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cherryxbooo · 4 months ago

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Lost without you

Summary: What happens when Tim Bradford’s secret girlfriend, Y/N, shows up at the station with his forgotten lunch, leaving his coworkers stunned by the reveal?

Note: I’m happy I’m back to being active, but this time I decided to switch it up a bit. I decided to add the one and only Tim Bradford to my list and here is my first ever story I wrote about him. Enjoy! 😊

Tim Bradford x reader

Genre: fluff

Tim Bradford was a man of precision, discipline, and control. His reputation as the gruff, no-nonsense sergeant at the LAPD was well-earned, and his coworkers knew better than to mess with him unnecessarily.

He lived by structure, with everything in its place, including his private life.

What nobody at the station knew, however, was that he had been in a relationship for the past three years, a relationship that softened him in ways no one would believe if they saw him at work.

You were the polar opposite of Tim in every way.

Shy, soft-spoken, and a bit introverted, you’d never imagined yourself dating someone as commanding and straightforward as him.

But Tim had an unshakable way of making you feel safe, cherished, and seen.

Your differences didn’t drive you apart; they were what made your relationship thrive.

Sure, there was an age gap, but neither of you cared. What mattered was how deeply you loved one another.

Tim loved teasing you to get a reaction. Whether it was a quick quip to make you blush or a small gesture in public that only you two would understand.

He thrived on the little moments when he could make you flustered.

And you? You adored his steady, unwavering presence, the man behind the uniform who was patient, gentle, and surprisingly affectionate.

The morning started off as usual. Tim had woken up early, slipping out of bed quietly to avoid disturbing you.

But today, you stirred, blinking up at him groggily as he adjusted his shirt in front of the mirror.

“You’re leaving already?” you mumbled, your voice thick with sleep.

He turned, his gaze softening as he saw you stretching under the covers. “Didn’t mean to wake you,” he said, walking over to the bed.

He leaned down to press a soft kiss to your forehead, his hand brushing over your hair. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”

You yawned and shook your head. “You always say that, but I like seeing you before you go.”

You sat up, rubbing your eyes. “Did you grab your lunch?”

Tim gave you a sheepish smile, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Not yet.”

“Of course,” you teased, rolling your eyes. “What would you do without me?”

He smirked, leaning down until his face was inches from yours. “Starve, probably.”

Your cheeks heated at the proximity, and you pushed at his chest lightly.

“You’re impossible,” you muttered, though your smile betrayed your words.

He kissed you again this time on the lips, before standing.

“Thanks for putting up with me,” he said softly. “See you tonight?”

“Be safe,” you said, watching him leave.

But as the door clicked shut, you glanced at the counter and saw the neatly packed lunch you’d prepared for him.

Classic Tim, you thought with a fond smile.

Hours later, you found yourself at the station, Tim’s lunch in hand. As much as you loved Tim, the idea of walking into his workplace made your stomach twist nervously.

You’d never been to his station before. Tim had always been adamant about keeping his personal life separate from work.

But you knew he’d appreciate the gesture, and it was an excuse to see him again.

As you approached the front desk, the officer there gave you a curious look. “Can I help you?”

“Uh, hi,” you said, holding up the brown paper bag.

“I’m here to see Sergeant Bradford. He…uh, forgot his lunch.”

The officer raised an eyebrow but paged Tim down. You waited, feeling out of place amid the bustling officers.

When Tim finally appeared, his stern expression softened immediately upon seeing you.

“Y/N?” he said, his voice tinged with surprise.

“You forgot this,” you said, handing him the bag.

Your voice came out quieter than you’d intended, and you felt your cheeks flush under his gaze.

Tim stepped closer, taking the bag from you. “What would I do without you?” he murmured, his fingers brushing yours briefly.

His touch lingered for a moment before he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Probably starve,” you said with a small smile, using his own words against him.

His lips quirked up into a smirk. “You’re too good to me, sweetheart. I would be in fact so lost without you.”

Behind him, his coworkers: Lucy, Nolan, Angela, and Jackson had stopped in their tracks, watching the exchange with wide eyes.

Tim wasn’t exactly known for being…well, affectionate. Yet here he was, smiling at you like you were the only person in the world.

“Thanks, baby,” he said, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “I’ll see you at home later, okay?”

You nodded, your cheeks burning as he pressed a quick kiss to your forehead.

As you turned to leave, you felt several pairs of eyes on you. You glanced back once, catching Tim’s gaze.

He gave you a small, reassuring smile, and you felt your nerves settle.

As soon as you were out of earshot, the questions started.

“Who was that?” Lucy asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Yeah,” Nolan chimed in, his eyebrows raised. “Since when do you smile like that?”

Tim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Drop it.”

“Oh, no way,” Angela said, grinning. “She’s cute. Is she your friend? A cousin? A-”

“Not your concern,” Tim interrupted sharply, his tone brooking no argument.

The group exchanged incredulous looks but didn’t back down.

“Come on, Tim,” Lucy pressed. “You’ve been holding out on us. Who is she?”

Tim crossed his arms, fixing them with a pointed glare. “It’s personal.”

Lucy scoffed. “Oh, that’s not going to cut it. You can’t just act all sweet and lovey-dovey and expect us not to ask questions.”

“Ask all you want,” Tim said flatly. “I’m not answering.”

Angela tilted her head, smirking. “You’re really not going to tell us?”

“Nope,” Tim replied, his lips twitching as if daring them to keep trying.

The group groaned in unison, clearly frustrated.

“You’re impossible,” Lucy muttered, throwing her hands up.

Tim just shrugged. “And you’re nosy.”

Despite their protests, he refused to give in, leaving them buzzing with unanswered questions.

That evening, Tim came home to find you in the kitchen, humming softly as you stirred a pot of pasta.

He leaned against the doorway, a small smile tugging at his lips. After a moment, he walked over and wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close.

“Hey, baby,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to your temple.

“Tim!” you yelped, startled. “You scared me!”

He chuckled, resting his chin on your shoulder. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. You looked too cute.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, turning in his arms to face him. “Long day?”

He let out a low sigh, his hands settling on your waist. “Better now,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “You? Everything okay?”

You smiled, resting your hands against his chest. “Yeah, just the usual. I missed you, though.”

His lips curled into a soft smile, and he kissed you tenderly. “Missed you too.”

As you sat down to eat dinner together, Tim began telling you about his coworkers’ reaction to your visit earlier.

“They wouldn’t stop asking questions,” he said, shaking his head. “Who you were, why you were there, if we were related. I shut them down, but they were relentless.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, setting your fork down.

“They must think I’m some random girl who wandered into the station. Or worse, someone putting up with your grumpy self.”

Tim smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, they definitely think you’re crazy for that. But I didn’t give them anything. Figured it wasn’t their business.”

You tilted your head, considering.

“I mean… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they knew. They’re your friends too, right? They might tease you, but it’s not like they’ll judge us.”

His expression softened as he studied you. “You’d be okay with that? Them knowing about us?”

You reached across the table, taking his hand.

“Yeah, I think so. I mean, it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong. And it might make things easier for you at work if they aren’t constantly guessing.”

Tim laced his fingers with yours, squeezing gently. “If you’re sure. I didn’t want to say anything unless you were ready.”

You gave him a reassuring smile. “I am. Besides, i would rather have them know the truth than think I’m your secret cousin or something weird.”

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Fair enough.”

After a moment, his gaze turned serious. “You know, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m not hiding how much I love you, Y/N. Never have, never will.”

Your heart swelled at his words, and you squeezed his hand tighter. “I know, Tim. And I love you too. So, let’s do it. Let’s stop hiding.”

Tim nodded, his smirk returning. “Alright. But don’t blame me when they start interrogating you instead.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I’ll take my chances.”

He leaned across the table, brushing his lips against yours. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

“And you’re biased,” you teased, grinning.

“Damn right,” he said, his voice full of affection.

The next day, you found yourself back at the station. This time, it wasn’t because Tim forgot his lunch by accident, it was very much on purpose.

You knew this because when you asked him about it that morning, he had shrugged and said, “Maybe I’ll forget again,” with a mischievous smirk that made you narrow your eyes.

Now, standing outside the station with his lunch in hand, you felt the same nervous flutter in your stomach as the day before.

You weren’t used to being in Tim’s world, surrounded by his colleagues and the constant hum of police activity.

Still, you were here for him, and that was enough to push you through your shyness.

As you walked inside, the same officer at the front desk spotted you. He raised an eyebrow but smirked knowingly. “Back again?”

You nodded, offering a polite smile. “He forgot his lunch. Again.”

The officer chuckled and picked up the phone. “Sergeant Bradford, your…lunch delivery is here.”

A few moments later, Tim appeared. He didn’t look surprised to see you, of course, he wasn’t.

His face softened immediately as he spotted you, and he walked over with his usual confident stride.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he greeted, his voice low and warm as he reached for the bag. “You didn’t have to come all the way here again.”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Someone has to make sure you eat, Tim.”

He smirked, his fingers brushing yours as he took the bag. He held your gaze for a moment longer, and you felt your cheeks heat under his intense stare.

“Thanks, baby,” he murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to your forehead.

The small gesture made your heart flutter, but you became acutely aware of the stares from across the room.

Tim’s coworkers Lucy, Angela, Nolan, Jackson, and Harper were watching the scene unfold with varying degrees of shock and curiosity.

You tried to ignore them, but their presence only made you more self-conscious.

“I should get going,” you said softly, glancing down at your hands.

Tim frowned slightly. “You sure? You can stay for a bit if you want.”

You shook your head. “I don’t want to get in the way.”

“You’re never in the way,” he said firmly, his hand brushing against your arm. The touch was gentle, reassuring.

Before you could respond, Lucy Chen’s voice cut through the air.

“Okay, who is she? Is she the girl from yesterday?”

You froze, your eyes widening as Lucy and the others approached. Tim sighed, running a hand through his hair.

You wanted to answer and tell them the truth. You had gotten the confidence from the conversation you had with Tim last night, but unfortunately, your shyness won again.

“Not now, Chen,” he muttered, but it was too late.

Lucy crossed her arms, a sly grin on her face. “Come on, Tim. You can’t expect us to just ignore this.”

Angela joined her, smirking. “Yeah, you’ve been keeping enough secrets, Bradford. Spill.”

Nolan, ever the curious one, chimed in, “She brought you lunch again. That’s not just a random act of kindness.”

You felt your face heat, and you instinctively took a small step closer to Tim.

Sensing your discomfort, Tim placed a protective hand on the small of your back.

“Guys, this is Y/N,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “And that’s all you need to know.”

“Oh, come on,” Lucy said, her grin widening. “Y/N…what? Girlfriend? Sister? Cousin? Who is she?”

Tim’s jaw clenched, and you could tell he was seconds away from shutting them down completely.

But before he could, Angela spoke up again, her tone teasing.

“She’s too cute to be your sister. So, girlfriend it is?”

Tim let out an exasperated sigh, but he didn’t deny it. That was all the confirmation they needed.

“Oh my god,” Lucy said, her eyes wide. “You’ve been dating someone this whole time, and we’re just now finding out? For how long has this been going on?”

“Three years,” Tim said simply, his tone clipped.

The group gaped at him in disbelief.

“Three years?!” Angela exclaimed. “How and why did you keep that a secret?”

“Because it’s none of your business,” Tim replied, his hand still resting on your back.

Angela laughed. “I can’t believe this. Tim Bradford, the grumpiest guy in the station, has a girlfriend, and she’s adorable. How does that work?”

Tim gave her a pointed look. “Angela…”

She held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop.”

But Lucy wasn’t done. She turned to you, her expression curious but friendly.

“So, Y/N, what’s your secret? How do you put up with him?”

You hesitated, unsure of how to respond but still laughed at her question.

Tim chuckled softly, his hand moving to squeeze your shoulder.

“She’s unbelievably patient,” he said, his tone light.

You looked up at him, surprised by the teasing warmth in his voice. It wasn’t often that Tim let his guard down like this, especially not in front of his coworkers.

“I think you’re worth it,” you said softly, your eyes meeting his.

His expression softened, and for a moment, it was just the two of you.

Lucy let out a dramatic sigh. “Okay, that’s actually kind of sweet.”

Angela nudged her. “Kind of? It’s downright shocking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tim look at anyone like that.”

Tim rolled his eyes. “All right, that’s enough. Don’t you all have work to do?”

“Not until we get more details,” Harper said, grinning.

“You’re not getting anything,” Tim said firmly.

Before the group could protest, you turned to Tim. “I really should get going.”

He nodded, his hand dropping to your waist. “I’ll walk you out.”

The group watched as Tim escorted you to the door, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement.

Once you were gone, the interrogation continued.

“Okay, seriously,” Lucy said, turning to Tim. “How did you pull that off?”

“Pull what off?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Her,” Angela said. “She’s way too sweet for you.”

Tim smirked. “Maybe I’m not as bad as you all think.”

The group laughed, clearly unconvinced. But beneath their teasing, there was a genuine warmth.

It was clear they were happy for him, even if they couldn’t resist poking fun.

“She should come around more often,” Lucy said. “It’s nice seeing you act like a human being for once.”

“Yeah,” Angela added, grinning. “She makes you tolerable.”

Tim shook his head, but there was a small smile on his face.

When Tim arrived home, he found you curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over your lap.

You looked up as he walked in, your face lighting up with a smile.

“Hey,” you said softly.

He walked over, leaning down to kiss you. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“How was the rest of your day?” you asked, moving over so he could sit beside you.

“Exhausting,” he said, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “But worth it.”

You tilted your head, giving him a curious look. “Worth it? Why?”

He smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Because I got to show off my amazing girlfriend.”

Your cheeks flushed, and you buried your face in his chest. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” he teased, pressing a kiss to your hair.

You couldn’t argue with that.

The end

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justabigassnerd · 10 months ago

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Finally Safe

Pairing - Tim Bradford x reader

Word count - 6,179

Warnings - kidnapping, drugging, talks of malnourishment, sad Tim hours, angst, fluff, inaccurate medical scenes, swearing

Summary - after being missing for years, you and Tim are finally reunited

A/N - hey y'all! this was an idea suggested to me by @scarletstarrs so I hope I did your idea justice because I loved exploring this idea so much (and all the angst that came with it). anyways I won't ramble, as per y'all please send in requests, feedback, and enjoy!!!

