"Tim," Grace takes step towards her upset friend, "that's not what I mean. I just want you to be happy and yes, I'm worried that Lisa can't give you what you need…"

The taller man lets out another huff and takes a step back as if he can't stand to be near the smaller woman in front of him.

"And you think you know what I really need?" he lets out a sarcastic laugh which seems to stab right into  Grace's heart, "YOU are the one with relationship issues, not me. You're the last person who can give hints and tricks for healthy relationships." Seconds after Tim spits out his last sentence he immediately regrets his words. Since the day Grace told him he should've take part in the dating game once again he was pissed off. He doesn't want to date, well except for his best friend. But now the only woman he has real feelings for is telling him he needs to start dating again, why is the universe so cruel to him?

He looks deep into his best friend's eyes, he sees the emotional turmoil he triggered with just two sentences.

Grace feels like she is stabbed with a hot iron directly into her heart. How dare he brings up her failed relationship, the reason why she started all over three years ago in a new city all alone. How dare her best friend opens up her old wounds one more time. Of course he is right, since she left her life behind her and started over in LA she didn't even flirt with a guy even if there were countless occasions. She is an attractive and kind woman, men turn around when she walks along the streets, they would line up if she would give them the chance. But after her last relationship, the betrayal, the physical and mental pain she endured she is still not ready to open her heart for another man. And of course there are these deep feelings she buried deep down inside her broken heart for her best friend Tim. 

Without another word she gathers her mobile, her keys and her purse and runs out of Tim's house.

"Gracy…" he whispers into the now silent room. Kojo lets out a growl and trots away, even the dog can't stand him anymore. He fucked up royally. Angela is going to kill him and justifiably so.

---

The weather fits just perfectly to Grace mood. Big cold raindrops are falling on her head like pebbles when she exits her car and steps out into the parking lot of Mid-Wilshire. She feels her heart picking up its pace, she doesn't want to be here, the danger of stepping right in front of Tim Bradford is too big and intimidating. But there is no way that she is going to knock on his door, ever again, after what he said to her last night. So there's no other way than to deliver him his wallet to the precinct. The moment she found his wallet in her bag sent a painful jolt through her system. They ate dinner at their favorite restaurant yesterday and Grace some kind of stole his wallet because she wanted to pay for their meals and otherwise he would have found a way to pay the bill so she just hid his wallet in her bag. But unfortunately their evening took a turn she never would've prospected. So here she is, stepping out of the cold into the Mid-Wilshire in great hope to just drop his wallet at the front desk without seeing Tim.

"Hey, our famous best-selling author. To what do we owe the honor of this visit?" a familiar voice rings trough the entrance hall of the district. Grace feels like a thief surrounded by a whole bunch of cops. Well she is surrounded by a bunch of cops but she is far away from being a thief. Either way she turns around and is greeted by a cheerful looking Angela. Out of all people she knows from the Mid-Wilshire it has to be Angela who catches her. Before she knows what is happening Angela envelopes her into a bone crushing hug.

"What are you doing here? Come on I take you to Tim, he is in a very bad mood this morning and I guess you're the only one who can cheer him up…as always." The female officer makes her way further into the station but soon notices that her friend doesn't seem to catch up.

"Ehm, no…I- I just wanted to drop off Tim's wallet. Can you give it to him, please?" Grace tries to sound as normal as possible but her voice breaks at the end of the sentence.

Angela immediately notices that something has to be very wrong especially when she sees Grace's tired face. Her normally bright and shiny eyes are now dull and held unshed tears, circled by dark rings.

"You look horrible, Gracy. What's wrong? Is there a connection between Tim's extraordinary bad mood and you looking like death warmed over?"

The young takes a deep breath when Tim's hurtful words are playing in her head once again.

"Just tired." Grace answers in a steady tone even if she knows she can't fool her way out of the situation, "He just forgot his wallet and I'm in a hurry." She pushes the deep brown leather item into Angela's hands.

"Yeah, sure. I tell him you said 'hi'." The female officer says with a smile.

"Probably not a good idea." Grace mumbles and turns around quickly before Angela can see the tears spilling over.

---

The door to the breakroom opens with a loud thud which leads Tim to spill half of his coffee. The rookie who waits to get his chance with the coffee pot looks into a very stern looking face of Angela Lopez. The poor young man exits the break room as soon as possible afraid to get into the bad book of Lopez.

"Are you out of your mind?" Tim asks while shaking the hot coffee from his hand, clearly annoyed that he spilled the hot beverage over his hand.

"Why didn't Grace wanted to give this to you personally? What did you do?" Angela shoves Tim wallet into his still wet hand.

He takes a deep breath. His wallet, Grace brought his wallet to the precinct. Shit, and seemingly got caught by none other than Lopez.

"Maybe she's busy. I'm not her secretary." Tim rolls his eyes, he doesn't want to have another argument with one of his friends and he knows that his reaction is leading him straight into exact that but he can't help himself and be the asshole he is supposed to be.

"Busy? Mhh, sure. That's why she looked like hell and was on the verge of tears when I mentioned your name. Don't fuck with me Bradford." Angela pokes her forefinger into her friends chest.

Tim feels a migraine settling down into his skull and Angela is not helping with it. He pinches the bridge of his nose before answering his female friend.

"Yeah. Maybe we had a tiny argument yesterday?!" The taller man answers uncertain because he knows that 'a tiny argument' is the understatement of the year. Out of wounded pride he brought up Grace's latest failed relationship and opened old and still not healed wounds. How could he have been such an asshole? Why did he brought back his best friend's saddest memories, memories she trusted him with. He is well aware that there are only two persons who know the real extent of pain she stored away in her heart.

Over three years ago Grace thought her life couldn't have been worse. Emotionally caught in a bad relationship she found out that she is pregnant from the man who she recently learned cheated on her. It all started with him getting more secretive about phone calls or text messages he got on his mobile. Until Grace accidently read an obvious message on his phone. He pleaded her to stay with him and promised her that this was a one-time thing, stress got the better of him he needed to blow off some steam. But it wasn't a one-off.

The day she wanted to finally break free from her emotional abuser also was the day she found out about her pregnancy. She just came back from the OBGYN who confirmed her suspicion when she found him and her best friend red-handed. But the two made her responsible for that situation and when she packed her bag and shouted in panic, pain and rage that he will never see his child the whole world stopped. She has never ever seen her ex in such a rage. He screamed at her to have an abortion immediately. He got physical, dragged Grace by her hair out of their bedroom where she was packing her bag to leave this hellhole. The young woman ended up at the foot of the stairs, shoved by the man she once loved. Her unborn child didn't survive the fall. Neighbors called the cops when they heard the commotion. Oliver was dragged away screaming and kicking, spitting insults all the while Grace was miscarrying their unborn child.

And Tim? He held against her that she has relationship and trust issues but coaxed him into the dating life. He was pissed from the moment Grace coaxed him into dating again. He never really wanted to start dating women. Deep down he always has wanted to show his best friend that she deserves a good man. Show her how he loves her. But his insecurities always get in the way. Why didn't he ask Grace out for a date? Why is he always fucking up?

Angela sees the turmoil in her friends eyes. She knows that Grace is the last person you can have an argument with. She is kind, collected, lovely and not the hot tampered soul you can argue with passionately.

"What did you say to her?"

---

There she is, alone in her home, alone with her thoughts and again alone with her pain. She trusted Tim, he was her best friend after all. From the grumpy stranger he became her nice neighbor with an adorable dog and finally he became her friend, her best friend in her new life. Now she is once again alone. The betrayal weights so heavy that Grace can feel it deep in her bones. Everything feels so heavy. But life has to go on. After crying for what feels like the whole day after returning from Mid-Wilshire she finally finds the strength to sit in front of her laptop and starts working on her latest article. Even if Angela always calls her 'best-selling author' Grace calls herself a journalist. She writes articles for several magazines and has some columns she has to keep alive regularly. Oliver always held her small even if she has a huge knowledge in a lot of fields, which makes her a rather popular journalist for umpteen magazines.

Grace loves her job and due to the fact she can work from home it was easier for her to move states and start a new life in LA without hunting for a new job. She finally feels like she has found a new home with people she can trust, friends. But now Tim told her what he really thought all the time.

Is she really that broken? Probably he is right, she is broken and destroyed from her trust and relationship issues. And even if she often regrets that she hides her feelings she has for Tim, today she is more glad than ever.

---

Tim was relieved when he finally could leave the district. The day was the longest he's ever had. His thoughts going wild and there wasn't a minute he didn't think of Grace. Angela nearly killed him when he confess what he said to Grace last night. He is definitely in her bad book now. And now Kojo. Usually Tim's furry friend greets the male cop when he comes home. A wet tongue and a wiggling tale is always the first thing Tim is greeted with when coming home. But today he's greeted with silence. No clicking paws on the hard wood floor. No wet nose that is poking his hand to claim some much needed cuddling. "Kojo?" Tim calls in the silent living room while getting rid of his boots. No answer, no movement nothing. His heart picks up its pace. Where is his hoggish roommate?

"Kojo? Come here." He tries again but immediately sees the dog laying in his basket. Just an unfriendly grunt can be heard from the chubby bulldog.

"You too, huh? Yeah give me the cold shoulder, I know I'm an idiot." Tim talks to Kojo while letting himself fall on his spacious sofa.

---

The last days were filled with the same routine: Grace stumbles out of her bed after another nightmare filled night or she didn't slept at all. Wrote some of her articles or columns, but most of the time is filled with being in her own head. The conversation with Tim, rather his harsh words are playing in her head over and over again. This morning is no exception. After taking a much needed shower to refresh herself after a night of tossing and turning she puts on a whole pot of coffee she looks out of her window to see that Tim's car is already missing in his driveway. So it was safe for her to get her mail without seeing the man she secretly loves but hurt her so bad with his words. The crisp air makes her shudder when she steps out of her front door, dark clouds are hiding the sun and the first drops of yet another rainstorm are falling on the pavement.

With a stack of mailing Grace hurries back into her warm home. "Bill, junk, junk…what the hell, do I look like I need a nurse at home?" Grace mumbles to herself while sorting out the mail, but stops dead in her tracks when she sees an envelope with her name and address written in a scrawly handwriting.