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When Lucy entered the station, ready for the morning roll call, she was both shocked and confused to find Tim Bradford missing from the building. Other than being forced to take leave after being shot, Tim had always shown up to work no matter what.

“Hey, have you seen Tim?” Lucy asks, sitting down in between Jackson and Nolan who both shrug, shaking their heads. Before the three could begin theorising about where Lucy’s training officer had gone, Sergeant Grey stepped up to the podium and began to talk, detailing what was going to be happening during the day. Just before he sends everyone off to start the day, he addresses Lucy.

“Officer Chen, you’ll be riding with me today. Dismissed.” Grey says, his dismissal causing everyone to stand up and make their way out of the room to start their day. As Grey begins to exit, Lucy follows after him.

“Sergeant Grey, while it’s an honour to ride with you today. Where’s Officer Bradford?” Lucy asks, trying her best to sound respectful while enquiring about where Tim is.

“Officer Bradford is taking a personal day,” Grey replies simply, gesturing for Lucy to go and get the war bags to load the shop. At Grey’s gesture, Lucy began to make her way to get the bags, silently wondering to herself why Tim had taken a personal day and whether he was okay.

Across LA, Tim was sitting at home. He had barely had the energy to move out of bed when he woke up but he had managed to drag himself over to the sofa after making sure Kojo had his breakfast. Kojo, while not having lived with Tim long, had picked up on Tim’s melancholy mood and curled up next to him, whining softly as Tim studied a picture on his phone. Tim let out a soft sigh, tears filling his eyes as he studied the picture, a picture of him and you, his wife, on your wedding day. He was embracing you happily, lips pressed to yours.

“I miss you so much,” Tim whispers, unable to remove his gaze from the image of you. You had gone missing three years ago to the day, and Tim could never forgive himself for it. At Tim’s whisper, Kojo shuffled around, resting his head on Tim’s lap, sensing Tim’s pain. Kojo’s movement briefly pulled Tim’s attention away from his phone.

“I’m sorry buddy,” Tim says softly, stroking the top of Kojo’s head. Since you had been taken, Tim had consistently taken a personal day on the date you were taken with each passing year you remained missing. Most detectives involved in your case had told Tim that it was time to give up. The chances were high that whoever had taken you had killed you and had moved on. But Tim wouldn’t just give up on you. He couldn’t. Deep down he knew you were still out there somewhere, and he needed to find you. As Tim continued to swipe through the album of photos he had of you and him, Kojo began to paw at his leg slightly, as if trying to drag him out of his slump.

“I know. Come on, I’ll take you for a walk.” Tim says, knowing that keeping Kojo inside because of his upset would just not be worth it. Tim manages to get up from the sofa, shower and change before grabbing Kojo’s lead. As he left the house with Kojo trotting along by his side, he was silently grateful for the dog’s presence in his life. Before Kojo came around, Tim just wallowed in his house, hiding away from the world when he missed you too much. But now he had someone relying on him, and he couldn’t let Kojo down. After reaching the park, Tim let Kojo off the lead so he could explore while he sat on a bench. As he watched Kojo, he couldn’t help but imagine you sat by his side. You had always wanted to get a dog since long before marrying Tim and he had always put it off, claiming he wanted to wait. He felt so guilty for owning Kojo while you were missing but he knew that when he found you, you’d love Kojo and you’d so quickly become his new favourite person.

After a while, Tim whistled for Kojo to come back over so they could walk back home and as they made their way home, Tim’s phone buzzed, alerting him that he had a message but he opted to wait until he was home to see what it was. When he finally made it home, Tim collapsed onto the sofa and pulled out his phone to see a text from Angela.

‘How are you?’

That simple message was enough to bring the smallest of smiles to Tim’s face. Angela had been Tim’s entire support system since the day you went missing. She had checked in with him regularly and was someone to lean on during his bad days. When she had been promoted to detective, Angela had promised Tim she would do what she could to try and pick up any leads in your missing persons case. Tim had been so grateful for Angela’s support over the last few years, she was the person he needed to help him navigate your absence in his life.

‘Could be better.’

Tim could never lie to Angela. She had ways to see right through him, even over text so he knew there was no point even attempting to act like he was feeling okay on a day like this.

‘Do you want to come over? Have some company?’

Angela’s offer of company was not unusual, although the last few times Angela had asked if he wanted her to come over after her shift had finished, but now with her on maternity leave, both she and Tim had a whole day to console each other.

‘That would be nice. I’ll be over in a few.’

Tim types out and sends his response, once again forcing himself up from the sofa and petting Kojo, promising him he’d be back soon before grabbing the keys to his truck and making his way to Angela’s house.

When he arrived he barely even knocked on the door before Angela opened it, a soft gentle smile on her face as she took in Tim’s appearance. It was obvious to her that he hadn’t slept well the night before but she couldn’t blame him. If Wesley had gone missing she knows she’d be absolutely beside herself with worry and anticipatory grief.

“Come and sit down,” Angela says softly, resting a hand on Tim’s back and guiding him to the sofa, easing herself down alongside him, her gentle hand never leaving his back as she moves it up to rub his shoulder lightly. For a few minutes, the two of them sit in silence before Tim lets out a shuddering breath.

“I miss her so much.” Tim manages to say, his voice choking as tears begin to well in his eyes.

“I know, Tim,” Angela says sympathetically, her hand continuing to rub soothing circles on his shoulder in an attempt to keep his breathing steady.

“It hurts.” Tim manages to say, hand hovering near his heart, swearing he could feel his heart pounding louder and stronger with each second.

“I can’t imagine the pain. But I’m here for you. You’re not alone.” Angela says softly, feeling her heart break more and more at Tim’s broken state. She was the only person who got to see this side of Tim in these moments and it made her more and more determined to find you. After a few moments of comforting whispers from Angela and teary sniffles from Tim, he turned to face her, eyes still shining with unshed tears.

“Do you think we’ll even find her alive?” Tim asked, uncharacteristically pessimistic about your case, making Angela shocked.

“She’s got to be out there somewhere. And we’ll find her.” Angela says, pulling Tim into a careful hug.

“It’s my fault she’s gone,” Tim mutters against her shoulder, a confession no one had heard from him before.

“Don’t say that. You’re not to blame.” Angela says, pulling away slightly to look him in the eyes as he shakes his head.

“I am.” Tim insists, his right hand moving to fiddle with his wedding ring, a movement Angela didn’t miss. She knew he would take the ring off when he was on duty, but when he was off duty it would be restored to its rightful place and he’d often find himself twisting it around on his finger out of habit.

“Why do you say it’s your fault?” Angela asks tenderly, hoping she’d be able to help Tim realise that it wasn’t his fault.

“We had an argument that night. A stupid one at that, I can’t even remember what it was about, maybe about chores or something? But y/n got pissed at me and she said she needed to go on a walk to clear her head. I was pissed too and the moment she left I just decided to go to bed. I was too angry to do anything else. If I had gone after her none of this would’ve happened. She’d still be here with me.” Tim whispers, feeling like his throat is closing more tears welling in his eyes as he relives that night.

“Where are you going?” Tim asks, pausing his angry pacing to glare at you from across the room.

“For a walk. I can’t be around you right now.” You reply, your voice just as venomous as his as you grab your keys, reaching for the door handle.

“Fine.” Tim spits angrily, turning on his heel and stalking off again as you open the door, exiting and angrily closing the door behind you while Tim storms to the kitchen, grabbing himself a beer from the fridge.

After a couple of beers, Tim decided it wasn’t worth staying up waiting for you any longer. You had taken your keys and he knew you’d come back whenever you were ready to so he took himself to bed, practically passing out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, Tim woke up and found your side of the bed still empty, and when he reached across to search for any remaining body heat, he found that your side was still cold, like no one had slept in it all night. Figuring you had spent the night on the sofa, Tim sat up and got himself out of bed, all anger from the night before gone.

“Hey, Baby, I’m sorry about last night.” Tim enters the living room, rubbing his eyes as he enters, stopping in his tracks when he realises you’re not in the room, nor was there any evidence you had even slept on the sofa. At the sight of the empty room, and your keys still missing from the key bowl, Tim felt his stomach turning with anxiety. He just knew something bad had happened to you. You wouldn’t just go silent on him or not come home at all.

After trying to call your phone and getting no answers, Tim knew he had to file a missing persons case when he got to work. He wasn’t going to rest until he found you.

“Tim, listen to me. It is not your fault. You couldn’t have known. Neither of you could’ve known there would be a psycho out there. You can’t blame yourself for something you never could’ve anticipated.” Angela says softly, her voice shaking Tim from his thoughts. She could imagine the guilt Tim was feeling, but she knew it wasn’t his fault.

“It is. If I had just-”

“Okay, I’m going to stop you right there. There’s nothing you could’ve done. I know just as well as you that y/n is stubborn as anything, so if she wanted to go and get some air after your argument then she would’ve done it regardless. You can’t predict the future and y/n wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.” Angela says, her voice was soft yet firm so she can get her point across to Tim. She knew Tim had a habit of blaming himself for things out of his control but she had no idea that he had carried guilt from your disappearance silently and had been beating himself up about it for so long.

“I just need to find her. I need her safe and home with me. I didn’t even tell her I loved her the last time I saw her.” Tim says, fiercely wiping at his eyes to stop any tears from falling.

“I’m working with detectives to pick up the dead ends from y/n’s case. One of them will lead us somewhere I’m sure. Between you and me, working y/n’s case is the only work Wesley is okay with me doing while on maternity leave. He knows how important it is to us and he’s promised me that if we catch the asshole he’d ensure he spends the rest of his life behind bars.” Angela says reassuringly, wanting to help restore Tim’s faith in finding you.

“Thank you, Angela,” Tim says quietly with a nod. With the topic seeming to be at an end, Angela decides to change the subject and while Tim had always jokingly complained about helping Angela with wedding planning, he was more than happy to do so on this day. While he helped Angela plan various parts of her wedding, he couldn’t help but think about the time he had spent planning his wedding with you.

“Tim, we can’t seat my uncle next to your brother-in-law!” You exclaimed with a laugh, curling further into Tim’s side as he wrapped his arm around you, chuckling lightly to himself, both of you focusing on the seating chart Tim had drafted.

“Sure we can. It would be hilarious.” Tim says, squeezing you closer, his hand winding around your waist.

“You want our wedding to result in a fistfight?” You say, an amused tone to your voice as you raise an eyebrow.

“Mmm, might not be the best idea then,” Tim murmurs, leaning close to press a kiss to your cheek.

“The best idea is to make sure they stay as far away from each other as possible.” You muse, unable to stop the smile covering your face as Tim continued to press kisses to your cheek.

“We’ll figure it out.”

By the end of the day, Tim had spent most of his time at Angela’s house and he had been beyond grateful for her company and her willingness to help him through a day like this. When Wesley got home, Tim decided that was when he should be heading home himself, knowing Kojo was probably waiting for him.

“I’ll see you around,” Tim says quietly, giving Angela a gentle hug, pulling away and giving Wesley a friendly nod before making his way out of their house, heading to his truck to head home. Unbeknownst to Tim, the moment he left, Angela’s phone buzzed and when she read the text she knew she had to step into work again. Whether Wesley liked it or not.

The next morning, Angela made her way to the hospital, meeting with other detectives once she got there before being led to a room that had a girl inside. Angela figured she couldn’t be any older than her early twenties. After getting a quick brief from the other detectives, Angela made her way into the room, smiling softly to let her know she wasn’t a threat.

“Hi, Bella. I’m Detective Lopez, but you can just call me Angela.” Angela introduces herself, easing herself down onto one of the hospital room chairs as Bella eyes her carefully. Angela could tell that the last thing Bella wanted was to be questioned but it was protocol, whether she liked it or not.

“I promise I’ll make this quick, just tell me what happened,” Angela assures, pulling out her notepad and pen.

“A few months ago, some guy grabbed me off the street while I was making my way home. He kept calling me ‘Samantha’ the whole time. No matter how many times I told him my name was Bella he just ignored it.” Bella explains, tears welling in her eyes as her arms wound around her middle.

“Can you describe this man? And where he was keeping you?” Angela asks carefully, making notes on her notepad as Bella nods.

“He looked like he was in his forties, his hair was greying and he had a huge burn scar on his right arm, like all up it. He was keeping us in the woods. It sounds really cliche now that I say it out loud. He’d moved us around a bit before he found this old abandoned cabin on the outskirts of the city. He managed to get power and water so he figured we could just stay out there, like some delusional family or something.” Bella says, and Angela immediately picks up on her choice of words.

“I’m sorry, you said ‘us’. Was there someone else?” Angela enquires, glancing up from her notebook.

“Yeah, there was another woman, she might’ve been in her thirties? The guy kept calling her ‘Vivian’ but I’m guessing that wasn’t her name.” Bella explains with a nod while Angela pulls her phone out of her pocket, hurriedly scrolling through it and finding a picture with you in.

“This other woman. Did she look like this?” Angela flips the phone around, showing Bella the picture, watching as her eyes widen in recognition.

“Yes! That’s her!” Bella exclaims, looking over at Angela.

“She’s alive,” Angela mutters to herself, unable to believe the news.

“Do you know her?” Bella asks, noticing Angela’s reaction and how hurriedly she was typing into her phone.

“She’s a friend of mine. She’s been missing for a while.” Angela says, tucking her phone away as she talks.

“She’s the one who helped me escape. She saw the opportunity and she encouraged me to go for it.” Bella says, watching Angela’s reaction carefully.

“That sounds like y/n. She always looked out for others.” Angela says with fondness, remembering how you had always put others above yourself.

“I want to help her,” Bella says, a strong, newfound determination in her voice.

“Can you recall where the cabin was? If you can that would help us track her down.” Angela asks, listening carefully as Bella explains all the details she can remember of her escape from that cabin. After getting as many details as Bella could remember, Angela excused herself, exiting the room and immediately calling Grey on her way out, informing him of everything and letting him know that he and the LAPD needed to act fast before you were moved again.

Back at the Mid-Wilshire police station, police officers were starting to prepare for an operation on the outskirts of Los Angeles just as Lucy and Tim entered, ushering their recent arrest to be processed. They quickly became aware of the atmosphere around them so while Lucy was processing the arrest, Tim stepped out to find Grey.

“What’s going on?” Tim asks after tracking down Grey.

“I’m getting some people together for an operation. But I need you and Officer Chen to stay on patrol.” Grey says, gathering his war bags and barely glancing Tim’s way.

“I want to help,” Tim says, confused as to why Grey isn’t letting him get involved with an operation, not when he had as much experience as he did.

“This isn’t a matter to discuss Officer Bradford. You’re one of my best patrol officers and I need you out on the streets with Officer Chen while we do this. Is that understood?” Grey asserts, facing Tim and staring him down as Tim straightens up.

“Understood, Sir,” Tim says, feeling his heart sink at not getting to be involved with an operation.

“You’ll get in on the next operation,” Grey says, clapping Tim on the shoulder quickly before making his way towards his shop, leaving Tim to head back to Lucy, finding her after she had just finished processing their arrest.

“Hey, did you find out what everyone’s doing?” Lucy asks, looking up at Tim curiously.

“There’s an operation going down. I don’t know what it’s for but Grey wants us on patrol.” Tim says with a shrug, beginning to turn on his heel and make his way towards their shop, annoyance evident in in his body language.

“Do they know this would be a great learning opportunity for me? I want to get as much experience in operations as possible. Why aren’t they letting us help?” Lucy asks, following behind Tim.

“I don’t know, Boot. But it’s not my place to challenge Sergeant Grey’s orders.” Tim says firmly, glancing over his shoulder at Lucy who nods, still obviously upset about not getting to help with an operation while she’s still in training.

“Come on, get in. We’ve got a patrol to finish.” Tim then says with a shrug, both of them reaching the shop and getting in, ready to continue their patrol.

After a couple of hours of patrolling, Tim and Lucy had stopped to grab some coffee and while they stood outside their shop, talking and sipping at their drinks, Tim’s phone rang, making his eyebrows furrow when he saw Angela’s name displayed across his screen.

“Angela.” Tim greets as the phone reaches his ear.

“Tim, you need to get your ass to the hospital right now,” Angela says, making Tim raise an eyebrow before he thinks of a reason why she’d be asking him to come to the hospital.

“Are you having the baby already?” Tim asks, a panicked expression crossing his face.

“What? No. Look, just come to Shaw Memorial as soon as you can.” Angela says, an urgency in her voice that Tim hasn’t heard in a while.

“Okay, I’ll head over now.” Tim concedes, bidding Angela goodbye before hanging up the phone and shoving it away in his pocket.

“We’re going to the hospital. And no Angela is not giving birth.” Tim says, able to predict what Lucy was about to ask from a single look.

“Then why are we going to the hospital?” Lucy then questions, both of them getting into their seats just before Tim starts the drive to the hospital.

“No idea. Maybe one of my C.I’s ended up in hospital and they wanted to talk to me.” Tim says, shrugging lightly, wondering to himself why it was Angela had summoned him to the hospital when she’s not supposed to be working. The closer they get to the hospital, the more Tim starts to suspect that it has something to do with you. Angela had assured him that the only case she was working while on maternity leave was yours. But as he parked in the car park for the hospital, he started to picture the worst possible case scenario as he bursts through the hospital, tracking down Angela within minutes, practically leaving Lucy behind.

“What’s happened?” Tim asks, studying Angela’s expression carefully as she grabs his wrist leading him to a nearby hospital room and letting him look through the window. At the sight, tears immediately began to well in his eyes, stepping forward slightly towards the door before Angela stopped him.

“The doctors are working on her now. They’ll get you when she’s stable. I just wanted to show you that we found her.” Angela explains softly, watching as Tim refuses to tear his gaze away from the window.

“She’s alive,” Tim whispers, tears in his eyes as he watches the doctors hooking you up to an IV drip and heart monitors.

“She is. We found her.” Angela says softly, carefully guiding Tim back to the waiting room and helping him ease himself into a chair just as Lucy finally found the pair.

“What the hell? Why did you leave me behind?” Lucy demands, approaching Tim who barely processes her words, his gaze locked on the floor in front of him as his knee bounces impatiently.

“Not now, Lucy,” Angela says, holding a hand out towards Lucy to silence her while her other hand rests on Tim’s shoulder, squeezing it softly.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Lucy then asks, noticing the unusual behaviour Tim was exhibiting and how Angela was protecting him fiercely.

“We’ll tell you later,” Angela says, knowing that with the state Tim was in, she shouldn’t go spilling his personal life.

After half an hour of waiting, a doctor approached Angela since they only recognised her but she made sure to bring Tim into the conversation as well as make sure the doctors knew he was your husband so that he would make any and all medical decisions that you couldn’t make.

“y/n had been drugged upon being found, I assume something that was something done so that the perpetrator could move her without the risk of her running away. She’s also showing clear signs of dehydration and malnourishment so we’ve got her on IVs to give her what her body needs. She’s still asleep but would you like to see her?” The doctor explains, glancing at the tablet in his hand before looking at Tim who nods. The doctor gestures for Tim to follow him to your room but before he leaves he turns to Angela.

“Message me if you need me,” Angela says softly, watching as he nods once more before following the doctor and being granted access to your room. As soon as he enters the room, he grabs a chair and pulls it up along your bedside, one hand taking your hand in his while his other hand runs through your hair.

“I’m here, Baby. I’m so sorry. I love you.” Tim says, repeating the three sentences like a mantra as he squeezes your hand softly. He felt more tears welling in his eyes as he took in your form. Your cheeks were hollowed and you had dark circles under your eyes. The more Tim watched you as you slept, the worse his guilt got. He couldn’t help but hate himself more and more for letting you leave the house that night. As the day progressed, Tim found himself uncharacteristically talkative with you, rambling about everything you had missed.

“I’ve got a new rookie. Her name’s Lucy Chen. You’d like her a lot actually. She reminds me of you in a way.” Tim says, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing the back of your hand as he talks. He knew you and Lucy would get on well. After all, Lucy was someone who was unafraid to speak her mind around Tim and you’d admire her fire. By the time night fell, Tim was sure he’d covered everything that had happened since you had gone missing. He felt a yawn slip past his lips which made him attempt to shake the sleepiness off. He didn’t want to fall asleep and then risk waking up to find out that this had been a dream. He couldn’t bare to wake up to find you missing again. However, as the night progressed, Tim got more and more tired and he began to struggle to keep his eyes open so he laid his head down on your bed, making sure he was facing up at you, keeping your hand in his the whole time before letting his eyes slip closed, hoping this wasn’t all a dream.

You woke up slowly in the early hours of the morning and as you slowly open your eyes, you couldn’t help but smile tearily when you recognised the sleeping face of your husband. The face you had dreamed of seeing for years. You watched Tim quietly for a moment, admiring the man you loved so much before your need to talk to him overtook you and you squeezed his hand softly, rousing him almost instantly. His eyes blinked open and you felt a tear slip down your cheek.

“Hey, Tim.” You whisper softly, your voice slightly hoarse from lack of use. Tim couldn’t even bring himself to talk, he just squeezed your hand, tears welling in his own eyes.

“You’ve grown your hair out a bit.” You observe quietly, gently extracting your hand from his to run your hand through his hair, having been used to his shorter haircut for too long.

“You like it?” Tim asks with a teary laugh.

“I love it. I did always tell you it would look nicer if you grew it out a little.” You muse softly, enjoying the feeling of running your hand through his hair with the slight added length. As another tear rolls down your cheek, Tim reaches out and wipes it away, his touch as soft and as gentle as you remembered it.

“I’m so sorry, Baby. I let you down.” Tim apologises, his hand lingering on your cheek as you lean into his touch, desperately craving the love and comfort only Tim could provide you with.

“It’s not your fault. I’m the one who left that night.” You say, slowly retracting your hand from Tim’s hair, returning it to your lap as Tim shakes his head.

“I should’ve stopped you.” Tim argues, making you shake your head in response.

“You couldn’t have known, Tim. Look, let’s not argue. We haven’t seen each other in years I don’t want to ruin this by arguing. It’s no ones fault but the ass who took me.” You say, your voice soft yet firm as Tim nods lightly in understanding.

“I missed you so much.” Tim then whispers, his face displaying every emotion he was feeling in the moment.

“I missed you too.” You reply softly. Glad you were reunited with your husband again.

After a few days stay in hospital, you had finally been cleared to go home which you were excited for. Your days in the hospital were mostly spent talking to lawyers and detectives to get all the evidence needed for the case against your kidnapper. But Tim had all but refused to leave your side through it all, and some of your friends came to visit you after news had spread that you had been found. You even got to meet Tim’s newest rookie, Lucy, who like Tim predicted, you got on brilliantly with. And while you had appreciated people wanting to visit you, and that the detectives and lawyers wanted to get that guy behind bars as soon as possible. But you just wanted to go home, to spend some time with Tim in the comfort of your own house, as well as getting to know the family member you had missed the arrival of. When Tim had told you about Kojo, he had not missed the way your eyes lit up and he knew it was going to be love at first sight for both you and Kojo. After all the paperwork had been sorted and Tim had brought you a comfy change of clothes from home, you finally headed out to Tim’s truck, letting him help you into the vehicle and settling in to the passenger seat.

The drive back to yours and Tim’s shared house was relatively silent, you listened to what was on the radio and occasionally chatted with Tim until he pulled into the driveway. You waited upon Tim’s orders for him to round the truck and open the door for you, helping you out carefully before leading you to the front door.

“Are you ready?” Tim asks softly, hand interlocked with yours as you both stand in front of the door, staring it down before you nod lightly, giving Tim the sign he needed to unlock the front door, easing it open and ushering both you and him inside, quickly coming face to face with Kojo.

“Hey, you must be Kojo. Tim’s told me all about you. I’m y/n.” You introduce yourself to the dog, watching his reaction carefully as he approaches you, sniffing at your outstretched hand for a few seconds before gently licking your hand and allowing you to pet him.

“Oh, aren’t you the sweetest boy?” You praise, petting Kojo happily while Tim jokingly rolls his eyes.

“It took less than a minute for me to be replaced by the dog.” Tim jokes, making his way into the kitchen to grab some drinks and by the time he returned, you had curled up on the sofa with Kojo and Tim couldn’t help but smile at the sight of having you home again. After placing the drinks on the coffee table, Tim sat down on your other side and wrapped his arm around your middle, pulling you into him and pressing multiple kisses to the side of your head as you smile softly, cherishing the attention and love Tim was giving you.

By the time night fell, you were ready to crash and Tim knew it. He chose to carry you to the bedroom, sitting you down on the bed and finding one of his old police academy shirts he knew you loved to wear and a pair of flannel pyjama bottoms, handing them to you before turning around to get changed himself. When you were both ready for bed, you climbed under the covers while Kojo curled up at the foot of the bed. You instantly curled into Tim’s side, burying your face in his chest.

“I’ve missed this so much.” You mumbled, smiling to yourself when Tim tightens his grip around your waist.

“Me too. I love you so much.” Tim whispers, kissing the top of your head before you tipped your head up so Tim could press the softest of kisses upon your lips.

“I love you too.” You reply softly, eyes full of love as you look up at Tim before curling back into him, quickly falling asleep in his arms the way you had been dreaming off the past few years.

In the middle of the night, Tim stirred, aware of the way the two of you had shifted throughout the night. You were now lying with your back to Tim and his arm was wrapped around your middle but he quickly withdrew it when he noticed you twitching and crying in your sleep. He instantly knew you were having a nightmare so he flicked his bedside lamp on and reached out to gently rouse you, placing his hand on your shoulder and calling your name softly until you bolted upright, eyes wide open and tears staining your cheeks.

“y/n. Baby. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe.” Tim says softly, his hand reaching down to hold yours, his actions only stopping when you practically curled into him instantly, changing his action from holding your hand to holding your sobbing, shaking form instead. Tim continued to reassure you and comfort you quietly, his hand rubbing up and down your back while Kojo rested his head on your leg, whining softly in his own way to comfort you. Tim then began to coach you through slowing your breathing, using techniques you had used when he suffered with nightmares and when you began to calm down, he began to wipe your tears away.

“I thought I was really back in that cabin.” You admit with a sniffle, making Tim hold you closer, taking your hand in his and placing it above his heart.

“You feel that? I’m here and so are you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you again.” Tim promises quietly as you focus on the steady thumping of his heartbeat while your other hand reached down to pet Kojo softly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” You apologise, pulling away with your eyes still shining with tears as Tim shakes his head.

“Don’t apologise. I’m going to be here for you when you need me to. I’m your husband and after what you went through I’d be a shit excuse of a husband if I did anything but look after you when you needed me. Don’t ever apologise for having a nightmare. I love you and I’m going to help you through this.” Tim says, pulling you back into his arms and feeling you settle your head perfectly above his heart so you could focus on his heartbeat once again.

“I love you too.” You mumble, soothed by Tim’s repeated action of running his hand up and down your back as well as his melodic heartbeat and soon your eyes slipped closed again. In the arms of the love of your life and feeling safe for the first time in years.

Tim watched you sleep peacefully for a few minutes, just to make sure no nightmares tried to attack you again as you slept but after not as much as a twitch, Tim switched his lamp off and cuddled you closer as he let himself drift off to sleep. You were finally back where you belonged. And Tim wasn’t going to let anyone hurt you again.

#justabigassnerd #justabigassnerd writes #the rookie #the rookie abc #the rookie fic #the rookie fanfic #the rookie imagine #tim bradford #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford fic #tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x you #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford x fem!reader

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hayleythesugarbowl · 7 months ago

Note

hey girlyyyyy could you maybe write for Tim Bradford from the rookie and like the reader is his rookie and while they’re on patrol they run into someone who knows the reader’s abusive ex bf and he makes threats against reader and after their shift reader is super scared so he escorts them home and stays with them idk just an idea 😅

Nightlight || Tim Bradford x reader

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ masterlist • john nolan fic ⋆˚｡⋆୨୧⋆

summary: when you encounter a man while on patrol who has a threatening message from your ex, your TO, Tim, offers to spend the night with you

word count: 10.4k

warnings: abusive past relationship, reader kind of has a panic attack, mild language, blood, guns, inaccurate police stuff

a/n: ahhh i had so much fun writing this, love!! i took your idea and also added some stuff so i hope you like what i did. i also apologize for the length, i kinda went wild. i imagine this to take place in s1. fem!reader. enjoy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~°~❦~°~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“7-Adam-19, armed shoplifter, Radcliffe Complex, 718 Oscar Road. Respond.”