"No…" the young woman whispers.

Some weeks ago she found nearly every day one of those mysterious envelopes. Some didn't even have content. But last week she got the first letter with an actual message, followed by one letter a day. The messages developed fast from strange to threats. Grace started to get concerned and made the decision to tell Tim, he is a cop after all. But then they had this nasty argument and she stormed out of his house without getting the chance to ask him for help with the threats.

Grace's hands start to shake when she reads today's message:

You would look so much better 6 feet under.

Stop writing your lies!

Whoever sends her these letters knows where she lives, they have her address and now they escalate quickly. She knows she needs to tell someone but Tim is the last person she wants to see or talk to right now.

---

The days went by without any more disturbing mail and Grace is finally able to distract herself with work. Writing has always been a safe haven for the talented woman, so she was able to finish some articles over last days. Unlike her work she feels like the rest of her life is once again in shards. She can't stop thinking about Tim and his words. The situation is slowly starting to affect her health. She is running on caffeine and water. Nearly every try to get some decent meal into her body ended with her feeling sick. So after the fourth day of feeling sick after eating a small handful of something she found in her home she resigned to get down a full meal. Dizzy spells and a headache are now her constant companion. In stressful situations it has always been difficult for Grace to look after herself and especially feed herself properly but the current emotional pain is a whole new level of escalation.

After finishing her latest column the young woman decides to take a much needed break and get some fresh air as long as the sun is warming the crisp LA air.

Clothed in her favorite jumper, which now already hangs loosely on her malnourished body she exits her house to clear her head.

It is a nice day but in the distance dark clouds are already forecasting another rainstorm. Grace looks at the sky at the clouds piling up like dark cotton candy, the fresh air streaming into her lungs.

Distracted by the twirling thoughts in her head she doesn't notice the tall man sprinting on the pavement making his way directly over to her.

---

Running should clear his head but the exact opposite is currently happening. Tim notices today more than ever that he can't run away from his problems. He needs to apologize, he knows that this is the only way to get his friend back. Heck to get back the woman he secretly loves. But just a cheap apology is not going to fix the situation. He had hurt Grace deeply, his own heart hurts when he replays his words in his mind. In what amount of pain is Gracy now when he feels he is suffocating?

At least it's not raining when he decided to take a run with Kojo this afternoon after he ended his shift. Kojo is not the biggest fan of running and he often trots some meters behind Tim when his master forces him to go on a jog.

The soft and rhythmic taps of Tim's running shoes and the steady bouncing finally occupies his brain and he feels light for the first time in days. Concentrating on the ground he doesn't pay attention to the woman slowly walking in his direction until it is too late and he crashes into the smaller body.

---

Grace doesn't know what hit her when she lands on the cold pavement with a painful thud, at least it's not wet from the rain anymore but this is the only good thing. She lets out a surprised yelp and she immediately feels her heart picking up. Has the stranger who sent her the threads finally made a move? Did he shove her to the ground to deliver his next message? She tries to keep her panic at bay until she feels a familiar wet nose poking into her right hand. She opens her eyes and looks directly into the warm eyes of her favorite dog.

"Fuck, Gracy. I didn't….I'm sorry. I didn't pay attention. Are you hurt?" Tim stumbles over his words when he finally realizes wo he hit while running along the pavement of his neighborhood. In front of him is Grace laying on the cold ground just as shocked as him. The only one who is able to react seems to be Kojo who is on the woman's right side licking and poking her hand to get attention.

Grace lifts her head further and is greeted with the blue eyes she fell in love with a long time ago. The same eyes who looked at her with disgust and rage days ago.

It takes her some seconds to answer Tim's question but it feels like she is mute for hours until she can form the right words.

"I'm okay." Her answer is short and not honest. She landed hard on the ground and she can already feel a bruise building on the shoulder she landed on. But being vulnerable in front of Tim Bradford is not an option. So she tries to bring her body into a sitting position but Tim is faster and kneels on her left side pushing her torso up. She swallows the wince when Tim touches her bruised shoulder blade.

"I help you up, Gracy." Tim says in a soft tone.

"I don't need help." The young woman says in not more than a whisper. She turns around and focuses on Kojo instead of Tim.

"Good boy…" She says while petting the excited dog. He lets out a whine and nearly pushes her back into a laying position out of loving excitement.

"He misses you…" Tim tries but stops himself to go any further. Is this the right time to apologize for being an asshole out of Hell? As if Kojo wants to emphasize his master's words he lets out a short bark.

"Good boy, Kojo. I miss you, too." Grace can't hold back her emotions for any longer when she feels her eyes watering up. A huge lump is forming in her throat, unshed tears wanting to spill over. She hastily kisses the adorable dog on his furry head and stands up as fast as she can. She has to go, she can't sit there any longer, in front of the man she loves and who hurt her just days ago.

A dizzyspell attacks her the moment she is back on her feet. The ground beneath her feet feeling like a wobbling floe. The last days without a decent meal is now giving her a hard time. She feels Tim's hands grabbing her elbows steadying her waving form. When her vision clears she takes a step back, shaking her arms free out of Tim's firm yet soft grip.

The very short moment Tim is finally close to Grace he takes the chance to study her features. Dark circles are surrounding her usually bright and friendly eyes. Now her expression is empty. Her face is sunken in, she clearly lost some weight. Tim wants to kick himself for bringing her into this situation in the first place. But before he can scan her any further she takes a step back.

"I should bring you home, you don't look so good." Tim says in an attempt to help the woman who he had hurt now two times in barely a week.

"Always the charmer, Bradford." Grace scoffs, she knows she looks like death warmed over with the little she ate the last days and the poor attempt to have a decent sleep, but she can't hold back the witty comment.

"That's not what I meant…Gracy. Let me help you." The blonde cop tries to rescue the bad situation but fails miserably when he sees his former best friend, the woman he loves, turning around. Her last words ringing in his ears: "I don't need your help."

Turning around to make her way back to her house the tears finally spill over, wetting her pale face. Not because of the pain in her bruised shoulder but the pain in her broken heart.

---

Grace is on the edge. Every stranger passing by her house could be the psycho that sent her the letters and the threats. When it started she thought it has to be a joke. Just some strange fan mail, someone who likes her work, well now she knows they obviously dislike her work, but either way she didn't think that these letters would escalate to the point that she is afraid to stay home alone. Now, with the sun slowly setting down, darkness is around the corner. She was never a fan of lonely nights, so she was thankful for the countless nights she spent with her best friend Tim. But now alone at home tiptoeing in her house listening to every noise, watching every shadow on the streets.

---

Tim is restlessly laying in his bed, Kojo at the end of the bed still mad at him, but who could blame him? He loves Grace just as much as Tim and with her gone for over a week and just the short encounter he had when he ran her over while jogging, the faithful dog seems to miss her more and more every day.

When Tim finally closes his eyes, exhausted from the day and the emotional turmoil the last days, the deep growl from the fur friend brings him back from his taking over slumber.

"Kojo! Stop it!" Tim groans, but his dog has other plan when he jumps up from his cuddly position at the end of the bed and runs out of the bedroom barking loudly.

"KOJO!" Tim jumps out of his bed to stop the outraged dog. His barking only got louder when Tim finally catches Kojo scratching at the front door. The tall man is out of breath when he finally can get a hold of the bulldog. "What's wrong with you?"

But Kojo only gets more agitated and starts to whine when Tim tries to pull him away from the front door. Something has to be in the front yard and definitely more than a rabbit or a cat. Cautiously and ready to fight a possible intruder Tim opens the front door.

"Oh my God, Gracy…" He gasps when he sees the real reason for Kojo's reaction.

---

A loud shattering noise wakes the young woman who just fell asleep on her sofa. She wanted to proofread one of her latest articles when finally sleep took over only one hour ago. Now she is wide awake her heart hammering painfully at her chest. Disorientated she jumps up from the sofa. Where did the noise came from? But before she can investigate any further something surprises her from behind, covering up her mouth and holding her body in place in a bruising iron grip. She shrieks and tries to wiggle herself out of the arms of the taller stranger who just broke into her house.

"You should've been more cautious. YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME AND STOP YOUR LIES!" A deep male voice shouts into her right ear. He is here. The man who sent her the letters broke into her house. She feels panic bubbling up inside her chest, blood rushing in her ears and her heart once again increasing its pace in a fight or flight modus. Without thinking she bites down hard on the hand that is currently covering up her mouth.

"You bitch…" The man screams in pain. Grace can free herself the second the stranger is disturbed with his hurting hand. She stumbles two steps forward but her right knee catches the corner of her coffee table with a painful thud. Too surprised she can't catch herself or brake the fall and her head collides merciless with the small table in front of her sofa. White hot pain is radiating from her temple into her skull, blinding her. She knows she has to stand up again but the sudden impact leaves her dizzy and dazed on the hardwood floor. A strong hand encloses her left ankle and pulls her whole body over the floor. Away from the coffee table and the sofa. She tries to fight the violent pull on her ankle, but her hands are scratching effortlessly over the floor until the stranger stops his action just to turn her body over. Grace tries to catch her breath when she feels a sudden pain in her thigh and then in her stomach. The pitiless stranger kicked her over and over again, producing big bruises on her thighs, stomach and ribcage. Grace's soft skin is slowly transforming into a painful landscape of bruises and bumps. She needs to act now, otherwise the brutal assault would soon lead to unconsciousness or even her death. The stranger suddenly stops and kneels beside the wounded woman.

"You finally able to cooperate?" He whispers directly into her face. Grace can feel his foul breath on her face. She smells cigarettes and alcohol, he is clearly intoxicated. Despite her spinning head and the excruciating pain in her limps and torso she knows it's now or never. She pinches her eyes shut, ready for the next pain when she headbutts the disgusting face in front her own. Even in her weak state she can be proud of herself when she hears the sickening crack of broken bones. The man falls right on his butt cradling his broken nose. Grace immediately turns on her side ready to bring her aching body into a standing position. The dimly lit living room is spinning and she needs the backrest of her sofa to pull her heavy body up. The backdoor is her only way out without running into the offender again, who is still sitting dazed mere meters away. Without looking back Grace stumbles in the direction of the backdoor which appeals further away than usual. But before she can reach the saving exit the weak woman once again tumbles to the floor directly into the thousand glistering glass shards of the broken window which the man probably uses as an entrance. Ignoring the pain from slicing open her right arm from breaking the fall Grace stands up and runs into her backyard. Barefoot and clothed in nothing but some skimpy silk sleep shorts and a top Grace runs straight over the still wet meadow to the dark house of her nearest neighbor.

---

The last thing Tim expected when he opened the door seconds ago is the sight of the woman he secretly loves bloody and beaten kneeling breathlessly on his doormat.

"Gracy!"

Her eyes are staring unfocused, her blood-smeared hands falling from their position on the door onto the floor. Her head now hanging low like she is about to pass out. The shocked man doesn't waste another second and kneels down in front of the wounded woman.

"What the…hey come here, I got ya…" Tim catches the woman's body before she can sink further down on the cold floor. Her bloody face now pressed into Tim's bare chest. He immediately feels the warm sticky liquid on his chest.

He needs to bring her inside and that fast. Before he scoops her up into his arms he takes a look behind her. His cop instincts kicked in immediately when he opened the door. The picture of her injuries, her being in nothing but her sleep clothes, barefoot out in the cold, she must've been attacked in her house. Did the assailant follow her? Does he need to defend himself and Grace because he was right behind her? But Tim can't make out a single soul in the dark neighborhood.

A scream of pain tumbles out of Grace's mouth when Tim tries to scoop her up. Her arms, legs, her chest, hell her whole body is in agony. Tears are wetting her checks and are mixing up with the blood which is smeared over her face.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry…" Tim hushes her. His heart is breaking for the woman in his arms he doesn't want to hurt her any further but he has to take her inside as fast as possible. Not only because he is afraid that someone might lurk in the shadows of the dimly lit neighborhood but also because he needs to get her cold body inside and get an overview of her injuries.

"T-Timothy…" he hears her soft voice moaning into his chest when he has her finally secure in his arms, taking her straight to bathroom due the blood she has all over her body.

"Yeah, it's me. You're safe, Gracy." Tim presses a soft kiss into her hair while he carries her into his warm  master bathroom, cautious of his dog wiggling nervously around his legs.

With a skilled handgrip he pulls the big towel from the towel radiator and lets it hit the floor before he crouches down and lowers the trembling woman down onto the warm and fluffy fabric.

Finally safe and in the warmth he starts to take stock of Grace's injuries. Angry red and blue bruises are already littering her whole body and he's certain that there will appear more in the next hours. While he cradles her head in his chest he has a good view of the bloody cut on her temple, even with the huge looking amount of blood on her face it seems like the cut is not as deep as to need stitches. Good. His eyes travel further down from her tear soaked face to her chest where she cradles her right arm. The sticky red liquid has also soaked her silk sleep shirt. He has to find the source of the blood.

"Gracy, let me see your arm." Tim tries to coax the still trembling and crying woman in his arms to show him her obvious lacerated right arm. Even if he wants nothing more than to kill the person who did this to her he first of all has to make sure if his friend needs a trip to the hospital or even an ambulance.

"H-hurts…" Grace chokes out between painful breaths. Her ribcage feels like someone pokes it with hot iron such as her arms and legs. She wants to curl further into herself to safe her body from more pain. When the attacker comes back she needs to make herself as small as possible, give him as little surface for his attack as possible.

"I'm sorry, Gracy. I'm sorry. But I need to take a look at your arm…" Tim breathes out cautiously untangling her injured arm searching for the source of the amount of blood on her shirt and her shorts. He makes out some cuts under the layer of blood, most of them not deep enough to require stitches. He slowly turns her right arm and finds two deeper cuts with shards of glass still embedded into the wounds.

Apparently the woman is not in danger to bleed to death any minute. Tim knows he has to call the District, Grey and he should probably inform Angela about the situation which just unfolded in their friend's house.

Tim tries to bring Grace into a more stable position on the bathroom floor. Shifting both their weight in the direction of the bathtub he leans the trembling woman against it. He needs to get his mobile from his bedroom table in the adjoining room.

When Grace feels Tim untangling himself from her shaking body she feels immediately panic resurfacing. Tim's leaving her. She will be alone, the attacker could come back and finish what he started. She whimpers and grabs one of Tim's hands squeezing his wrist like her life depends on it. Her unfocused eyes looking directly into the male cop's eyes. He's never seen his friend in such a state of panic, fear and pain.

"D-don't leave…he's c-coming back…" Grace breathing picks up with the thought of Tim leaving her to her fate.

Tim cautiously puts both his hands on her shoulders to bring her in more upright position while leaning her body against the bathtub. "Grace, look at me. I just need to get my mobile. Kojo is here, he will look out for you, but you're safe here. We'll keep you safe…" He looks into her tear filled glazed over eyes.

"Just one second. I'm right back."

---

Actually Tim wanted to make the call without Grace listening but just as he promised her he was back in mere seconds making three short calls while sitting back onto the cold tiles of his bathroom to be near his friend.

Tim's phone calls were a blur for Grace. Her head pounding painfully feeling like a jackhammer was planted right behind her eyes. Her cut open arm throbbing in the rhythm of her still racing heart. With her uninjured left hand she strokes over Kojo's velvet fur. The faithful dog laying still beside the injured woman with his head on her thighs.

When Tim finally ends his last call in which he informed a very sleepy Angela about the things going on in his house he is glad he can apply his whole attention back to the blood-smeared woman in his bathroom.

"Grey send several patrol cars to search the neighborhood for possible suspects and they search your house. We gonna get you cleaned up now, sweetheart."

With a wet washcloth he starts to clean up the now dried blood on his friend's face. Focusing on the warm fury body beside her rather than the panic still bubbling in her chest helped Grace to get more coherent by the minute.

When Tim strokes the warm and wet cloth over her forehead a painful hiss tumbles out of her plump lips.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You have a huge bump on your forehead and a cut on your temple. I don't want to hurt you but we need to clean up the blood. Okay?" Tim cringes when he hears Grace whimper in pain. The last thing he wants is to hurt her further but he needs to clean up the remaining blood from her head and her body.

"I-I hit my head…" her explanation is once more interrupted by a painful whimper when Tim starts to clean up the cut on her temple. "…on my coffee table. A-a-and I.." Grace shudders when she thinks about how the attacker caged her body on the floor, his breath on her face, "I gave him a headbutt, b-broke his nose…"

Tim stops for a moment and looks into his friend's eyes, definitely proud of Grace. "That's my girl. Do you remember anything else?" He doesn't want to elevate her stress level once again now that she is somewhat calm but he needs some more information about what happened in general and now she seems to be willing to share her memories.

---

"TIM!" a familiar voice calls through his house. A very agitated Angela gains entry into Tim's house with the spare key he gave her years ago in case of an emergency.

"Oh my God, Gracy. Are you okay?" Angela breathes out when she finally finds her two friends still sitting on the bathroom floor. Tim just finished cleaning up Grace who is still in a state of shock.

"Tim, are you both hurt? I thought…" The female cop panics when she sees the blood on Tim's bare chest.

"Hey, calm down. It's hers. It's Grace's blood. I cleaned her up. She had some cuts on her arm and a laceration on her temple. I sealed the deeper ones with steri-strips." Tim explains while he still cradles Grace in his arms. He wants to clean up the itching blood from his bare chest and wants to give his friend some clean clothes but his first priority was to keep her calm and safe. Now with Angela in his house and the neighborhood full of cops he can finally breathe again a bit lighter.

---

"She is resting in my bed now." Tim breathes out when he enters his living room area where he sees Grey and Lopez talking silently with two other cops from their Division.

"Good. Let her rest some more. We will be back for her statement tomorrow. Did she tell you what happened?" Grey pats Tim on the shoulder to give him some comfort. He knows how hard it is when family or friends are involved. And Grace is definitely more than just a friend for Bradford. She saved him from his demons Isabel left him with, she somehow made a new person out of the grumpy cop. Seeing her injured because she was attacked in her own home just mere meters away from him must've been more than difficult for Tim and Grey knows that now the whole situation slowly sinks in. Tim is blaming himself for allowing his friend getting hurt on such a brutal way.

"Not much. She was still in a state of shock when I finished patching her up. She just told me some bits and pieces. How she thinks that she broke this bastard's nose, that was the moment she took the chance to flee." he pinches the bridge of his nose, pictures of her bloody and beaten laying on his doormat are making a cruel reappearance in front of his eyes. He is sure that he will never forget the picture of Grace bleeding in his arms on his bathroom floor, whimpering an crying from pain.

"Fuck…" how he wants to lay his hands on the bastard that broke into Grace's house.

Angela takes a step towards her friend and squeezes his arm. "Hey, it's not your fault."

---

Fortunately Grey and Angela left him shortly after their short talk. He needs his peace and quiet and when he is honest he more than anything he wants the peace and quiet for the sleeping woman in his bedroom. Before Grey left, Tim announced that he will take the next days off to take care of Grace, heck he would take the entire year off to take care of the woman. He thinks about their argument which is now more than a week old. No, it wasn't an argument. Grace looked out for him, told him she's worried for his well-being and what did he do? Betrayed her trust with reopening her old wounds. With his head in his hands he knows that sleep is not going to get him the rest of the night so he makes his way over to the kitchen to get himself a water. When he passes by the closed bedroom door he hears whimpering and rustling of his sheets.

---

He is back. The stranger back and whatever he wants he came to take it. Six feet under, she would look better six feet under. He's back to finish her off. Big hands are closing around her delicate neck. Squeezing all the air out of her heavy lungs. She wants to fight back but her head feels fuzzy and her feet seem to be glued to the spot. She squeezes her eyes shut, she doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear, pain and panic in her eyes when he strangles her to death with his bare hands.

With a gasp Grace wakes up from the haunting nightmare which felt so real that even now that she is awake she can feel the stranger's hands around her neck. She tries to kick the tangled sheets away from her hurting legs but in her still panicked state the fabric seems to wriggle around her legs further like a big python does with its pray. She shrieks when she feels the mattress dip beside her. But instead of another threat she feels a warm and wet nose poking into her left arm and a bulky furry head softly plopping down her thighs. Kojo. She is safe. She is at Tim's. Slowly the memories of the night come back to her. She stumbled rather than running over to Tim's house. Thank God her cop friend was home and opened the door. He cleaned her up, patched up her injuries and helped her changing in one of his Academy shirts and a various numbers too big sweat pants which he rolls at the waistband to create a little bit of support on her slim waist.