The dispatcher’s voice filled the silence of the car.

“7-Adam-19 responding.” Officer Bradford set down the radio and replaced his hand on the steering wheel.

“What’s the most important thing to remember when dealing with an armed shoplifter, Boot?” Tim asked you after a moment.

“Why did I think that when I was in short-sleeves I would get a break from your Tim Tests?” you muttered.

You’d been Bradford’s rookie for seven months now and some days he still treated you like it was your first day on the force. You appreciated him trying to teach you so thoroughly, but did he have to be so Tim all the time?

“Is that your answer, Boot?”

“No, um, I guess it would be that he’s armed. But no, that’s too obvious for you. Ok, what about what they’re stealing? Their physical state? Keeping their hands in sight at all times?”

Tim sighed, looking bored. “Wrong. It’s—”

“Suspect on the move, heading east on Apple Boulevard,” came the dispatcher’s update, interrupting your TO’s answer.

“Looks like we’re headed east,” Tim said, turning sharply in the direction you’d just come from.

“Saved by the suspect,” you joked.

“Don’t think this is over,” Tim narrowed his eyes at the road. “Lessons don’t stop for crime.”

“Ok, batman.”

Tim glared at you.

“I mean, Sir.”

After you’d first been assigned to Officer Bradford, you’d been told stories of his ruthless training style. Your first thought was that you needed to impress him from day one.

Well, technically your first thought was damn, because you’d have to be insane not to notice how objectively attractive he was. But you’d quickly quelled that thought—crushing on your TO was not how you wanted to start your career as an officer.

So, impressing him was your second thought. And you had been more than a little terrified of not impressing him.

You would be lying if you said that wasn’t how things still were between you two, to a degree—you trying to prove yourself and him making it as difficult as possible.

But, at least after several months, you felt like your TO trusted you more.

“There!” You pointed to a man running down the street, duffel bag in hand.

Tim hit the gas, surpassing the suspect, and skidding to a stop in front of him, effectively cutting him off.

You both hurried out of the car, weapons drawn on the man who was currently aiming his gun back and forth, between you and Bradford.

“Police! Drop your weapon!” Tim shouted at the man.

The man hesitated, seeming to be weighing his options—how easily he could take out two cops.

“Set the weapon down, nice and easy,” Tim ordered, his own gun still pointed at the suspect.”

The man, seeming to sense the inevitability of his capture, sighed and set his gun on the ground.

“The answer was dialogue, by the way,” Tim addressed you, his eyes still on the suspect. “Dialogue is the most important thing when dealing with an armed suspect.”

“Good to know,” you acknowledged, before ordering the man in front of you. “Hands behind your head, interlace your fingers.”

The man’s gaze shot to you as he obeyed your commands.

“Hey, lady cop, you look familiar,” the criminal squinted at you.

“You must have me mistaken for someone else,” you said. You’d never seen this man in your life.

“I swear—”

“Hands on the car!” You ordered

The man reluctantly did what he was told, placing his palms on the side of the shop.

“Wait a minute,” the man sized you up before smirking slowly. “Your Paul Cranston’s girl, ain’t ya?”

You felt your blood instantly run cold at the name.

“You must have me mistaken for someone else,” you said again, robotically, grabbing one of his arms.

“No, no I’d recognize that pretty face anywhere,” the criminal whispered. “He told me all about you. Hey, why don’t you let me go and I’ll give you a friendly tip?”

You responded by twisting his arm behind his back even harder.

He winced. “So you didn’t hear then? Paul’s out.”

No. That couldn’t be true. Paul wasn’t supposed to be out for—

“Boot, you going to cuff him or not?” Tim called impatiently.

“Right.” You shook off the stupor and began handcuffing the suspect. Your mind was still on that name, however, and your reflexes were slowed.

Which is how the suspect was able to rip his arm from your grip and shove you to the ground as he tried to make a break for it.

Tim tackled him almost immediately, wrestling him into the cuffs that were dangling on one of his wrists where you had started to restrain him, and pushing him towards the shop.

“Wait, Paul’s got a message for you!” the man hurried out, looking only at you as Tim waked over and shoved him into the backseat. “He said you best watch yourself, because he has connections, and he still hasn’t gotten his revenge. He’s out—and he’s coming for you.”

“That’s enough, get in the car.” Tim slammed the door shut, and the echo of it rang in your ears as the man’s words played over and over again.

He’s out, and he’s coming for you.

“What the hell was that?”

You looked up to Bradford’s questioning—and furious—face. He offered you a hand and you took it, standing up to face him.

“Sorry, I—”

“‘Sorry’ doesn’t stop criminals from escaping,” Tim shouted. “Get your head in the game. You do want to be a cop, don’t you, Boot?”

“Yes, sir.”

So much for Tim trusting you. You couldn’t believe you’d almost just let a suspect get away. That had never happened to you before. But, that name—

Your TO shook his head, walking to the drivers side and opening the door. “You know, I should write you up for that.”

You noticed his wording. “But you’re not going to?”

He waited for you to get into the passenger seat before saying,

“I didn’t say that. First you’re going to tell me what just happened between you two.”

You flinched. “It—nothing. It was nothing.”

“Uh-huh. It didn’t sound like nothing. Who’s Paul Cranston?”

You swallowed hard. “He’s just someone I used to know.”

A million images flashed through your head. Paul’s face looming over you. The flashing lights and sirens. Waking up in the hospital.

You shook yourself out of it. You didn’t want to talk about this now. You swore you’d never talk about it again. “Shouldn’t—shouldn’t we get back to the station. Don’t we have to book this guy?”

Tim sighed, started the car, and re-entered traffic. You breathed a sigh of relief.

“Control, this is 7-Adam-19. I need an ID on a Paul Cranston,” Tim spoke into his radio.

And so much for not talking about this now.

“Can you do that without suspicion of a crime?” You asked him.

“You can when dispatch loves you.” He winked at you.

You rolled your eyes at him as the radio began speaking.

“Paul Cranston: caucasian male, date of birth 8/4/92, recently released on parole, history of theft and domestic violence.”

Tim turned his gaze to you. “How do you know this man, Boot?”

“It’s—a long story,” you told him.

“Well then you better start talking if you want to finish before we reach the station,” Tim commanded, making a left turn.

“Can’t you just let it go?” You asked him. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”

He’s out, and he’s coming for you.

You couldn’t fight the shiver that racked your body.

Tim’s eyes flicked to you, before returning back to the road. Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, shifting the car into park before turning to you.

“If this is another one of your ‘I’m dying, where are we’ tests—”

“Boot, focus,” Tim barked.

“With all due respect, sir, I don’t think it’s really any of your concern if—”

“Of course it’s my concern!” Tim shouted. His expression was so intense, you squirmed under his gaze and you felt your face heat.

He looked torn for a moment, before sighing and saying, “It’s my job as your TO to train you to the best of my abilities, and I can’t do that if you’re withholding information that may affect your performance as an officer.”

“Fine,” you breathed. “It was a long time ago. I was 18, Paul and I met freshman year of college. We started dating and things were fine, good even, for a while.”

“Until?” Tim prompted.

“Until he got pissed one night because I caught him coming home really late with a ski mask and a bag full of stolen cash. Cliche, right?”

You looked to Tim, but his expression was as stony as ever and you continued.

“Apparently, he’d been stealing since high school and turns out he’d lied to me about working in retail and a whole bunch of other stuff. I threatened to call the police if he didn’t stop and—”

You took a deep breath, steeling yourself.

You watched the houses and trees and cars pass by as you drove towards the station.

“—and he hit me. It didn't stop after that—once he knew he could get away with it. He said if I ever told anyone—about the robberies, the beatings—that he’d kill me. And I let him go on like that for months. I was so scared that if I called anyone, he’d make good on his promise.”

Tim’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his fingers turning white, but he didn’t speak.

“But then, one night, it got so bad that I thought he might actually kill me anyway. So I waited until he left the room for a minute and I called 911. He was arrested and—and that’s all I remember before I blacked out. I woke up in the hospital the next morning.”

You kept your voice even, trying not to let the emotion show through your story. You were just recounting facts. This was almost 10 years ago, and you’d moved on with your life.

But reliving it all was hard, even after so much time had passed.

“It’s actually why I joined the academy,” you finished. “I wanted to save people, the way the officers that night did for me.”

You were both silent for a moment.

A muscle in Tim’s jaw ticked. “Does the department know?”

“Yeah,” you sighed. “It’s all part of my file.”

“And the guy back there?”

You shrugged, glancing back at the suspect and lowering your voice. “He must be one of Paul’s partners or goons or—I don’t know. I guess he’s been in contact with him since he was released, if he knows what I look like.”

The thought made your skin crawl.

“I don’t know what came over me,” you kept going. “It’s been years, I just—I didn’t expect to hear about him out of the blue from a criminal on the street, you know? But, I promise it won’t happen again.”

Tim ignored that. “Do you think it was an empty threat?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted. “But I sure as hell hope so.”

Bradford was silent for a long moment, his expression tense.

The radio crackled to life. “7-Adam-19, we have a 215 in progress near your area, 239 West Armston Street. Respond.”

“Negative,” Bradford answered the dispatch call.

You stared at him, shocked. “Why aren’t we taking that? We can drop this guy off afterwards.”

“Yeah, I agree,” the suspect chimed in from the backseat. “I think you should take that first.”

Tim payed him no attention. “They’ll have someone else over there in minutes. We have more important things to do.”

“You’re not even going to ask me if I know what a 215 is?” You joked. Tim never passed up an opportunity to quiz you.

“What’s a 215, Boot?”

“Carjacking.”

“Correct.” Tim nodded. “And we’re going to have a talk with Sergeant Grey.”

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

“Paul Cranston, released on parole from a thirteen year sentence three days ago, currently believed to be residing in the Woodland Hills area.”

You sat in the briefing room, surrounded by other officers, as Sergeant Grey read out your ex-boyfriend’s file. You stared into Paul’s face on the screen, his mugshot visible from all angles.

Bradford stood near the front of the room, leaning against the wall.

“The department is aware of Officer (Y/l/n)’s history with Mr. Cranston,” Grey continued. “And will take necessary action should the situation progress.”

“So, what’s the course of action here?” Tim crossed his arms.

“I’m afraid, as of now, there isn’t one,” Grey said. “Since there is no direct proof against Paul Cranston, we’d essentially be taking the word of a petty thief and wasting resources on what most likely was a desperate attempt to escape arrest. The department doesn’t exactly consider it a threat.”

“Doesn’t consider it a threat?” Tim’s voice was low and dangerous. “How about a charge for threatening an officer?”

“But Paul didn’t threaten an officer,” you sighed, thinking. “The armed robbery suspect did.”

“Exactly, Officer (Y/l/n),” Grey agreed. “Basically, our hands are tied.”

“Then untie them,” Bradford snapped, beginning to pace. “There’s gotta be some technicality we can get him on. Violation of parole, conspiring with a felon, failure to—”

“That’s enough, Officer Bradford,” The sergeant fixed your TO with a firm look. “I appreciate your concern for (Y/l/n)’s safety, but we’ve done all we can do. And, for now, that’s nothing.”

Tim’s concern for your safety. That thought had been in the back of your mind since the ride to the station. You couldn’t figure out why Tim was so determined about this. You supposed you were his rookie and was his job to look out for you. It was just, up until now, he hadn’t exactly done anything to make you believe he’d care so much.

“Failure to take action could be endangering one of our officers,” Tim said, his jaw clenched. “Who’s to say this guy won’t make good on his threat? At least increase security at (Y/l/n)’s residence.”

“Tim, its fine,” you said, your voice firm. “Let it go.”

They were making a big enough deal about this already. It probably was just a case of a criminal trying anything to get free. You doubted Paul even cared about what happened to you anymore. He probably never wanted to see you again—and that was a good thing.

But, then, you couldn’t get those words out of your head.

He’s out and he’s coming for you.

Bradford turned to you, his chest rising and falling. He looked so…resolved. Like he did when chasing down a suspect or that time when you’d walked in on him in the training rooms.

Images of Tim shirtless, the muscles in his back tight as he pushed himself harder filled your head and you quickly shook them away. Definitely not the time.

“We’ll send a surveillance team to Paul’s location in the morning,” Grey said, turning to address you. “But for now the best thing you can do is to go home, get some sleep, and not let this rattle you. Understood?”

“Yes, Sergeant.”

“Good. Because the last thing the L.A.P.D needs is a cop who lets their personal life get in the way of their ability to do their job in any way that’s less than exemplary. I trust that’s not the case?”

You glanced to Bradford, certain he was going to mention your mistake with the suspect earlier.

“No, Sir,” Tim said instead. “My rookies don’t do ‘less than exemplary’. Don’t worry about (Y/l/n)—she’s proved to me she has what it takes to be an officer.”

“Glad to hear it. Shift over. Everybody else, back to work,” Sergeant Grey waved everyone away.

You walked towards the front of the room, hearing grumbled complaints about midnight shift from the unlucky officers who still had to do patrol as you did so.

You stopped in front of your TO. His eyes were on you, his brow drawn in something that looked like concern.

“Thanks,” you said. You couldn’t believe he’d told Grey all that—it was the most complimentary thing he’d said about you in your whole time riding with him.

“I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” Tim stated, shrugging. “I expect you to live up to any praise I’ve given you.”

“Yes, sir,” you nodded, almost smiling.

“Besides, you’re being trained by me. You’d have to be royally screwed up not to become one of the best on the force.”

“And he’s humble too,” you teased. “But I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“Whatever, Boot.” Tim smiled, shaking his head.

“Be nonchalant all you want,” you said, feeling brave. “I know you like me.”

For a brief moment, Tim looked like you’d slapped him. But then, the flash of—whatever that was—was gone and his expression was replaced by one of cold indifference.