Despite the knowledge that she is safe and the support she feels of the dog laying beside her, her chest feels tight, too tight to take a proper breath. She knows the upcoming feeling. Panic settles deep into her lungs, into her bones and into her soul. Grace feels a tear rolling down her cheek. She hates that feeling, the feeling of helplessness. Her body is betraying her, suffocating itself. No strong hands are choking her, its her own body which produces so much fear that the panic in her chest is palpable. Desperately she claw at the collar of Tim's T-shirt. But every attempt to loosen up her tight chest is not successful and slowly her vision is filled with white spots.

Another silent scream dries up in her throat when the bedroom door slowly opens, creating a halo of light around the person who's intruding her.

"It's me. You're safe. I heard you…ehm… I just wanted to check on you." Tim sees Grace sitting in his bed Kojo's head in her lap when the light coming from the living room illuminates his dark bedroom.

"Can I come in?" The worried cop asks cautiously. It takes some seconds for him to realize that Grace is Having a full blown panic attack. Kojo nervously poking his wet nose into the woman's side.  He sees his friend in all desperation just to get some oxygen in her already weak body. Tim is now in a rush to close distance between him and Grace. Kneeling beside her as near as possible he takes both her hands into his warm ones placing hers on his broad chest.

"Sssh, I got you. I'll keep you safe. Feel my heartbeat? Feel my breathing?" He whispers into the bedroom which is filled with the noise of Grace's ragged breathing.

"C-c-can't…" Grace chokes out, her vision slowly turning black.

"Gracy, look at me. You can do this. I got you…" Tim tries to get her back to focus on him and not on the upcoming unconsciousness.

She is safe here. Tim always meant safety for her. His heartbeat under the tips of her fingers creating a steady rhythm.

"You're doing good, honey. Some more deep breathes." Tim praises her when he notices her breathing slowly improving. 

I takes her nearly ten minutes to calm down from her breakdown. Her head now hurting like never before and her vision still fuzzy, dizziness slowly creeping back into her vision. She slowly lifts her head from Tim's shoulder, "Thank you." she whispers while looking Tim directly into his eyes which seem to held some unshed tears.

He tucks her back into his chest, cradling her head into his warmth. He has never regretted something in his life this much than the day he hurt Grace. The day he couldn't control his rage, the rage he had against himself for not being brave enough to tell the woman he loves, his best friend, how he feels about her. He could've lost her today. Lost her while the last words he said to her were disgusting and hurtful.

Tim notices Grace's body growing slack and her breathing deep and calm. She fell asleep in his arms. How he wishes this was his new normal, Grace sleeping in his arms. Sleeping peacefully without pain and fear. Just her and him sleeping in each other arms. But the reality was different. She fell asleep in his arms out of exhaustion and pain and the fear of being alone in the dark once again, threatening shadows lurking in every corner about to her hurt again.

Tim softly brings them both in a comfier position, laying her head on his chest while he envelopes her in his arms, keeping her safe from the outside world, giving her shivering body his warmth.

---

The pain of bruised skin, bones and soul is always worse after the shock of the events slowly faded away. Grace feels every bruise the stranger inflicted on her more than 12 hours ago. Just walking or sitting back down is a debilitating task but giving her statement was worse than every physical pain she currently feels. Seeing Tim face during her run-down of the events changed from rage, pity, sadness to what she would interpret as pure disappointment. She came to the point where she had to tell Angela, Grey and Tim from the threat letters she received weeks ago and how they escalated quickly to the point of no return. When Grace explained that she wanted to tell Tim the evening he lost it in front her, the cop couldn't take it anymore and stormed out of his house. Grace knew when she shares this information her (former?) best friend would be pissed at her but his reaction scared her none the less.

---

"Hey, he will calm down, Grace." Angela stayed after Grey went back to the District after he got all information from Grace.

With trembling fingers the young woman tries to dry her tear soaked face. "I-I…I wanted to tell him. Wanted to get help because the last letters really scared me…But then he was so mad at me that evening…" Grace shakes her head, breathing deeply to calm herself down. Another embarrassing panic attack is the last thing she needs right now.

"He's not mad at you. He is mad at himself. He blames himself for what happened to you." Angela envelopes the other woman in a hug, "You're going to be okay."

The stress from giving her statement, the memories which brought it back and Tim running out on her is making her dizzy and she knows she is due to another round of painkillers and at least some rest.

---

With a pounding headache Grace lets herself plop down on Tim's cozy sofa. Fortunately Angela had to drive back to the District. They all working hard to get the man who broke into their friend's apartment.

Even after taking the much needed painkillers Grace's head is still throbbing painfully and her whirling thoughts are not helping. With her head in her hands she feels a furry head and a warm nose poking into her shin. At least Kojo is here and keeping her company.

---

Four long hours. Four torturing long hours ticked away since Tim left his house without further explanations. Only five minutes ticked away since Grace made the decision to pack her few belongings Angela brought her over from her house since it's still a crime scene. Some toiletries, clothes she would need for the next days and her mobile. Fuck, her car keys are still in her house, so she would have to call an Uber to get to the next hotel in town. She feels fear and dread pooling in her stomach at the thought of being completely alone in a hotel room at night but staying at Tim's is no longer an option even if she feels safe here. Grace doesn't want to stress the cop any further with her presence. She grabs her back hissing from the pain of her various big bruises the maniac inflicted on her body and stumbles in direction of the front door. Kojo never left her side since they were alone in Tim's home and now that she has packed her bag and is seemingly about to leave the dog lets out deep growls. Not threatening noises but clearly noises of disagreement.

"I'm sorry buddy, but your daddy is not happy with me here anymore." Grace crouches down to the growling dog but lets herself down on her knees due to severe dizziness.

"Okay, just one minute…" Whether she convinces herself or the dog, she doesn't know. White noise is filling her ears and she feels her heartrate picking up from the stress and painful position on the floor.

---

Yepp, Tim fucked up once again. Angela gave him an earful when he makes an appearance at the District later that day. Why did he leave Grace home alone? Why did he storm out of his home while his friend reliving her memories of the night she was attacked in her own home? Why is he always a fucking moron? He had no answers but of course Angela had.

"YOU HAVE TO FIX THIS, TIM! Jesus Christ help me…" Tim still hears her words on his way home. "You know, I know, EVERYBODY knows that you two idiots like each other…more than friends. Why are you destroying not only your friendship with Gracy but also destroying the tiny chance that this wonderful woman will hear you out when you are finally going to confess her your feelings?!"

Confess his feeling. Should he confess his feelings after he hurt her that bad over a week ago and after he just hurt her one more time today when she needed him the most. He remembers how content he felt last night when he was finally able to hold her in his arms. "Man up Bradford!" He mumbles when he parks his truck in his driveway. When he nears his front door with his keys in hand the first thing he hears is Kojo's agitated barking. Is the scumbag back ? Did he find Grace at his home? Immediately his cops instincts are on high alter when he enters his house. Clearing the hallway Tim is surprised when he doesn't see any signs of a fight or even any evidence of invasion. He steps further into his house nearing the noise of his barking dog.

"Oh no…" The cop breathes out when he sees his friend kneeling awkwardly on the living room floor. Immediately Tim falls down on his knees beside Grace and lays his hands on her shoulders.

Startled by the sudden touch her head shoots up and a shriek leaves her plump lips.

"Easy, it's me." Tim tries to catch her when Grace falls backwards not able to catch herself because of her swimming head.

While holding the young woman up and preventing her from falling further Tim examines her environment. Why is she on the floor? Did she hurt herself? His eyes fall on her duffle bag and her mobile directly beside her on the floor.

"Let's get you up, Gracy. Come on…" Before he interrogates her what her plan was with her packed bag and her mobile in hand he picks her up bridal style and carries her to the sofa. The young woman buries her head into his shoulder clearly seeking comfort.

Cautiously he lets the trembling woman down, sitting beside her to hold her up.

"Did you hurt yourself, honey?" Tim tries to bite his tongue. Honey? She is not your 'honey' you moron. But Grace doesn't seem to notice him calling her pet names.

"D-dizzy…Wanted to go…" Grace stuttered when she slowly lifts her head to take a look at the man who holds her in his warm embrace.

Tim is dumfounded by his friends words. She wanted to go, leave the safety of his home and go?

He shifts his body to get more distance between him and Grace but soon lifts his hands to cup both her cheeks, cradling her head in his soft yet big hands.

"You wanted to go? But…Grace, you're hurt, this scum is still out there. Why…?" Tim whispers with more emotion in his words as ever.

His hands on her cheeks with his thumbs softly stroking her cheeks feels so calming yet they are going to have a serious conversation right now. Grace wants just to stop the clicking clock at the far end of the living room wall to just preserve that intimate moment with Tim Bradford. But she knows he is waiting for her to talk. She closes her eyes, his deep blue eyes too distracting to form a coherent sentence.

"I wanted to be out of your hair. You were so mad at me…I'm sorry for not telling you sooner…" her voice breaking at the end of the sentence and it takes Grace some seconds to get her voice back.

"And I'm sorry for…for giving relationship advices."

Is he dreaming? Grace just apologized to him. TO HIM. To the moron who is responsible for the mess his friend now finds herself in. He looks into Grace's face. He sees her pinching her eyes close the crease on her forehead a clear indication that she feels unwell. He notices her trying to calm down her breathing and ground herself but her trembling body is giving her away.

"Grace, please look at me." He talks in a calming voice but instead of opening her eyes the young woman in front of him tries to shy away from him. "Please, Gracy. Open your eyes, look at me." He tries again and with soft but firm touch he tilts her head up. Her big eyes are full of fear and unshed tears when she finally manages to open them and looking deep into Tim's ocean blue eyes.

"I was- I am an idiot. It's me who has to apologize. For everything…" he takes a deep breath while stroking his hand softly over Grace's pale cheeks, "I was not mad at you for not telling me, I stormed out, because I couldn't take it anymore. I am to blame for this whole mess. For you being hurt, for every nightmare, for the pain you're in. I should've protected you, instead I hurt you. I AM SORRY. Gracy!"

A big tear is making its way down Grace's face. Tim said sorry. Those words she needed to hear so badly for over a week, instead she blamed herself because this is what she always does, how her ex taught her. She has never heard an apology which she believed so easily. She knows Tim is not a man who shows his emotions that easily. But his eyes spoke for him while his mouth formed the words.

"Please, say something. Please forgive me. I can't lose you, Gracy." Tim starts to get worried. No he gets fucking nervous. The woman in front of him stays silent. His heart is hammering. It feels like a jackhammer is trying to open his ribcage to free all his built-up emotions he feels for his best friend. Grace's head is swimming, the room is spinning and she tries to build up the courage to say something to the blue eyed cop in front of her. Of course she forgives him, he is her best friend after all and she loves him with every fiber of her body but that fact is going to stay inside her head.

Tim feels his friend swaying in the sitting position on his couch. His hands wander from her head to her shoulders to steady her further.

"Are you still staying with me, Gracy?" Tim asks. He knows she needs to rest. Her body is slowly shutting down and the emotional stress is just adding up on her plate right now.

Grace slowly nods her head but she has to shut her eyes because the room is just spinning faster with the motion of her head. But she gathers all her strength to give Tim the long-awaited answer.

"I want to stay. I've never felt safer than with you." With that minimum of confirmation Tim closes the distance between the two and finally envelopes the trembling woman into a hug, cradling her body into his.

---

After some minutes of them hugging each other Tim felt her body growing weaker so he didn't waste any more time and carried his friend back into his bedroom.

Feeling the warm comfort of Tim's bed and her exhausted body is giving the chance to rest Grace let's out a small sigh. While opening her eyes she feels the mattress beside her dip.

"So you wanted to take it on the lam and steal one of my sweater on your way?" Tim chuckles softly when he sees Grace still wearing one of his LAPD sweaters with his Name embroidered on it. He could get used to seeing Grace in his in his clothes.

"It's comfy and warm…smells like you. I like your smell. Love…love your clothes." Grace says in a slight slur clearly deteriorating by the second. 'And I love you' was on the tip of Tim's tongue. His heart still beating rapidly. A blush creeps up from his neck all the way up to his cheeks warming his face further.

"Get some rest, Gracy." Tim says after clearing his throat awkwardly. But before he can stand up he feels a small and clammy hand gripping his. He looks back down on the woman who is laying in his bed, even on his side of the bed where he normally sleeps, but he couldn't care less. He would sleep on the floor for the rest of his life just to ensure that Grace is safe.

"Can- can you stay? Lay with me…afraid." Grace opens her eyes once again getting lost in the blue ones which are watching her intently. Her voice is nothing more than a whisper, her last word nearly not audible.

---

After discarding his clothes hastily on the chair beside his wardrobe Tim crawls into the empty space beside Grace but keeps a safety distance. He lays on his back staring at the ceiling of his bedroom until he feels the woman on the other side of the bed turning around.

"Tim?" He hears a small voice whispering into the dark. "You asleep?"

He chuckles lightly at her question. Even if he would've been asleep by now her question would have woken him up as the light sleeper he is. "No, Gracy. No I'm not." He also turns on his side to look at his friend.

"Can- can I come closer to you?" She asks shyly, almost embarrassed. But her hazy mind is craving comfort. Whenever she closes her eyes she sees images of her being attacked at her home mixing up with the horrible night she had years ago when her ex shoved her down the stairs .

Grace closes her eyes afraid to look at Tim when he turns her down. But despite her fear of his rejection she feels him coming closer and finally pulling her into his broad chest. Her head instantly settles over his heart, hearing his thrumming heart she wonders why it's beating so fast. But rather sooner than later the exhaustion makes her eyes falling shut, in the arms of the man she is so deeply in love with.

---

Her smaller body fits perfectly into his arms. With her head resting on his chest he smells the intoxicating odor of her hair. It always smells fresh but sweet. And now so close to her he takes a deep breath as if he wants to breathe in every shade of this smell to remember it later.

He always felt a dangerous pull, like some invisible power makes it impossible for him to stay away from his friend.

He places a feather light kiss on Grace head and now he can't hold his tongue and whispers a small 'I love you' into her silky hair. He feels her hand fisting his shirt tighter after he mumbled his confession. She couldn't have heard it, could she? She is asleep, isn't she?

---

"She is still asleep." Tim explains to his cop friend while pointing in the direction of his bedroom. When he woke up in the early morning hours still feeling the smaller body of Grace pressed into his side he felt the great urge to lay there and just enjoy the feeling of her warm body beside him. But the buzzing of his phone indicating that he has a text message.

So now here he is, with Angela in his kitchen preparing coffee himself and her.

"So, she is asleep…in your bad? You have a guestroom haven't you?" The young woman teases her friend, knowing exactly which buttons she has to press to make Tim squirm.

The male cop takes a long breath turning around to face his female friend.

"Angela…" he breathes out,"we had a small incident yesterday?"

"Is this a question, Timothy?" Angela laughs, totally happy with Tim' creeping blush.

"When I got home I found her in a bad shape, kneeling on the floor. On her way out. With a packed bag and all." Tim massages his temples to get rid of the tight feeling in his head.

"Oh my God. Is she okay?" Angela gasps, not aware that Grace is feeling that bad actually.

"Yeah, I had the chance to apologize. I just wanted her to be safe and the best shot was my own bed and not just dumping her in my guestroom."

---

With a painful groan Grace slowly opens her eyes immediately blinded by the soft glow of daylight which filters through the closed curtains. The young woman closes her eyes in a second taking a deep breath now greeted with more pain spreading from her sensitive ribcage in every fiber of her body, a clear reminder of the brutality of her attacker. But there's also something which she notices the second she inhales deeply. The strong yet familiar odor of fine wood and masculine musk and some sweet fruits, a hint of citrus. Grace slowly turns on her side away from the windows and the harsh light which would hurt her pounding head only further. Burrowing her head into a soft pillow she gives it another try and opens her eyes. She is in Tim's bed. She immediately notices that this is not his guestroom. So last night wasn't a dream. She was really carried into Tim's bed and asked him pathetically if she can snuggle up.

---

It took her more than ten minutes to get her aching body out of the bed and even more time to fresh herself up in the bathroom. On wobbly legs Grace makes her way out of Tim's bedroom, using the wall or turned up furniture to steady herself. The kitchen and the adorning living are quiet. No sign of Tim and no sign of Kojo. Grace freezes in the middle of the living room. He went away again. Snuggling up to him last night must've been too much for him. Why was she so stupid and let her emotions get the better of her? For God's sake he has a girlfriend, or so Grace thinks. Last week he made it clear what he sees in her and what did she do? harassing him her sleeping in his bed and snuggling up.

Grace hugs her arms around her trembling body like she wants to shield herself from what is to come. She feels the blood draining from her pounding head, making her dizzy. But she doesn't know what she to do. Is Tim coming back? Is he waiting for her to move out? Is he telling her when back that he wants her so leave? To let him have his happily ever after.

When the front opens and a tail wiggling Kojo leads Tim into the house Grace is completely zoned out. She doesn't hear Kojos paws clicking on the hardwood floor, she doesn't hear his soft bark and his nose softly poking into her shin.

"Hey, you're up." Tim greets her in a light tone. There's no answer from the woman standing in the middle of his living room.

"Gracy?" He takes a step further into room after discarding his shoes and Kojo's leash.

When Tim is standing directly in front of his friend he immediately notices her ghostly pale face, her trembling arms hugging her torso and the empty look in her eyes. The cop softly touches Grace's shoulder afraid she would collaps any second.

"Gracy? You with me?" He asks now louder.

Finally the woman in front of him comes out of her trance-like stupor but before she can react in any way her kneels buckle.

Tim is fast to catch the still trembling woman, thank God for his cop instincts.

He leads her slowly to the couch and tucking her into his chest but still having a close eye on her face.

"Hey, Grace. Look at me." Tim tilts her chin to emphasize her to look at him properly.

"Timothy, I'm…I need to apologize…" her heart starts to beat painfully fast in her ribcage.

"Grace.." Tim tries to interrupt her. Why would she apologize. She did nothing wrong.

"No please let me finish. I'm sorry for yesterday. I shouldn't have force you to… I shouldn't  have ask you to hold me. I'm sorry, I didn't want to make uncomfortable and with Lisa…"

Tim can't believe his ears. She really thinks she made him uncomfortable with her wanting to be close to him? With Grace in his arms, safe and warm, it was the best night he had in a long, he's ever had maybe.

He softly starts to caress Grace pale cheek. His thumb tracing a line under her eye. The contact makes her shiver even if she doesn't want to show a physical reaction to the touch she craves for so long.

"Gracy, you didn't make me uncomfortable…" Tim starts. Man up Bradfort, he hears Angela shouting in his head at him.

"I wanted to hold you. I…I want you close to me, like I want you even closer to me." He looks her deep into her eyes. A sweet crease is building between her eyebrows in confusion.

"What…what do you mean?" Grace feels her heart running away and her lungs to cramp up like someone holds it in a vice grip.

Tim's sight wanders from Grace's eyes to her plump lips back to her eyes.

"The only thing I've ever wanted is to hold you close since the day I landed on your front yard. It sounds cheesy, fuck. I can only be a grump or a cheesy idiot." He chuckles while his eyes wander one more time to Grace now slightly open lips.

"I like a grumpy cheesy idiot…" Grace whispers, still not sure if this is a dream. The man she is secretly in love with just told her that he only ever wanted to hold her close. What does this mean? He likes her? But before she can spin further into an insecure mess she feels soft lips touching hers. He is kissing her. Tim is kissing her. Tim Bradford is kissing her and the only she can mumble is: "Lisa?" and with a gasp the kiss ended sooner than one of them wanted.

"I never really dated her, because you was right all the time. She is not the right one for me." And with this twenty words Tim once again closes the distance and places a kiss on Grace's lips.

"Go on a date with me and I show you how sorry I am for what I said to you." The blonde cop says slightly afraid to hear the woman's answer.

"Just to show how sorry you are?" Grace answers in a trembling voice.