“In your TO not your friend, (Y/l/n),” he stated. “It’s not about liking you. It’s about training you.”

You sighed inwardly. Just when you thought you were making ground with Tim, he treated you like you’d just met. “Of course, how could I forget.”

Tim stayed silent.

“Well, I should head out,” you told him, “I’ve got a busy night ahead me. You know, trying not to get killed by my ex and all.”

You’d meant it as a joke, to make light of the situation that left you feeling more uneasy than you’d care to admit. Tim, however, just shook his head and brushed past you, out of the briefing room.

You stood there for a moment, trying to work through what had just happened, before turning around and taking a step in the other direction. Only to find Officers Lopez and Bishop standing in front of you, staring between you and Tim’s retreating figure.

“So how’d you do it?” Bishop looked you up and down.

“Do what?” You asked, confused.

“Get Tim wrapped around your finger,” Lopez answered for her, smirking.

You felt your eyes widen. “Tim’s not—”

“Please,” Lopez put her hands on her hips. “I’ve watched him train dozens of rookies and he’s never stood up for any of them like that. So naturally I figured you’re either blackmailing him or sleeping with him.”

You blanched, feeling the heat rush to your cheeks as you let what Angela said sink in. You knew she was just teasing you, but the statement caught you off guard. You imagined you and Tim—together. It wasn’t necessarily an unpleasant thought. And then you realized what you were thinking and you chided yourself, hurriedly un-imagining it.

“No, that’s not—neither one of those things,” you answered quickly. “Trust me, Tim doesn’t give me any special treatment, if that’s what you’re implying. I actually can’t tell if he hates me half of the time.”

“We’re not implying anything,” Bishop replied. “Only observing. And he doesn’t hate you.”

“How can you possibly know that?” You were suddenly insecure. You still held on to a secret dread that you were going to wildly disappoint Tim—that you already had. Sure, there was all the stuff he had just said. But there was also months of him being hard on you and saying that you weren’t friends.

“Because I’ve seen him hate plenty of people,” Bishop spoke. “And he definitely didn’t look at them the way he looks at you.”

The way Tim looked at you? You weren’t aware he looked at you in a way that was different from the way he looked at anyone else at the station.

“What are you guys trying to say?” You asked them.

“I’m saying watch out,” Bishop raised an eyebrow. “Because Tim might like you more than he’s willing to let you—or himself—in on.”

Could there be any truth to what the two officers were saying? Was it wrong for a small part of you to hope there was?

“Um, ok,” you said, blinking. “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.”

“Don’t believe us if you want, it’s your call,” Bishop shrugged, backing up. “But I’m telling you, you mean something to Tim that the rest of us can only guess at.”

And with that she walked out of the room.

“Bishop can be intense,” Angela said when the woman was out of earshot. “She’s got that whole ‘anti-cops-dating’ thing going on—but I do think she’s right about this. Tim’s tough, and I’m sure he gives you hell—but it’s not because he doesn’t like you. I actually think it’s quite the opposite. ”

Was there really something that everyone saw between you and Tim except for you? You still couldn’t even entertain the thought that Tim had feelings for you that were more than TO and rookie.

“Well you’ve certainly left me with a lot to think about,” you said finally.

“Then I’ll let you start thinking—you’re welcome for the peace of mind.”

You wouldn’t have used the phrase peace of mind, yourself. Sure, it was nice to know that the officers who had known your TO for years were confident that he didn’t look down on you. But, this conversation also had left your head swimming with conflicting thoughts about Tim that you didn’t feel like dealing with right now.

“And take care,” Lopez said knowingly. “We have your back if anything happens.”

With that, your thoughts slammed back to the current situation.

“Right, that. You—you think something’s going to happen?” You asked, trying to sound casual.

“I think in this job we have to be prepared for the worst,” she corrected. “But I also think that bastard would have to be pretty stupid to mess with you.”

She smiled at you and you smiled back. After watching her leave, you followed her path, heading towards the locker rooms.

You thought about what she had said about you and Tim, about Paul.

You hoped she was right—you just couldn’t say which you hoped she was more right about.

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

Your thoughts bounced between your conversation with Talia and Angela and the message from your ex as you walked to your car minutes later.

When you woke up this morning, you thought the most stressful part of your day would’ve been a police chase or a shootout. You never would’ve expected it to be my ex-boyfriend is out of jail and could be hunting me down and my training officer might have feelings for me.

Funny how things could change so fast.

Suddenly, you heard a bang. You spun around quickly, your heart in your throat. But it was only a car door being slammed shut from across the parking lot.

Get a grip, you told yourself.

You rounded the corner, running a hand through your hair.

You stopped. Tim was leaning against the side of your car, arms crossed in front of his chest. He looked you up and down.

“What are you doing?” You asked.

“Driving you home, Boot,” Tim said. “Get in the car.”

“Tim, you don’t have to—”

“That wasn’t a question, give me the keys.”

There was no point in fighting him. Besides, there was a small part of you that didn’t really want to fight him.

You tossed him the keys to your car and got in the passenger seat with a sigh.

Tim started the engine.

“If this is about Paul, this really isn’t necessary,” you said after you’d been driving for several minutes and the silence became too much. “I can handle myself. I am an officer, in case you forgot.”

“You’re a rookie,” Tim corrected, eyes never leaving the road. “And if the department won’t do anything, then I will.”

“What—we’re not going to go looking for him, are we?” You asked.

“Of course not,” Tim scoffed. “I’m not a vigilante, Boot. Where do you live?”

“Take a left at the light,” you guided.

Neither of you talked for the remainder of the drive, save your occasional directions. When you pointed out your apartment building, Tim parked the car and handed you the keys.

“Thanks,” you mumbled to him as you got out of the car, grabbing your bag and heading towards the building.

You heard a door shut behind you and turned to find your TO standing on the sidewalk, an eyebrow raised.

“You didn’t think I was just going to let you spend the night alone with a target on your head, did you, Boot?”

“Tim—”

“No more protests,” he said firmly. “As your TO, I—”

“No, I was just going to say that if you were planning on staying here, why couldn’t I have just driven my own car?”

“I don’t let my rookies drive,” Tim walked past you and to the front door. “Even off-duty.”

You followed him quickly, getting out your key and letting you both in.

When you reached your apartment you did a quick scan of the space—it wasn’t exactly like you’d been expecting company, much less your training officer. You cringed at the messiness.

“How many entrances and exits are there?” Bradford asked.

“Um, just the front door. And there’s windows in the kitchen and the bedroom,” you said.

You skimmed past everything in the place, looking towards the window in your bedroom. Your eye caught on one of your bras hanging from your bedpost. You quickly ran over and shut the door, blushing and hoping Tim hadn’t noticed.

“Please, Boot,” Tim made a face. “It’s nothing I haven’t already seen before.”

“Ok no offense, but I usually don’t let guys see my bra the first time I bring them to my place,” you joked.

“If that’s an offer, I’m going to have to politely decline.”

“What—no,” you hurried out, worried your voice sounded wrong. “I just meant—”

Tim interrupted. “I’m going to do a sweep of the place, make sure everything’s as it should be.”

“Is that really needed?”

“I’m not taking any chances.” He left the room and you sunk down onto the couch, letting your bag fall to the floor.

Your TO returned a few minutes later. “All clear.”

“See, everything’s fine,” you said, speaking just as much to yourself as you were to Tim.

“Well,” Bradford started, amusement in his eyes. “I wouldn’t say everything is fine. Your storage closet’s a fire hazard.”

Had Tim Bradford just made a joke?

“I’ll be sure not to exit through the closet in the events of a fire,” you said sarcastically. “And if you keep insulting my living space, I’m going to be forced to kick you out.”

“Bold for someone whose career I could end.”

“You can’t end my career for that,” you shot back. Paused. “Can you?”

Tim raised his eyebrows.

“Only one way to find out,” you said enthusiastically, teasing him now. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t let the closet trap you on the way out.

“Nice try, Boot. But you’re still stuck with me for,” Tim checked his watch. “eight hours.”

“Nine hours,” you corrected. You had to leave for work in nine hours.

“You’re right, I should get us drinks,” Tim joked.

You rolled you eyes and he shot you a look. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge.”

Tim got up, disappearing into the kitchen.

“Is all you own ginger ale, Boot?” He called.

“There’s six year old tequila in the cupboard,” you suggested.

“Ginger ale it is.”

Tim joined you in the living room again, carrying two bottles. He handed one to you, sitting down on the opposite side of the couch.

You noted the careful distance he put between you.

“What’s this thing made of, Boot? Plywood?” Tim asked, inspecting the couch.

You smothered a laugh.

“Get comfortable. It’s where you’re sleeping,” you answered.

“Won’t be necessary. If you’re not awake you’re not aware.”

“So, what, we’re taking shifts on guard like this is a stakeout?” You asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t come here to sleep.”

“Tim I can’t let you stay up all night while I’m unconscious.” you sighed.

“You can if it’s an order. Besides, no offense, but rookies are historically less vigilant and have a slower response time…”

You tried not to take offense at that. “Right, Eagle Eye.”

Tim glared at you.

“Angela told me.”

“Of course she did. And at least I didn’t leave valuable evidence on the street to chase after a dog wearing a top hat.”

“Sparky could’ve been involved in the crime,” you said, indignant. “And that was one time!”

“One time too many,” Tim mumbled, lifting the bottle to his lips, his eyes sparkling.

“Ok, so when you were a rookie you were, what, perfect?” You shot back.

“Damn straight.” Tim nodded.

“You made no mistakes, at all?” You prompted.

“Well,” Tim took a sip of his drink. “There was one thing.”

“Aside from the graffiti incident?”

“That wasn’t a mistake because it wasn’t my fault. I was following direct orders and—you know what, never mind. If you don’t want to hear it—”

“No, no, I do!” you scooted towards the edge of your seat in anticipation. “And none of that ‘I worked too hard and too efficiently’ crap.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said sarcastically. “My first week on the job I was put on paperwork duty, which was—”

“Boring and tedious? I can imagine,” you deadpanned, having been put in charge of paperwork by Tim many times.

“I was going to say necessary and a valuable skill to have,” Bradford corrected. “But anyways, we had just got done booking a couple suspects and I was working on the reports. A triple homicide and a prostitution case. It was a long day and I was tired and I guess I got sloppy—”

“You? Sloppy?” You interrupted.

“Do you want me to tell you this story or not?”

“Right, sorry. Continue.”

Tim did. “I’d just finished tagging the evidence for both cases and when I was filling everything out I somehow got the numbers mixed up. Long story short, according to my report, the homicide gun ended up being linked to the prostitution case and the weapon allegedly used in the triple homicide was…a pair of pink, fluffy handcuffs.”

You couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped you now.

“Forensics caught it before it was sent to the judge, thank god,” Bradford sighed. “But the next day when I was getting ready for my shift, I was greeted by dozens of similar handcuffs in my locker—apparently Smitty has a guy.”

“Tell me you kept them,” you begged, pulling your knees up to your chest.

“Of course not!”

Tim blinked.

“Well, not all of them—Isabel made me take a pair home. I found out later that she was the one who orchestrated the whole prank. She used to do stuff like that all the time before she, uh,—”

“Tim—”

You’d heard about Bradford’s ex-wife. How she’d become an addict, gotten herself mixed up with bad people. You knew how much it had affected Tim, even if he hadn’t said so.

She was in rehab now, getting her life back together. You were glad she was finally getting the help she needed. Still, you knew how much she meant to Tim. How much it had hurt him to move on from her and let her start a new life without him.

“I’m fine.” Tim said firmly, clearing his throat. “It’s good to talk about her…before. She’s on the right path now.”

You stared at the ground in front of you, picking at your fingernails.

“Are you still in love with her?” The question was out of your mouth before you could stop it. You didn’t know why you asked—didn’t know why you cared what the answer was. Ten minutes ago you wouldn’t have even dared to ask that question.

But he was being so uncharacteristically open and you seemed to be getting along well. You reluctantly brought your eyes up to Tim.

His eyes had gone wide. He looked like he wanted to leave or yell at you or both, and you immediately regretted it.

But then his eyes softened and he opened his mouth. “No. I’ll always care about her and she’ll always be someone that I did love. But relationships change—people change.”

You nodded. “I get it—I mean, I’m kind of rusty on relationships—but I get it. I actually haven’t dated anyone since Paul. I guess it was just hard to trust someone after that. I kind of sabotaged any relationship that had any chance of starting.”

It was the first time you’d admitted that to anyone. You wouldn’t have pegged Tim as being so easy to talk to. You had almost forgotten about the whole Paul situation before you’d just brought him up. You had been enjoying hanging out with Tim, no matter the circumstances. He was actually pleasant to be around when he wasn’t on the clock.

You imagined this happening more often—you and Tim, not just coworkers but friends. Maybe even more. Maybe this was one relationship you didn’t have to end before it started.

You dared to let yourself think about it. You watched Tim process your words. Saw the emotion clearly written in his face as he looked at you intensely.

“Hey, thanks again for not letting me be alone tonight,” you told him, you’re voice soft.

“Don’t take it personally, Boot,” he said. “My house is being repainted and even your place beats breathing in paint fumes all night.”

“I’m honored,” you laughed, rolling your eyes. “But you have to admit this has been fun—hanging out.”

Your little impromptu sleepover. You smiled.

Tim, however, looked like a switch had been flipped inside of him. You watched as he clenched his jaw, leaning almost imperceptibly away from you

“Listen, Boot—”

He was cut off by the sound of breaking glass and a loud thumping sound.

You both shot up off the couch, abandoning your drinks. Tim’s hand went to his gun. You did the same.

Tim turned to you. “Stay here.”

“Like hell,” you shot back, following him as he started to do a sweep of the main room.

If that sound was someone—Paul—breaking in, you weren’t going to sit here and let Bradford fight your battles for you.

He signaled to let you know he was moving to the kitchen. You nodded, following.

“Clear,” he muttered, and moved on towards the bathroom. You were right behind him when you heard another noise, like the muffled sound of scraping of furniture, and you spun around.

The bedroom. It was the only room in that direction that you hadn’t checked yet.

You glanced to Tim, but he hadn’t heard it. He was a few feet ahead of you, just now entering the bathroom.