"No, to show you how deeply I fell for you and what an idiot I was for not telling you sooner."

He sees a small smile forming on Grace's kissable lips.

"Okay…" She whispers still afraid she would wake any moment.

"But first of all, we're nursing you back to health."

---

After feeding her some breakfast and painkillers he finally told her the good news Angela had for him during her visit this morning.

They were able to get some handprints from the attacker and fortunately he was already in the system.

"He threatened two other journalists in the last year but there wasn't enough to charge him with something. But now he's in custody." Tim explained to Grace wo was now laying on his comfy couch, with Kojo resting happily by her feet. Even the dog has the huge urge to protect his female neighbor.

"So a poor lunatic living in some weird tinfoil head theory didn't like my articles and thought it would a good idea to break into my house?" Grace says clearly irritated by the new won discovery but she is also glad that the man is in custody. "That means I can go back into my house… I mean it's safe out there again."

Tim takes in a sharp breath, he doesn't think that far. Of course she can go back, there's no thread anymore. But she is still injured, yes she NEEDS to stay at his.

"It never safe out there, sweetheart." Sweetheart? Is he allowed to call her that, when he just confessed his feelings to her. Well, she doesn't protest so Tim continues, "And you're injured. I…please stay here, Gracy. Just until you're back on your feet. And then I'm going to pick you up at your front door for a proper date." He grins mischievous.

"That sounds like a good plan, nurse Bradford." Grace softly replies in between a small yawn, despite the pain and tiredness that has settled deep into her bones she feels happy and safe and when Tim cautiously lays her head in his lap and starts to stroke her hair she falls asleep, a conent sigh is the last thing Tim hears.

[zadien]

We know that Lucy calls Tim babe (I refuse to use past tense I’m in denial lol), if you could have your way, what would Tim call Lucy as a pet name? #ChenfordChats

Sorry for the delay, time zones are a pain. Okay, so I have been thinking about this all day. I know Tim uses baby in canon and Lucy called him babe, but I'm ambivalent to both of those. I don't mind them, I just wouldn't actively use them when writing them. I can see why others do though. He does have a habit of shortening names, so I could see him using Luce but Lucy is pretty short beat wise and he tends to use that when he's being sincere anyway. I do like him using Chen when she's poking at him, but with that, it's more about the tone. The soft voice laced with adoration, even when he's admonishing her. I would never want to lose that. But also, maybe, for something different, love? Not to be used too often, but Lucy is his love and I think on a rare occurrence, when they're particularly soft and gooey for each other, or when he's comforting her, that it could slip out. Maybe he tests it once to see how she reacts, how it feels to say, and it grows on him? I don't know, but just for something different. Alternatively, if we could have something that's completely and uniquely a term of endearment specifically for Lucy, I would turn into mush. That would be my ideal. I would crawl over hot coals love for the show to do that. Thank you so much for asking, this was a fun one!

[augustvandyne]

can we get a lucy chen x reader? r is talking to nyla or someone abt the crush they have on lucy but she overhears and assumes its abt someone else? she ignores r until r gets fed up and corners her one day and tells her that lucy is her crush? thank u !!

okay i’m back to writing now 💗💗

idiots

“I’m over it,” Nyla complains to you and Angela in the break room one day.

Your eyebrows furrow at your two best friends when Angela starts nodding along with Nyla.

“What?” You frown. “Did something happen?”

“We’re over you,” Angela purses her lips. “You and your little girl crush.”

“We wish you’d just tell her already,” Nyla stirs her coffee. “You know she likes you back. So why don’t you just ask her out?”

You huff, “I really like her, and I don’t want to mess things up. And—“

“We aren’t a hundred percent sure she likes you,” Angela and Nyla roll their eyes as they mock your words in unison.

“Yeah,” You nod.

“You could always just.. ask her,” Angela says sassily, hiding her face behind her coffee cup.

You glare at both of them, “That’s scary. What if she doesn’t want me like that? I mean— then when we rode together it would be so awkward..”

“I’m sure she has at least a small crush on you.”

“How can you be so sure?” You’re bouncing on your toes. “Would you guys ask her for me? Please? Pleaseeeeee?”

“You’re more than capable,” Nyla says, squinting at you.

“So you guys don’t love me?” You cross your arms jokingly.

“Yep, that’s exactly it,” Angela nods sarcastically. “That’s just why I took you out and bought you at least ten books for your birthday last week.”

“And that’s why I took us all out to dinner for your birthday,” Nyla tilted her head.

“Hey guys—“ Lucy stumbles into the room, and your head is immediately turning towards her.

“Hey Luce,” You beam, a wide smile on your face, along with an indescribable light in your eyes that not even Nyla or Angela could explain.

But Lucy’s expression doesn’t match yours — not in the slightest bit. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks she just witnessed someone running over a cat and not stopping to check on it.

Lucy’s body slouches the slightest bit, and her eyes flutter sadly as she says, “Roll Call.”

“You okay, Lucy?” Your eyes soften as you reach for her, but she takes a step backwards.

“I’m not feeling too well,” The lie came out easily, like it wasn’t hard at all and she didn’t need a second thought.

“Oh, well—“

“I’ll see you,” Lucy looks away from you with a sad look, walking backwards and almost running into the door frame on her way out.

You turn back to the detectives with a frown on your face.

“What?”

Angela and Nyla share a look, shake their heads, and walk around you to make it towards the roll call room.

“Hey!” You lean against the counter as Lucy signs out for a war bag. “Who you with today?”

“No one,” Lucy shrugs nonchalantly, signing the last few letters of her name sloppily so she can get out of there. She slams the pen down extra hard and hurries towards the garage.

“Me either,” You follow her into the room, and wait as she opens the trunk and loads her bag. “Wanna ride with me?”

“Well.. I’m ready to go. So, if you want to ride with me you better get a bag fast,” Lucy says as she slams the trunk shut and sits in the driver seat, still not meeting your eyes.

Something in you said she was upset with you, especially after your encounter with her and the two detectives a few days earlier, but you didn’t want her riding alone. And you didn’t really like riding alone, either. You frown, but go and get a bag for yourself, nonetheless.

You load the bag and shotgun into the trunk and hurry over to the passenger seat to ride with Lucy.

“Hey..” You put your seatbelt on quickly before Lucy pulls out of the garage. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Lucy just barely meets your eyes as she puts her hand on the back of your seat, turning to pull out of the garage.

“I don’t know.. I just—“

“I’m good,” Lucy shrugs again — something she only does a lot when she’s upset — but you don’t press any more. “Let’s just work.”

You open your mouth to speak again, because normally Lucy enjoys talking or sitting in a comfortable silence, but today she just turns the radio on to drown out the unusual and uncomfortable silence.

“There’s a fight breaking out at a gas station near Chen and L/n—“ A voice comes over the radio, but you’re too distracted to decipher who it is.

“Show us responding,” Lucy grabs at the radio quickly, desperately trying to get out of this awkward situation with you.

As Lucy pulls up to the scene, you say, “You get one, I get one?”

Lucy doesn’t answer, she just gets out of the car and starts detaining one of the men.

You go for the one on the ground, as you thinking Lucy might need to take her anger out a little, so you give her the more aggressive one.

As you’re cuffing your guy, Lucy’s guy elbows her in the face when she tries cuffing him.

You push your guy against the shop, not even caring if he gets away or not, and you hurry over towards Lucy who is holding her face in one hand and the cuff in the other.

“Are you okay?” You force her hand away from her face, checking the forming bruise.

She leans into your touch for only a second, but then you see a flash of some sort of recognition in her eyes, and she’s pulling away from you.

“I’m fine,” Lucy pushes you away, and finishes cuffing her guy. “Let’s take these guys back to the station.”

“Um.. okay,” You nod and awkwardly follow behind her.

“Maybe try talking to her?” Angela shrugs as you, her, and Nyla all grab lunch from your favorite burrito truck.

“I’ve tried. What do you think I’ve been doing for weeks?” You threw your hands up in a frustrated voice.

“She seems fine when I’m around her,” Nyla throws out there. “What? I’m just saying.. maybe it’s you?”

“That’s not funny!” You try to playfully hit Nyla, but she moves at the last second.

“I’m not laughing,” Nyla shook her head, a small smile on her face as she takes a bite out of her burrito.

“It’s annoying,” You put your head back as you wrap your arms around yourself.

“We know,” Angela says, being the reassuring and helpful friend while Nyla was being the annoying and joyous one. “But I’m just saying, maybe try and have an honest conversation.”

“I mean.. I could try. She might be going through something at home,” You bite on your nail anxiously, not sure if you’re trying to tell yourself that or them.

“Mhm,” Nyla agrees, mouth full. “Totally.”

“Okay, you’re not helping,” Angela rolls her eyes, pushing Nyla in the direction of your regular table. “Go sit.”

“Whatever,” Nyla rolls her eyes and goes to sit at your table.

“Do you really think it’s me?” You look up at her with a sad expression — eyebrows furrowed, eyes full of sadness. “I mean— what have I done to make her angry with me?”

“Nothing. I don’t think it’s you, sweetie,” Angela puts her arm around you until her food comes. “I just think.. maybe something is going on at home, you know how her parents are.”

“Yeah..” You nod, staring down at the gravel.

“Why don’t you try eating with her?” Angela nods over to where she’s sitting alone, enjoying her veggie burger and fries.

“Okay,” You nod and grab your food, which came out just now.

You take your burrito and water over to the smaller table Lucy sat at, and sat across from her, not asking if you could sit before doing so.

“Veggie burger?” You ask even though you know her order by heart.

“Yep,” Lucy says before taking another bite of her lunch. “You?”

“Burrito,” You hold it up before taking a bite yourself, seeing as that’s the only way to keep things from being awkward.

“Hm,” She hums, taking her time to chew.

“How are you?” You ask after swallowing your bite of food.

“Good,” She shrugs. “Nothing new since you asked me two days ago.”

You swallow back the lump forming in your throat.

Lucy had never been this dry and she’s never not talked to you for this many days in a row.

“Are you mad at me?” You frown at her as she obviously tries to finish her food faster than she ever had before. “Slow down there, don’t choke..”

“I’m not mad,” Lucy shakes her head and stands to dispose of her trash. “I’ll see you later.”

“Oh— okay,” You slouch in your chair, still trying to figure out what you did to make her so distant towards you.

After a few more days of walking on eggshells around Lucy, you’ve had enough and came up with a plan to corner Lucy.

You’d just try and corner her somewhere around the station and try and coax it out of her.

And your plan was going to work because you made sure to inform Nyla and Angela of this plan so they could watch out for her.

They inform you that she just came through to process a criminal, just as you were in to talk to Grey about an upcoming leave you had to take for a family event.

She’s passing the break room as you’re coming towards her, and you take this as the perfect opportunity to push her into the break room to talk with her.

“Hey, Y/n— Hey!” Lucy tumbles back a little as you push her into the room and shut the door for privacy. “What’s your issue?”

“No, what is your issue?” You ask, crossing your arms over your chest.

“I don’t have an issue,” Lucy shakes her head, her demeanor changing from angry to calm.

“Please just stop lying to me,” You take a step forward, and Lucy tries to take a step back, but her butt is met with the table.

“I’m not,” Lucy’s eyebrows furrow as she lies straight to your face.

“You are,” You’re voice breaks just the slightest bit. “You won’t talk to me, you won’t ride with me, you won’t eat lunch with me.. god, you can’t even look me in the eye.”

Lucy’s breath shudders as she tries to look anywhere but at you.

“Luce,” The hurt in your eyes is evident. “Look at me.”

Lucy manages to look up at you, and hurt flashes through her own eyes. She bites on her cheek to either keep herself from crying or from talking, you aren’t sure which.

“What’s wrong Lucy?” You take a few steps closer to her, and you place a friendly hand on her shoulder. “Let me help you.”

“You can’t,” Lucy’s eyes flutter sadly, and you see that she’s about to cry.

You lift your hand up to wipe a tear from her face, but she flinches away from your touch.

“Why can’t I touch you?” You ask. “You let me touch you before— what did I do?”

“You didn’t do anything,” Lucy’s tears fall faster as she gets more upset over what she overheard a few weeks earlier. “I’m just giving you space.”

“Why?” You bite out.

“Because.. you like someone,” Lucy says sadly, and that’s when it hit you. “And that someone isn’t me.”

“Lucy—“

“I heard you,” Lucy bites her lip to stop her tears, but it doesn’t work. “When you were talking to Harper and Lopez about your.. crush. And it hurt to listen to that knowing..”

“Knowing what?”

“Let me talk, please. Just let me finish,” Lucy holds a hand out between the two of you. After a pause she continues, “It hurt listening to that conversation when I’ve had feelings for you since we were rookies, and that you didn’t reciprocate them like I thought you did. So I am stepping back for whoever this mystery girl is. She must be pretty great if you’re after her.”

Your head shakes sadly and your lips turn down in a frown.

“Lucy..”

“You didn’t know?” Lucy finished for you. “I know. And I didn’t plan on telling you, but if this was what it takes for you to understand, so be it.”

“You really didn’t know?” Your question causes Lucy to tilt her head in confusion. “You’re my crush, Lucy.”

“What?”

“I like you,” You point your finger to her chest. “I literally have your long Starbucks coffee order memorized, I know what you like from every fast food place so I can bring you something to surprise you. I know your favorite movies, songs— does that scream just friends to you?”

“I mean.. no. No, I didn’t think so, but when I heard you I thought..”

“You thought wrong, Luce,” You cup her cheek, removing a stray tear with the pad of your thumb.

“Good,” Lucy breathes out and pulls your face to hers by your collar. “So, so good.”

“For the record, I’ve liked you since we were rookies, too,” You pull away to tell Lucy, and she chuckles, pulling you back in.

“We’re such idiots..”

“Yes, yes we are,” You laugh.

[wheelsupin-azarathmetrionzinthos]

The Rookie and allowing women to fuck up

So what I genuinely love about The Rookie, is that in a show where you’d expect the opposite our female characters are diverse, complex, and extremely human. Each one of our main three have their different strengths, weaknesses, triumphs and honestly what is the most important to me, their fuck ups. 

Starting with Lucy Chen (the character I relate to the most): Lucy is such a good character to me because her strength has always been presented as her empathy, her ability to put herself in anyone’s shoes is what makes so good. Her traditionally feminine trait is seen as a strength by everyone who knows her. BUT Lucy also fucks up, she makes mistakes. She’ll overthink things to the point of paralysis. She was fully prepared to, and was willing to cheat on Chris with Tim, and then stayed with him for months out of guilt and fear. Lucy fucks up! She makes huge mistakes. Which is what makes her such a good character. Lucy will make impulsive choices, she’ll try and solve things without consulting others (Metro), and she’ll think she was right. Lucy will read things incorrectly and she’ll react badly, but she’s the most empathetic, kind, adorable person.  She’s human as hell.  Next: the one, the only Nyla Harper: Nyla is such a good flawed character, because she also thrives at some of the same things Lucy does. Nyla is a rockstar UC detective, Lucy also thrives at UC, but holy shit these two women are not the same. Nyla’s skills and strength do not come from her sense of empathy. Nyla’s skill at UC come with her ruthlessness. Her ability to create a shell around her so impenetrable that people just don’t know the real her. Nyla is so professional, and so competent, and her personal life is a goddamn mess, for a while. She’s bad at opening up. She did choose UC over her family and had to fight tooth and nail to get her daughter back. When she finally did, and her life calmed down, she dated two guys cause she wanted the attention! She was cruel to Aaron because it was for his own good (she thought she knew best). She used Penelope’s past against her, which was an objectively fucked up thing to do, but it was human and it was a *mother’s* move.  Next: Angelaaaaaa Loooopeezzzz Angela is such a good character y’all. She’s someone we’ve seen put on so many different hats. Her TO’ing was different than Tim’s, Talia’s, or Nyla’s, she was Jackson’s older sister. She taught him, she didn’t wash Jackson out on his first day. She looked out for this kid. But also Angela wanted desperately to make detective, her failed tip trading scheme was her going too big. She was overconfident, and it cost her. But she was a badass, she just kept trying. But also we’ve seen Angela be insecure, in her relationship with Wesley, with her mother, and as a mother. Angela Lopez is a badass, but she is so so so soft sometimes. And she’s not perfect, her single minded devotion to catching Elijah, her need to *the* person protecting her family. So many fuck ups there. So many better ways to handle it. But she didn’t, and that’s what makes her Angela. and OH a woman on television being allowed to have realistic views on having another kid. Angela was allowed to be hesistant and not excited about being pregnant again, and no one thought she was being a villain or being terrible. She was scared about her life changing *again* and that was okay. She’s So Human.

[b0ng05]

It'll Be Okay

Celina Juarez x reader - Angst

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Prompt: Celina and Y/n are in a secret relationship, but when an earthquake hits, it comes out that the two are together.

Word Count: 1807

Warnings: Injuries

Also, Not Proofread 💅

Masterlist

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Y/n parked her car in her usual parking spot. It was a bright and sunny day in Los Angeles, not a hint of miserable weather to be seen. She climbed out of her car, tossing her backpack over her shoulder as she began to walk to the front door of the precinct. A smile creeps up her face as she hears the sound of sneakers running up behind her. A familiar ravenette pops up next to her, two cups of coffee in her hands as she speeds up her pace.

“You excited for the meeting today?” Celina teases, a playful grin on her lips as she finally catches up and bumps arms with Y/n. Y/n laughs, “As excited as I would be to encounter a starving lion.” Y/n jokes, bumping Celina back. “Well, if it makes you feel better, I got you coffee,” Celina grins, passing the woman the other coffee in her hands.

“What would I do without you?” Y/n sighs with a loving grin, taking the hot cup of coffee from her. Celina pulls the woman over between two empty cop cars so they were out of sight of anyone else. “Be grumpy and mean without your daily caffeine,” Celina teases before looking around to make sure they weren’t spotted by anyone before kissing her sweetly. Y/n smiles into the kiss, her hand reaching up to caress Celina’s cheek. “I’d be grumpy and mean without my daily you.” Y/n corrects with a cheeky grin, pointer finger booping her nose.

“My god that was cheesy,” Celina playfully groaned before guiding the woman back to their walk to the entrance of the precinct. Y/n opens the door for her, their eyes stuck in an adoring gaze as Celina walks through. Two lovers caught in a fond haze that made them both look stupidly giddy as they walked in.

“Hey you two,” Lucy teases as she spots them walking in the doors, a knowing look in her eyes. “Hey, Chen.” Y/n smiles, trying to ignore the blush that crawled up her neck at Lucy’s teasing tone. Lucy being the only one that knew of their relationship, having been Celina’s roommate, the relationship was extremely difficult to hide from her. “Where’s my coffee?” Lucy jokes, playfully bumping Celina’s shoulder, making the woman roll her eyes with a grin.

Once they all headed their separate ways, Captain Bishop called everyone to a meeting, the room being so crowded that half the officers attending had to stand due to a lack of chairs. He was addressing a sting that was being run by a detective that required all hands on deck. It was a bust of a bunch of drug traffickers that also had a few hostages in their building. Y/n and Celina had heard about the bust earlier that week, being friends with Detective Lopez had its perks when it came to being in the know.

As Captain Bishop was about to begin his speech to the precinct, the ground began to rumble angrily, walls shaking and objects falling. The officers ran for cover under tables and doorways, Lucy running to stand with Tim in one of the doorways. Y/n attempted to run over to one of the tables for cover, but the earthquake's tremors grew stronger. The building quaking violently, pieces of the ceiling falling from their place onto the unsuspecting officer below. The lights flashing on and off with each rumble temporarily shrouding the officers in darkness. Screams of pain and terror ring out as the natural disaster takes its onslaught.

As the earthquake begins to subside, everyone scrambles to their feet, checking their fellow officers for injuries. Lucy and Tim rush to check on Captain Bishop and John who were struck down by debris, both only having minor injuries. Celina gets up from under one of the tables, scanning the damage around the room. The precinct was disheveled, debris littering the ground, broken glass scattered, lights fallen or half hung. Coffee coating the floors stickily from uncovered mugs and cups.