You slowly stepped away from him and made your way across the apartment, down the hall and over to the closed bedroom door.

Holding your weapon in one hand, you opened the door with the other. But, you barely had time to see what was on the other side before you were grabbed and a cloth was shoved into your mouth.

Your gun was ripped from your hand, and you were pushed hard onto the ground. Your wrist burned where you landed on shards of glass from the broken window

Something smacked into the back of your head and you were dragged and thrown onto the bed on the corner. You heard the door shut.

Squinting up into the light, rubbing your throbbing head, your heart dropped as you saw who was in front of you.

“Did you miss me?” Paul sneered, spinning your gun in his hand.

You froze. Everything crashed into you at once. The events of the last time you saw your ex-boyfriend sped through your mind. Suddenly, you were scared and 18 again, at the mercy of this man.

“I guess you got my man’s message,” Paul continued. “Because you don’t exactly look shocked to see me. Scared, of course, but not shocked.”

Coming back to yourself, you scrambled up onto your knees, ready to knock him out.

Paul shook his head, laughing. “No, no. If you move even an inch I’ll shoot you right in the forehead.”

You sat back down, your heart thumping in your chest as you scanned the room for a way out. Some way to get the upper hand on him. You had been trained for this.

“Listen to me,” he continued, his hand coming to the gag in your mouth. You flinched away from him. “I know there’s someone in here with you. If you try to scream to alert them, I will also shoot you. I’d like to play with you first before I put a bullet in your brain but, hey, I’m not picky. Is that clear?”

You nodded, trying to measure how fast you could knock the weapon out of his hand before he could take a shot at you. Paul took the cloth out of you mouth.

You gasped in air. “Backup’s going to be in here any second and then you’re going back to prison.”

Tim would notice you were gone. He had to.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Paul smiled. “I’ll be long gone and you’ll be long dead before that happens.”

You glanced towards the door. What was taking him so long?

Suddenly, Paul reached forwards and gripped your face in his hand. “Just as beautiful as I remember. It was such a shame things had to end with us as they did. How did that happen again? Oh, that’s right. You betrayed me.”

“And that was the best decision I ever made,” you spat.

Paul backed up, shaking his head. “You’ve gotten feistier, baby. It’ll make this so much more fun for me.”

He stepped back towards you, his face inches from yours, sneering. “This’ll be just like old times.”

Bam! The door to your bedroom busted open. Bradford rushed in, taking in the situation. You breathed a sigh of relief.

“Get down on the ground!” Tim growled.

Paul froze for only a second, fear flashing across his face, but it was enough. You lunged, wrestling the gun out of his hands, your wrist protesting.

You trained it on him. Paul was surrounded.

“You have five seconds to get on the ground before I shoot you,” Tim bit out, his expression murderous.

“Come on, baby, you’re not going to let Officer Buzzkill treat me like that, are you?” Paul appealed to you.

You leveled your gaze on him, ignoring his words. “You heard him. Get on the ground.”

Paul slowly knelt, never taking his eyes off of you. Tim charged him, pulling out handcuffs and locking them around his wrists.

You took a moment to be amused—of course Tim had off-duty cuffs.

“So this ends the way it starts, huh?” Paul shook his head. “You getting me locked up?”

“Just like old times,” you echoed his earlier statement. You stayed stoic, putting your hands on your hips to hide the way they shook.

Anger sparked in Paul’s eyes before he took on a smug expression. “You’re right. You’re the same girl you were when I met you. You haven’t changed a bit.”

“Don’t listen to him, Boot,” Tim warned hauling the man up off the ground.

“You know I’m right,” Paul’s manic eyes bore into yours. He was enjoying every moment of this, laughter in his tone. It took all that was in you to keep your expression blank, unaffected. “You’ll always be that person I knew—the person who loved me. Because you did—love me. You could’ve walked away. But you didn’t. You just took it all like the victim you are. You pathetic bitch—”

He was cut off abruptly as Tim slammed him face-first against the wall. Paul cried out.

“That’s enough!” Tim shouted. “If you ever threaten—no, if you even look at (Y/l/n) again, I will hunt you down and personally remove every external limb from your body, do you understand me? (Y/n) is a million times the person you will ever be and you don’t get to make her feel small. If I didn’t think sitting in a cell for the rest of your life was a worse fate, I’d kill you right now—screw the department.”

Your ears were ringing, your head dizzy as you tried to ground yourself. Your voice came out tiny. “Tim, stop.”

Bradford turned to you, almost as if he had forgotten you were in the room. He was breathing hard, his fists clenched around the man in custody.

“And she’s not a victim,” Tim whispered, turning back to Paul, his voice right by his ear. “She’s a survivor.”

With that, he shoved Paul back to the ground and moved over to you, his eyes roaming over your face. Your body. He took the gun out of your hands, setting it on the desk. Then, he gripped your injured wrist and you winced as he inspected it.

“Probably hurts like hell, but you won’t need stitches. Any other injuries?”

“Um, he hit me in the back of the head,” you felt your scalp, a lump already forming.

Tim’s hands moved to your hair, his touch gentle, his breath on your cheek as he leaned to get a better look.

Your own breath caught, your heart racing at the intimacy of your position.

“What’s the damage?” You almost whispered.

Tim’s eyes met yours, the heat of his stare spreading through your body. “You’ll have a nasty bruise, but there’s no external bleeding.”

Tim stepped back, and you found yourself wishing he hadn’t.

“Are you—are you ok, Boot?” He asked carefully.

How did you even answer that question? You were still in shock, unable to process what had just happened.

“I will be,” you settled on, breathing in slowly. Exhaling.

Tim looked like he wanted to say more but he clenched his jaw, glancing in the direction of Paul, who had been uncharacteristically silent. Maybe he had finally accepted his defeat.

“I’m going to call for back up, you go clean that up,” Tim gestured to the blood covering your wrist where you had landed in the broken glass. “You need help?”

“No, I got it,” You nodded, walking towards the bathroom as you heard Tim make the call.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“This is off-duty officer Tim Bradford, badge 34831. I need a unit to my location for a 126. Suspect in custody. Code 4.”

Tim’s voice faded as you made your way down the hall, shutting the bathroom door after you to access the medicine cabinet behind it.

You took out the necessary supplies and began cleaning the wound. You stopped in front of the sink, letting your burning eyes close for a moment, massaging your temples.

Now that you were alone, you let yourself collapse, bracing your hands against the counter

Images flooded your senses.

The gag. Paul hitting you from behind. You, young and frightened, huddled on the ground. That gleam in his eyes.

Your eyes snapped open, your breath coming out fast.

He’s in custody. You told yourself. He can’t hurt you anymore.

You looked at your reflection in the mirror staring wearily back at you, your hands still shaking as you brushed your hair back from your face. Was it hot in here or was it just you?

Turning your attention back to your wrist, you took a deep breath and continued to dab at the wound.

You reached for the bandages on the counter. A sheen of sweat broke out on your forehead as you wrapped your arm.

You pictured Paul’s grip on you. His words rang in your ears.

You’re the same girl you were when I met you. You haven’t changed a bit.

The room tilted. You swayed on your feet so you sunk down to the ground, leaning your head against the cabinet, the cool wood pressing against your head.

You tried to slow your erratic breathing but you couldn’t. You couldn’t—

The sound of footsteps and voices carried through the door. You were vaguely aware that it was probably the backup here to take Paul away.

You closed your eyes, your throat tight, you pulse thundering in your ears.

I’m ok, you tried to tell yourself. I’m ok. I’m ok.

You were unaware how long you sat like this. You had no concept of time. Your thoughts were wild, images flashing in and out, unable to form conscious ideas. Every breath sending a sharp pain through your body.

“Boot?”

The muffled voice was closer than the others had been.

“Boot?” The voice was louder now. You registered Tim at the door. He knocked once. Twice.

“Boot, I’m coming in,” he shouted, his voice laced with worry. The door was shoved open.

“Dammit,” he cursed, seeing your state. You felt him getting closer to you, but you didn’t look up as he knelt by you, his concerned expression taking in yours.

“Hey, look at me,” Tim coaxed. “(Y/l/n), breathe.”

He seemed miles and miles away. There was a pause.

“Hey, Boot, I got another test for you,” he spoke quickly, gently placing a hand on your shoulder. “I want you to tell me the most annoying person we work with.”

“What?” You rasped, barely hearing him.

“Bishop’s an easy target,” he said. “And Lopez is a slob, so you can’t go wrong there. West’s got the whole daddy issues thing. Don’t even get me started on Nolan—”

You swallowed hard, your mouth feeling dry.

“And then there’s me. I mean, I’m annoying right?”

You breathed a shaky laugh, opening your eyes slowly.

Tim smiled. “Oh so you agree? It’s ok, Boot, you can say me. Go ahead, I can take it.”

When you didn’t say anything, Tim kept talking. “Personally I’d go for Detective Coleman. The man makes double what I do and I’m convinced he doesn’t own a decent looking tie.”

“L-like the—the green one from last week,” you managed, trying to slow your breathing.

“Leprechauns would call it tacky,” Tim agreed. “Now, since we’ve discussed this from all angles I’m going to need you to choose wisely. Because this is going to go on your evaluation for today.”

You gulped. “Are—are you going to get me fired if I say you?”

Tim let out a quiet, relieved laugh. “I knew it. Guess who’s going back to long-sleeves on Monday?”

“In this heat wave? You—you wouldn’t dare,” you joked, sniffing.

“I don’t know, I am the most annoying person you work with—sounds like something I might do.”

You laughed again, this time the sound coming out less strained. You focused on taking deep breaths, feeling your heart rate return to normal.

“There you go.” Tim stood up, offering his hand to you for the second time that day. You gripped his arm as he pulled you up onto shaky legs.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, embarrassed to have had your TO see you like this now that your head was clearer.

“For what, doing my job?”

You smiled weakly at him, running a hand along your forehead. “Sorry for um—”

“Having a normal reaction to a highly emotional situation? Don’t apologize for being human,” Tim said firmly, his forehead creased.

“So, he’s gone?” You’re voice came out small.

Tim’s expression softened. “He’s gone.”

You nodded again, looking at the floor. Tim sighed, reaching an arm out. “Come here.”

You took a step towards him and then you were in his arms, his embrace strengthening you as he rubbed your back. You stood there like that, not wanting this to end. Not wanting to put distance between you again. Finally, he pulled back and looked down at you, his gaze weighted, before taking a few steps towards the door. You looked over Tim’s shoulder.

“Hey, (Y/n), look at me.” Tim said. You brought your gaze up to meet his. “He is never going to hurt you again, ok? I’ll make sure of that.”

You let your eyes fall closed, feeling ashamed that you had been so affected. That Tim had to handle all of this for you. “I know. And I’ll understand if after…all this, you don’t see me fit to—to be a police officer anymore.”

Tim’s eyes hardened, his voice hardening with them. “With all do respect, Boot, that’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said. I meant every word of what I said back there—you’re a survivor. All I saw tonight is that you are a brave and intelligent woman who just so happens to have a scumbag of an ex-boyfriend. Don’t let it define you because then he wins. You’re a great cop, (Y/l/n). It’s rookies like you who make the force as strong as it is.”

You listened to Tim speak. He sounded so…passionate. Bishop’s words came back to you.

Tim might like you more than he’s willing to let you—or himself—in on.

You desperately wanted that to be true, now more than ever. He’d been so kind to you in this past hour—staying with you, rescuing you, reassuring you, bringing you back from whatever dark place you had just been in.

And then this. Talking about you like he…like he really cared about you. And maybe it was just because he felt like as your training officer he had to protect you. But in the moment, it felt like maybe it could be more than that.

“So what I’m hearing is, I’m getting a promotion?” You teased finally, brushing your hair back from your damp face, breaking the silence.

Bradford put up a hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, you still have a lot to learn from me.”

You sighed. This was normal, this was comfortable. How you and Tim always acted with each other. You were both relieved and disappointed at the change back into familiar territory.

You ran a hand through your hair, stifling a yawn. Saying today had been a long day would’ve been the understatement of the century.

“Now come on,” Tim flicked his head in the direction of the door. “It’s way past my bedtime.”

“Let me guess, nine p.m. sharp every night?” You teased.

“That’s not true.”

You raised an eyebrow at him.

“Nine-thirty,” he admitted.

You giggled, following Tim out of the bathroom and into the hallway which led to the living room.

You glanced at your bedroom as you passed it, trying not to think about what had happened in there. It was over now, you told yourself.

“Since my room is kind of a crime scene, I guess we’re both crashing out here,” you sighed, gesturing to the couch.

Silence filled the room and you immediately realized your mistake, cheeks flaming.

“Or, right, I guess you can go now. Danger’s over.”

“Are you kidding?” Tim said. “And get to bed even later? I’m not going anywhere.”

You stepped into the living room. You were glad Tim was staying. You felt safer with him here, even though you knew it was irrational.

“I’ll get the blankets and stuff,” you said, turning back the way you’d came.

“Let me go with you,” Tim offered.

“I would but they’re in the closet and I don’t want it to trap you or something,” you said.

“You think I can’t take a closet full of your crap? Bring it on,” Tim challenged and you led him down the hall.

A few minutes later you returned to the living room, blankets and pillows in tow. Tim helped you pull out the couch bed—you were grateful you’d opted for this couch instead of a regular one—and you stood back, admiring your work.

“Take the couch,” you told him. “It was your bed originally.”

“Not gonna happen.” Tim crossed his arms. “It’s your house. And you’re injured.”

“I’m fine. And where are you going to sleep? The floor?” You asked him.

Tim scanned the room and then sat down on the chair across from the couch-turned-bed.

“Are you sure you’re ok on that?” You asked. It didn’t exactly look comfortable for spending hours on.

“Trust me, Boot, you got the short end of the stick. Have fun sleeping on plywood.”

You smiled. “So, what, you’re just going to sit over there and watch me sleep?”

“I can leave, if you’re—”

“No,” you’re voice came out faster and more sharp than you’d intended. “I mean, you came all this way, I don’t want you to have to get an Uber home at this hour.”

You climbed into bed, aware that you were still in your clothes, but not caring enough to change.

“We should get some sleep, it’s been a long night,” Tim sighed. He got up and turned the lights off, darkness filling the room.