“Is everyone alright?” Captain Bishop calls out, hearing a chorus of yes’s and no’s. The no’s mostly from Smitty who was unharmed but ready to go home as per usual. “Wait- wait-! Where’s Y/l/n?” Celina panics, eyes frantically searching the room for the woman who she walked in with. All eyes fell on Celina and then to the piles of rubble in the middle of the room. Strangled breaths heard from one of the hazardous piles.

Y/n gasped for breath, her hands frantically trying to shove the debris off of her but to no avail. The large chunk of ceiling that fell down onto her was suffocating. Her body ached with each desperate gasp for breath. Her hands smacking against the debris atop her to get their attention. Bones broken and body bruised, blood running from fresh wounds. Her cries and frantic gasps as she tries to free herself from the rubble don’t go unnoticed though, Celina hearing the familiar voice.

Celina sprinted over, bending down to try and push the heavy pieces off the woman. “John! Help me!” Celina wails out, her hands desperately clawing at the debris that covered her girlfriend. John, Tim and some fellow officers running over to aid the rescue. “Come on, come on! I know, I know, I know, baby, I got you,” Celina tries to sooth, not caring about the cuts that the sharp rubble scratched into her hands nor outting their relationship. All she cared about was freeing the woman she loved. “Help me!” The dark haired woman screams, not satisfied with the speed of the rescue of her girlfriend. More officers running in to help free the woman. Tears slipping down Celina’s cheeks as she refocuses on her girlfriend, hands pushing the woman’s hair out of her face, trying to keep her calm as they work to free her. “You’re gonna be okay, mi amor.” She stutters out, her voice cracking in fear and worry. Y/n’s eyes locked onto Celina’s, mute sobs leaving her mouth as tears slipped down her face. Her hand frantically reaching out for Celina’s and holding onto it tightly. A cough of blood leaving Y/n’s mouth as a piece of debris shifts on top of her.

“Someone dispatch a damn ambulance!” Tim shouts, glaring back at some officers who stood by uselessly and watched in shock. Lucy ran out of the room to grab one of the first aids from the front desk. Tim and John lead the fellow officers as they struggle to lift the chunk of debris off the woman, chucking it to the side as the sound of an ambulance approaching fills their ears. “You’re gonna be okay, baby.” Celina reassures, tears flooding her vision. She wasn’t sure whether she was reassuring Y/n or herself at this point. John gently places his hand on Celina’s shoulder, softly pushing her back as Lucy and Tim work on temporarily stopping the bleeding that gushed from Y/n’s torn up thigh. A piece of metal had slashed her thigh open when they had moved the rubble, that accompanied with the crippling pain of the woman’s broken bones was enough to have her fading in and out of consciousness.

“It’s gonna be okay, Celina.” John softly states, bringing the woman into a hug as she sobs. Her eyes unable to look away from the sight of her bloodied girlfriend. John does her the favor of shifting their positions while they hug so she can’t see the gory view. Paramedics rush into the building, quickly making their way to the woman that was splayed across the floor. Working her onto a backboard before lifting her onto the gurney.

“Come on, I’ll drive you to the hospital.” John says, wrapping his arm around the sobbing woman’s shoulders as he guides her out to his shop. His heart aching at the sight of Celina so distraught, he never knew she was dating Y/n, but he could see just how much she meant to her. As Celina gets into the passenger side of the car, her eyes couldn’t seem to leave the window. Her mind is too busy imagining all the possible scenarios and outcomes that could happen, manifesting only the best, but her anxiety unconsciously mongering up her worst fears in her head. She didn’t want to lose her girlfriend, how could a day start out so sweet just to flip and turn into one of the worst days of her life?

“Celina-” John calls out, his eyebrows furrowed in worry as he faces the woman. The car had been parked a while ago, Celina too lost in her thoughts to have noticed. “Hey, you alright? I know it’s a stupid question, but you’ve been staring off for a really long time.” He asks, patting the woman’s shoulder in sympathy. “Yeah, I’m just scared.” She mumbles, her voice raspy from screaming and crying. John nods in understanding. “I get that. But thinking about the ‘what ifs’ will only drive you crazy. Try to be brave for Y/n. She must be scared too, right?.” John advises, giving her a sympathetic smile, trying to comfort her the best he could. He climbs out of the car, walking around to the other side to open the door for Celina.

Celina takes a deep breath, nodding at his words. She can be brave for Y/n. She climbs out of the car, walking with John into the emergency room. The hospital was cold, the air smelt an annoying amount of clean. Her heart beats out of her chest as they sit down in the waiting room. The chair was old and the fabric far worn, the color faded to a dull blue-ish green. Her knee couldn’t stop bouncing. Something John took note of, trying to comfortingly rub her shoulder to ease some of her worries. The atmosphere didn’t help. Due to the earthquake, the hospital was packed. With both patients and family that waited for news that would alter their future. Celina’s breaths were shaky as her mind ran with worry, praying the surgeon would make their way to them with an update of some kind. What if Y/n was hurt worse than they had thought? What if she didn’t make it? What if she-

“Celina, I’m gonna run and grab us coffee, I’ll be back.” John pats Celina’s shoulder softly before getting up to grab them their drinks. He knew this would be a long night for Celina, and he wanted to be there for her.

Celina sighed, running a hand over her hair to smooth it down. Tears brimming in her eyes but she forced them back. Her knee bounced anxiously, she felt worried, nearly sick to her stomach with fear. She could only hold hope that It’ll Be Okay.

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Authors Note- Do we want a part 2?

[daniclaytcn]

Tumblr Fandom: A Year in Review 2023

i was tagged by @mistmarauder, thank you!!

Top Five Blorbos:

Eddie Diaz (9-1-1)

Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)

Nancy Drew (Nancy Drew)

Alex Claremont-Diaz (Red, White & Royal Blue)

Lucy Preston (Timeless)

Top Five Fandoms:

9-1-1

Red, White & Royal Blue

Stranger Things

The Haunting Anthology

Nancy Drew

Top Five OTPs:

Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1)

Lucy Chen/Tim Bradford (The Rookie)

Nancy Drew/Ace (Nancy Drew)

Lucy Preston/Garcia Flynn (Timeless)

Dani Clayton/Jamie Taylor (The Haunting of Bly Manor)

Shoutout to Some New Friends:

@eddiediaaz we've been mutuals since last year but i feel like we talked a lot more this year, so i'm very grateful for that ❤ @poughkeepsies is one of my dearest mutuals on here and i love you and all your takes <33 and also @ice-sculptures i've adored following you over this year!

Shoutout to Some Old Friends:

all of my love to the one and only @tawaifeddiediaz, i don't know where i'd be without her to rant and get emotional over our blorbos with and she's just such a wholesome soul!! and of course, @bieddiediaz and @oneawkwardcookie, the besties, i love you guys so so much ❤❤

Favorite Creation You Posted This Year:

i'm very proud of my fic, but i can see all along, love (it was you all the way down) <3

Favorite Creation Posted by Someone Else This Year:

oh gosh this is SUCH a difficult question because there are so many amazing creations from this insanely talented fandom—but i'd have to go with @eddiediaaz's speak now gifset it was so incredible!

People Who Brightened Your Year:

too many people to count—@buck2eddie @lover-of-mine @jeeyuns @diazass @kitkatpancakestack @bieddiediaz @tawaifeddiediaz and so many others i'm probably forgetting!

Anyone Else You'd Like to Mention:

there are just too many people to mention—every single one of my mutuals on here, and all the kind people who've sent me lovely messages (anonymous or not) and all the people who continue to follow me!!

Five of Your Favorite Authors This Year:

elless continues to be an all-time favourite, they have some of the most beautiful fics in the fandom ❤❤

@tawaifeddiediaz is the most talented person ever ily 😘

@letmetellyouaboutmyfeels is another favourite!! your halloween fics were SUCH a treat and i'm sitll working my way through them!!

@cal-daisies-and-briars has fics with some of the most intriguing concept and is honestly a powerhouse—it seems like you're posting fic all the time!

@bvckandeddie i recently discovered your fics and they're just *chefs kiss* so delightful!!

Five of Your Favorite Artists/Gifmakers/Podficcers/Etc. This Year:

no list about gifmakers is complete without @eddiediaaz who is so talented and creative it makes me wanna cry (with joy!)

@padme-amidala while i don't follow most of the media you post gifs for, your work is so stunning and i'm so obsessed!!

@stationoneeighteen i love love all of your gifs especially the ones that focus on the firefam, they're so good ❤❤

@buckleys-diaz alie you haven't been around for a while (and i hope you're doing well!) but you've always been one of the most talented gifmakers in this fandom and i've always looked up to you <3

@roseapothecary your gifs are so so gorgeous and i've adored all of your rwrb sets!! they're so pretty and creative!!

Three Things You're Looking Forward to in 2024:

the new season of 9-1-1 and also the PJO tv series!!

Tagging:

tagging everyone who's already been mentioned in this post <33

[leslieseveride]

no blooper of the rookie will ever be as funny as when eric's stomach growled when him and melissa were sitting inside the shop.

[looby1302]

CHENFORD RANT ALERT 🚨

Ok now I’ve had some time to calm down from the chenford break up… I’ve re-examined everything and these are my opinions… feel free to message if you wanna discuss - judgement free.

Lucy deserves the freaking world at this point with the amount of shit she has been through lately… however I am looking forward to see a “villain”/ dark Lucy Chen…

I don’t necessarily want sad scenes for her (maybe one or two to start off with) I want angry badass scenes! I just want her to go through this breakup acting like she’s not giving a flying F…

Tim I’m so conflicted on… like I absolutely adore him and I understand his mental health struggles/ breaking up with her to protect her and feeling worthless… (never mind hers- needs to be addressed) but with the way this show has left me I just need him to be hurt by her a little…. Like make him jealous or angry… HELL FLIRT WITH SOMEONE ELSE AT THIS POINT.

What I really want is Jenny or Angela to talk some sense into him… and when he comes grovelling I want her to kick him to the curb.

Obviously I want them back together because they are/were literally my favourite ship… but I need him to pay for a bit… like yes work on yourself go to therapy. But at the same time like F you.

I have so much going through my head… what if the actors are trolling us/giving us disappointment with there interviews ect so we think there is no chance for them back this season then boom a big surprise in the finale… I just want a reunion… and more I LOVE YOU’S! Like one in 6 seasons…