“Damn, boot,” you heard Tim’s voice even though you couldn’t see him anymore. “It’s pitch black in here. You don’t sleep with a light or anything?”

“Well I don’t usually sleep in my living room,” you pointed out. Then you stifled a laugh. “Wait a minute. Is Officer Tim Bradford afraid of the dark?”

Tim scoffed. “I’m not afraid of the dark.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” you teased.

“There is no secret,” Tim shot back.

You winked. “Exactly.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Thank you.” You smiled.

The room fell silent. You heard him sit back down.

You laid back, staring up at the ceiling. The seconds ticked by.

“Do you—do you think he really would’ve shot me?” You asked, finally.

“I don’t know,” Tim admitted. “He clearly thought you guys had unfinished business. But guys like that get high on fear—on desperation. He couldn’t have that if you were dead. In his mind, he’d be losing his power over you.”

He paused.

“Besides, I don’t think he would’ve gotten the chance,” Tim said. “He clearly underestimated the badass-ness of his opponent.”

You snorted. “Did you just say ‘badass-ness’?”

“It’s a word!” Tim defended.

You laughed, turning over on your side.

“But seriously, if you ever need anything, you can always talk to me,” Tim said, sounding earnest. “I mean it.”

“I may just take you up on that,” you responded. “Do you tell that to all your rookies?”

You could barely make out Tim’s frame in the dark. “No, not all of them.”

“I’m going to take that as I’m special,” you said.

Your next words were out of your mouth before you could stop them.

“You know, Lopez and Bishop had this crazy idea that you had feelings for me,” you said, staring up at the ceiling. “But I told them it was just that—crazy.”

Tim didn’t speak.

“It is crazy right?” You asked. You had to know. He still was silent. “Right?”

“Boot, look—” Bradford started. His voice came out rough, as if he hadn’t talked in days. Your heartbeat was a deafening roar in your ears.

“Tim?”

You could hear more than see Tim’s movements. He stood, pacing the length of the room. Sat back down. Stood up again. Sat.

“Dammit, Boot, I can’t do this,” he finished. “I can’t do this right now, (Y/n).”

Your pulse quickened. He hadn’t denied it.

You stood up.

And maybe it was having to deny your attraction to your TO for seven months. Maybe it was the adrenaline still coursing through your veins from the attack earlier. Maybe it was because the darkness felt safe and secret—made you feel like you could do anything. Maybe you were just too eager after his small encouragement—or, lack of discouragement.

But, whatever the reason, you walked over to where Tim sat, kneeled down, looked into his confused, strained eyes, and kissed him.

Tim froze, his lips still against yours. And then, almost as if he was afraid you would vanish or startle, he placed his hand gingerly on your waist, and leaned into the kiss.

And he was kissing you back. Tim Bradford was kissing you back.

His free hand went to your hair, deepening the kiss as he gripped you closer. He kissed you like he had been waiting a lifetime.

It was desperate and raw and passionate—it was perfect.

You broke apart, both gasping for breath.

“Listen, Boot,” Tim started. You watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “You’ve had a long and confusing day—”

You interrupted him. “Yeah. Yeah, I have. But I’m not confused about this.”

You brought your lips to his again. This time he didn’t hold back. He pulled you closer to him and you felt the warmth of him through his shirt.

When you came apart again, he was smiling.

“Well, I guess I can check thinking that you hate me off my daily checklist,” you whispered.

“I don’t hate you, Boot,” Tim said. “I actually hate how much I don’t hate you.”

You studied the planes of his face, the light from the hallway illuminating his eyes. His lips. His jawline.

“Boot—”

“If you’re going to say that this is a bad idea, I don’t want to hear it. Not tonight,” you said.

“I thought that was obvious.” Tim stated matter-of-factly. “I was going to say actually I’d appreciate it if you did turn on a lamp or something, because—”

You laughed, kissing him again.

“But seriously,” Tim continued. “You know we can’t do this.”

“Why not?” You pouted. “If it’s what we both want.”

“It’s not about what we want—we could be putting both of our careers in jeopardy.”

You knew he was right. Of course he was right.

“But is it—what you want?”

“God yes,” Tim blurted, standing up, his voice strained. “It’s what I’ve wanted from the moment I started training you. Do you know how hard it’s been trying to put distance between us and deny every damn thing when all I wanted to do was—”

He broke off, running a hand along his hair.

“Then do it.” Your heart pounded in your chest. “You’ll only be my TO for a few more months, we’ll just keep it a secret until then. No one has to know.”

Tim looked at you.

“Ok you’re right, Bishop and Lopez will totally know something’s up,” you admitted.

“I guess I’ll just have to transfer,” Tim joked.

“What happened to ‘Tim Bradford finished what he starts’?” You asked.

“Oh I intend to do just that,” Tim whispered. “Are we really thinking about doing this?”

You thought about the consequences you could face—Tim could face—if it got out that you and your training officer were romantically involved. You knew it would be a huge risk—one that could get you cut from the program.

You looked at Tim. He was watching you like he never wanted to let you go again. You thought about how long you’d wanted this, even if you didn’t fully know it until tonight.

And the decision seemed clear.

“Yeah,” you beamed. “Yeah I think we are.”

He cupped your face in his hand, his fingers warm against the back of your neck. Your eyes closed against his touch. You felt comfort for the first time in hours.

“You need rest,” Tim whispered and your eyes fluttered open. “As much as I’d love to do this all night.”

You nodded, backing up towards your bed. Tim ran a hand through his hair again and then sat back down in the armchair.

“What’re you doing?” You asked him.

“Going to bed,” Tim answered, as if it was obvious.

“Get over here,” you gestured, rolling your eyes at him.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Tim smiled.

You climbed into bed beside him, pulling the covers over both of you.

You lay your head on Bradfords chest. You could feel his heartbeat in your ear as you closed your eyes.

“You know, this will kind of be like doing undercover work—minus the threat of getting killed,” you said.

“I don’t know about that—I wouldn’t put anything past an angry Sergeant Grey.”

“We’ll just have to be so in-character that we never find out,” you said.

“I’ll make sure to be extra tough on you next shift,” Tim agreed.

“And that’s different from any other day how?” You shot back, sitting up.

“Hey, training rookies is a sacred duty and I take that very seriously. If you think I’m going to throw your education out the window simply because—”

You shut him up by pressing your lips to his. You echoed his earlier words. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Tim shook is head slightly, eyes roaming over your face.

“What?” You asked.

“You’re so beautiful, (Y/n),” Tim breathed. “I’m so glad I can finally tell you that.”

“Me too,” you said. “Even if it took…this for it to happen.”

“Speaking of which, maybe I’ll take a sick day tomorrow,” Tim said. “Since there’s no way Grey—or myself—is letting you go to work. What’d you say?”

You wanted to fight him, say you were fine and you could make it to your shift the next day. But the promise of taking a sick day with Tim was to tempting to pass up.

“I say I’m glad your house is being repainted,” you teased. “Because then you’ll have to stay with me.”

Tim smiled knowingly. “My house isn’t being repainted, Boot. And I’m all yours.”

You grinned, laying back down and resting your head back against Tim. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder.

You felt safe, protected in his arms.

The rest would come. Dealing with what had happened tonight. Starting your secret relationship with Tim. Eventually facing everyone at work who had heard the news and would want to ask if you were ok. And you would be ok.

But for now, this was enough. He was enough.

“Tim?” You whispered.

“Hmm?”

You struggled for words to fit the gravity of what you were feeling for him. “Thanks for…everything.”

“What are TOs for,” Tim shrugged.

“Apparently keeping the night light business afloat.” You giggled at the look on Bradford’s face.

“Shut it, Boot.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~°~❦~°~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ˋ°•*⁀➷ hope you enjoyed loves!! i’m so down bad for tim it’s not even funny 😵‍💫

#tim bradford #tim bradford x reader #the rookie #the rookie x reader #tim bradford x you #tim bradford x y/n #fanfiction #fanfic #reader insert #x reader #tim bradford x rookie!reader #eric winter #eric winter x reader

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fluentmoviequoter · 1 month ago

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Tim Bradford's Princess

Part 3 of Bradford's Princess

Pairing: Tim Bradford x younger(24-26y/o)!fem!reader

Summary: Being Tim's princess is the best position you've ever held, and the last one you'll ever want. Every little thing he does proves it, even if it means tearing himself apart.

Warnings: the briefest of brief angst, fluff, domestically dominant Tim, makeout sesh, hickeys, Tim offers to ignore a Dodgers game for you

Word Count: 2.7k+ words

Masterlist Directory | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Rules

“Do you like my ring?” Lucy asks.

Tim looks away from the road just long enough to see the simple rose-colored ring on her index finger. He lifts his brows rather than replying.

“You buy any new jewelry recently?” she inquires.

“What are you doing?” he counters.

“Just making conversation.”

“Well, stop.”

“Tim,” she sighs. “We’re in a shop together all day. Give me something.”

“I did. A request for you to stop.”

“Did you propose on Valentine’s Day?”

“No,” Tim answers, more out of surprise at the sudden question than a genuine interest in discussing his personal life. “Not that it’s your business.”

“But you’re going to propose soon, right?” Lucy continues.

“Chen,” Tim says sternly. “Drop it.”

Lucy nods, murmurs something about popping a question, and turns her attention to the radio as dispatch alerts of a nearby carjacking. Tim hits the lights and sirens, attempting to rid his mind of the image of you wearing a ring he put on your finger.

“How’s whipped life treating you?” Aaron inquires as Tim exits the locker room.

Tim stops and turns toward Aaron. He sees Lucy, Nyla, Angela, and Nolan approaching. Sighing, he spreads his arms.

“What is it that you’re all so interested in knowing?” he asks.

“Nothing,” Nyla answers. “Just curious about how everything is going.”

“And that involves using quite possible the least subtle hints about engagement rings?”

“Lucy,” Angela chides.

“How’d you know it was me?” she exclaims. “Nolan could have said something!”

“I’m actually the only one here with a healthy respect for Bradford,” he interjects.

“Well?” Nyla asks, turning back toward Tim. “Are you proposing any time soon? You’re not getting any younger and clearly you’re obsessed with this girl.”

“Which I can’t blame you for,” Angela adds. “It’s nice to see you happy, and if a woman as sweet and beautiful as her wants to be with you despite the age difference, you should do everything you can to keep her close.”

“Whoa,” Aaron says while Nyla grips Angela’s arm, and Lucy’s eyes widen comically.

“You’ve met her?” Nolan questions.

“I ran into them while they were on a date, remember?” Angela replies.

“You didn’t say you met her!” Nyla argues. “Just that you bumped into Tim.”

“I want to see her!” Lucy says.

“Me too,” Aaron agrees. “Tim? You got a picture?”

“Or a free night where we could all get dinner?” Nolan suggests.

“No,” Tim responds.

“You have to give us something,” Nyla says.

“Something about what?” Wade inquires, approaching Tim’s side.

“He won’t show them a picture of the girl who has him wrapped around his finger,” Angela explains, ignoring Tim as he shoots daggers with his gaze.

“I wouldn’t show Aaron, either,” Wade murmurs.

“You’ve seen her too?” Lucy asks.

“Get out of here while you still can,” Wade whispers to Tim. “The rest of you, I’ve got a question about the call in Hancock Park.”

The quiet murmur of the television and soft, glowing candles greet Tim as he walks into his home. He smiles when he sees you on the couch. You look up when the door closes and smile brightly. Tossing your Kindle beside you, you stand on the cushion.

“I missed you,” you say, reaching for Tim’s shoulders.

“You’re going to fall one of these days,” he replies, setting a bag on the floor before he lifts his arms to hold your waist and steady you.

“You won’t let that happen.”

Tim shakes his head in silent admiration of your trust in him.

“I love you,” you say.

“I love you,” he promises.

“How was your day?”

Tim answers you, giving a brief overview of his day. His shoe bumps against the bag, and he stops talking. You always seem more excited to see him than anything he may have with him. He’s come to you with flowers, expensive makeup, concert tickets, and a dress you’d been eyeing for weeks, but you’ve always seen him. That won’t make him stop getting you gifts, though, because every little thing Tim can do for you saves a piece of him, healing from the inside out.

“I have a question,” Tim says, sliding his hands down to your hips.

“I have an answer,” you reply.

Tim waits until you lower onto the back of the couch, sitting with your arms around his shoulders. He pulls the bag up and offers it to you.

The bouquet inside has white roses and baby’s breath, and a blue ribbon circles the trimmed stems. An envelope attached to it bears your name and the Los Angeles Dodgers logo.

“They’re beautiful,” you say.

“I’ve been going to opening day at Dodgers Stadium for years,” Tim explains. His hands run along your sides and down your thighs as he speaks. “I bought tickets: two seats in my usual section. If you wanted to sit somewhere else though, we could. It’s a tradition, and I want you to come with me.”

You remain quiet, watching Tim’s face as you admire his excitement. After dating Tim for as long as you have, it’s no surprise that a moment in the baseball season could mean so much to him, but seeing the joy and anticipation in his eyes makes you happy. Tim has dealt with things you can’t imagine, yet this tradition holds a special place in his life. Now, he’s inviting you into it.

“You don’t have to go,” Tim murmurs. “I don’t even have to go. We can do something else if you want.”

You shake your head adamantly, pressing your hands against Tim’s chest. “You do have to go,” you reply. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t quiet because I don’t want to, you’re just really cute when you’re excited.”

Tim narrows his eyes at you, but you don’t let him speak.

“I’d love to go with you,” you answer. “I really appreciate you inviting me to part of your tradition.”

Tim brushes his right hand over the ends of your hair before he cups the back of your head. “You’re part of a lot more than that,” he whispers.

After he parks, Tim hurries around the front of his truck to open your door. His gentlemanly actions and princess treatment of you are nothing new, but you still smile and thank him softly. Tim’s fingers slot comfortably between yours as he leads you into the stadium and to your seats. His preferred section has a great view, and as you sit beside Tim, you briefly wonder how you got so lucky.

“C’mere,” Tim says, tapping your shoulder where his hand rests.

You shift in your seat, and Tim carefully removes your Dodgers hat. Your hair falls onto your neck, and you frown when you realize your hair tie has broken. Tim runs his fingers on the underside of your hair as he pulls it back where it was. You feel another band tighten around it before he carefully pulls your restyled hair through the back of your hat.

“There you go,” he says.

You raise one hand to check it, then smile and take Tim’s hand. “Thank you.”

Tim shakes his head as if it’s no big deal that he just fixed your hair in a stadium full of people. Then, you realize that the black band he wears on his left wrist is gone. He’s offered you hair ties, bobby pins, and lip gloss, but it usually comes from his truck. The fact that Tim carries things you may need is just another in the long list of reasons you love him, and can clearly see he feels the same.

When the game begins, you flip your joined hands so that Tim can stand and cheer as he desires. He pulls your hand off the stadium seat and into his lap, and you realize within a few minutes that you stand with him more often than not. Although Tim treats tonight like a date, it’s his tradition, and you want him to enjoy the night and the game.

“You need anything?” Tim asks after cheering for a good pitch.

Shaking your head, you answer, “We’re here for the World Champs, remember?”

“I think they’d understand,” he replies.

Tim kisses your forehead and takes your hand in his again.

You look up at the blue and white fireworks in awe. Tim wraps his arm around your shoulders, and you lean against him as the night continues.

“You want a picture?” he asks.

You turn toward him, and he gestures to the field, where a large photo of the team is projected as they celebrate their win. Nodding, you open the camera app on your phone and try to get a good angle. Tim removes his arm from your shoulders, bends slightly to circle your hips, and lifts you onto his shoulder. He holds your outfit in place with his free hand as you take the perfect photo. When you’re back on the ground, you put your phone away and smile at Tim.

“Thank you,” you say.

“Any time,” he promises.

When you’re back home, changed out of your jerseys, and preparing to go to bed, Tim traces his finger along your collarbone and then spreads his fingers gently over your throat.

“Thank you for tonight,” he murmurs. “For being part of my life.”

“Thank you for letting me,” you reply. “There’s nothing in this world I want more.”

Tim uses his hand, still on your neck, to turn your jaw toward him before he kisses you. As the city continues to celebrate the opening night win, you have much more to celebrate and be thankful for.

The day after opening night, the Dodgers are playing again. This game is different, however, because it’s also the night of the World Series Ring Ceremony. You run your finger along a page while Tim watches the television, pursing your lips as you attempt to understand what you’re reading.

“Do you want help?” Tim asks.

You look up, smile, and shake your head. He nods, then looks back to the TV as he pets Kojo.

“Which color should I use?” you ask.

“Do you have white?” he inquires, leaning to the side to look at the supplies you’ve spread across the table.

“Yes,” you answer. “This one: Marshmallow.”

“I like it.”

The game comes back on, and you thank Tim for his input as you prepare to do the next step. Tim ordered you a nail art kit after you mentioned one in passing, but he found one that was bigger and better. Now, as you spend time together while enjoying different things, you wonder why you didn’t start doing your nails yourself months ago. When Tim’s hands wander to your shoulders, and his warm palms run along your exposed upper back, you decide that no salon will ever compete with this.

“It’s too much,” you say, pouting.

“It’s not,” Tim replies. “You’re the one that said it was the best flavor.”

You stare at the family-sized cheesecake. It is the best flavor the bakery has, but you expected Tim to buy one slice for you to share, two if he thought it looked really good. Not an entire cheesecake.

“How much does that weigh?” you ask.

“Fourteen pounds.”

“Tim!”

Tim chuckles as he lifts the lid. “We don’t have to eat it all tonight. Want your own piece?”

You shake your head vehemently, ignoring Tim’s continued laughter. When you accept a fork and taste the cheesecake, your protests are forgotten.

“Maybe you should’ve gotten two,” you say after offering Tim the last bite.

“Wesley mentioned a dessert tour a while back,” Tim replies. “Would you want to do that sometime?”

“Yeah, that sounds fun.”

You watch Tim’s back as he puts the rest of the cheesecake in the fridge. He dressed up for your date tonight, and you’re convinced he gets more attractive every day. When he turns back to you with his brows raised, you blink to refocus.

“Did you ask me something?” you inquire.

“If you’re free Friday,” Tim answers, looking as if he’s hiding a smile and aware that you are staring at him rather than listening.

“I’ll have to check my calendar,” you muse with a sigh.

Tim returns to your side and agrees, “Of course. Have your people let me know.”

Smiling, you tug the bottom of Tim’s shirt. “You are my people.”

“Oh. Should be a short phone call then.”

Tim takes your hand and pulls you toward the couch. Kojo is asleep in his bed, and you laugh as you collapse onto the cushions.

“You look beautiful,” Tim compliments.

“You look handsome,” you reply.

Tim kisses you quickly, then immediately leans in for another longer kiss. He holds your jaw carefully, sliding his fingers into your hair.

“Stunning,” he says, moving to kiss your jaw.

“That’s all you,” you breathe.

“Perfect,” he continues, kissing toward your ear.

“Tim,” you whisper, holding his shoulders.

He pulls back enough to look into your eyes, and you smile. As you shift to place your leg over his, you kiss Tim again. He lowers his hands from your face to your waist. When your hands slide down his chest and dip under the hem of his shirt, Tim pulls you closer. His left hand returns to your jaw, his thumb running reverently beneath your cheekbone. You push your hands up his torso until you reach his bare chest. Tim deepens the kiss as you roam, attempting to memorize Tim’s skin through touch alone.

Every kiss with you is memorable, but moments like this, makeout sessions that simply happen and don’t have to lead to anything more, hold a power that Tim will never be able to describe. Your hands on him, your acceptance of his scars – both seen and invisible, and the way you want to be as close as physically possible make Tim fall even deeper in love with you. Tim is your everything, and when you lose yourself in moments like this, being held by the man you love as if he never wants to let you go, everything else fades. You’d spend an eternity in this moment, and that’s part of how you know that Tim Bradford is the one. He’s your forever.

It's unusual for Tim to be home before the sun sets. Today, his shift was changed at the last minute. He was called to the station before 3 a.m. and now has the entire afternoon to spend with you. The early start was worth it, he thinks. Your homemade dinner bakes in the oven as Tim enjoys quality time with you.

“So,” you begin, sitting on the counter. “Last time we made out in here was after your friends called you whipped.”

“Yeah,” he replies, not taking his attention away from his current task.

“Have they said anymore about your treatment of me?”

Tim’s hands tighten around your waist as he stops what he’s doing long enough to say, “My relationships are none of their business.”

You hum, running your fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck. “But you have relationships with them too… If you’re ashamed of me, just say so,” you joke.

Tim hums against your collarbone. He’d pulled you into a kiss the moment he came through the door, but after you prepared dinner, Tim opted to let you relax while he did the heavy lifting. Hence, the new hickeys. And the work in progress, which Tim reminds you of by running his teeth over the sensitive skin just beneath your collarbone.

“I don’t need to match the bruises you get at work, you know.”

Tim separates himself from your skin and replies, “And you don’t need to meet the people who think I treat you better than them.”

You move your hands to Tim’s shoulders, encouraging him to meet your eyes. He sighs as he straightens to look into your eyes.

“I understand the separation,” you begin. “But don’t split yourself into two sides to the point that it hurts. If there’s not room for me and everyone else you care about-”

“Stop,” Tim interrupts softly. “I’ll introduce you when the time is right. I promise.”

You nod, accepting his promise and trusting that he’ll do what’s right. He drops his chin and kisses your jaw. When his second kiss lands open-mouthed, you laugh and pull him up for an actual kiss. He runs his fingers over the darkening mark on your collarbone as his hands rise slowly toward your hair, and you decide that being Bradford’s princess is the best position you could ever hold and the only one you want for the rest of your life.

#tim bradford x reader #fluentmoviequoter bradford's princess #tim bradford x fem!reader #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford x you #tim bradford fic #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford #tim bradford fluff #the rookie x reader #the rookie abc #fem!reader #hanna writes✯

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callsign-dexter · 4 months ago

Text

Critical Moments

Requests: Episode where Lucy gets stuck with needle but it's reader instead

Pairings: Tim Bradford x Wife!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, hospitals, needle sticks, pregnancy talk

Masterlist

A/N: Thank you to @justabigassnerd for sending this is in. Sorry it got out sooo late!

You never know what the day will bring until it happens. You never liked surprises but being married to a police officer, being one, and having a 6-year-old daughter surprises happen all the time. However, even though you hate surprises you love your police officer husband, Tim Bradford, you love your job, and you love your daughter, Molly Bradford. You wouldn't trade anything for it.

You and Tim have been married for 12 years. Those 12 years have been wonderful. During your 6-year anniversary was when Molly was created, while you were celebrating in London, and 9 months later she was born. She is the spitting image of her father and acts like him. She officially got the nickname Mini Tim just because she was the literal female version of him and you wouldn't have it any other way.

The story of you and Tim meeting was pretty funny. You and Tim hated each other and actually butted heads. You both went against each other on every call and decision, you still do on some things. To be honest it was sexual tension and everyone could tell you were pining for each other, they all had bets on when the two of you would get together. The tension finally broke when the both of you were on call and he pulled you in the alleyway to tell you off and you weren't backing down after a few minutes of arguing and getting closer and closer he grabbed your face and you grabbed his wrists as he smashed his lips upon yours and the rest was history.

Right now, you were cuddled up with her husband sleeping soundly with your daughter two doors down on the other side of the hall. None of you had to be up for the next hour. Tim had your back pressed up against his chest as you faced the bathroom and front door. As the hour came closer to an end you began to stir and so did your husband. You turned to face him. “Good morning.” He said in a voice still full asleep.

“Good morning.” You said opening your eyes to find smirking blue ones looking back at you.

“You're so beautiful.” Tim said and you blushed and hid your face into his chest no matter how long you've been together he was still able make you blush and sweep you off your feet.

“Oh, stop it, Timothy.” You said and he chuckled as he kissed your head. You enjoyed being in each other's arms in peace and quiet. “Don't forget we have Molly's soccer game after work.” You said after a beat of silence.

“I remember. I wouldn't miss it for the world.” He said and that was true if either of you were on patrol you both would show in your shops. It was the same if one of you were on patrol and the other wasn't.

“I wouldn't either.” You said as you laid in his arms, eyes closed as he rubbed his hand up and down your back not knowing what today would bring, another hour passed and it was close to time to get up. The two of you didn't get to relax too much longer until you heard the pitter patter of a set of footsteps walking closer to your room and the door opening. You both looked over and smiled as her face appeared through the door.

“Hi, Baby Girl.” Tim said and a bright smile broke out onto her face.

“Hi Momma, hi Daddy!” She said and walked in crawling between the two of you.

“Hi, Baby.” You said and kissed her forehead as Tim snuggled her. It was scary at how strikingly similar they looked. “Are you ready for your game today?” You asked and she nodded.

“Practicing every day. I’m ready for it.” She said and you smiled.

“Daddy has been helping you, hasn’t he?” You asked looking up at Tim as Molly nodded. You would have been out there helping too but you had been feeling down and sickly for the past few weeks especially the mornings but it hadn’t hit you this morning… yet.

“He’s really good at it.” She said and you smiled.

“He really is.” You said looking up at him smiling.

“Go get ready for the day and I’ll make you breakfast.” Tim said and she nodded and headed off.

“You’re such a good dad.” You said and he rolled his eyes but smiled.

“You’re such a good mom.” He replied and you frowned.

“I haven’t been lately.” You said frowning and did too.

“It’s not your fault that you’ve been under the weather.” He said and you knew he was right but you still felt guilty. “Start getting ready and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He said and you nodded as he kissed your head and got up heading out of the room and into the kitchen. You sighed and got up getting ready for the day.

After getting ready and throwing up in the shower you made it into the kitchen where your husband and your daughter were finishing up cooking breakfast. Having heard you, your daughter turned around and smiled at you. “Hi Momma.” She said rushing over to you and hugging you.

“Hi, Baby. What are you and Daddy cooking?” You asked

“Your favorite.” She said and you smiled as she rushed back over to Tim finishing helping him. Once the food was done, he plated up a plate for her and sent her to the table as you walked over to him.

“You doing, ok?” He asked as he was plating up another plate.

“Yea, I threw up in the shower but I’m ok now.” You said and he frowned.

“I think you need to get checked out. I’m worried about you.” He said and your heart swelled. He was so caring.

“I will at lunch.” You said and he nodded and kissed you as he handed you your plate. You kissed him back.

“Good I don’t like it when my girls are sick.” He said as he pulled back from your lips. You smiled and walked over to sit next to Molly and he was soon to join. Breakfast was eaten in love and laughter after everyone was done and you and Molly cleaned up Tim went and got ready for the day. When he was out the kitchen had been cleaned and everything Molly needed was together. Then all three of you were walking out the door heading to drop Molly off at school.

Once Molly was dropped off at school Tim drove the both of you to work. “What if I’m pregnant?” You asked as he was nearing the station.

“Then that’ll be great. We’ve talked about having another kid.” He said as he pulled into a spot and you stayed quiet. He parked and turned to you “Look at me.” He said and you did so “Whatever happens if you're pregnant or not I will be there with you every step of the way. If you are then that is great because I really want a second kid and we’re ready for it. We both have a steady income and we are in a good place right now. If you’re not then that is ok too, we’ll keep trying if you want to.” He said as tears steadily streamed down your face.

“I love you. I really want a second kid too.” You said and he smiled bringing his hands up to cup your face gently.

“I love you too.” He said and wiped the tears away with his thumbs and then kissed you. He pulled away and looked at you with so much love in his eyes that it made your heart melt. After a few minutes the both of you got out and headed into the precinct his arm slung over your shoulder and you snuggled into him. As you both were walking you ran into Angela.

“Good morning, Bradfords.” She said, smirking.

“Good morning, Angela.” You said

“You’ve been crying… are you ok? What did you do Tim?” Angela said and his mouth fell open.

“I did nothing!” He exclaimed and you chuckled.

“It’s true he didn’t do anything. I’ve just been emotional and he said the sweetest thing to me.” You said and she nodded but glared at him.

“If I find out that is not true. I know where you sleep.” She said and he rolled his eyes. “Hurry up and change, we need to get started.” She said and you smiled and nodded and that is what the two of you did. When the both of you had changed and met outside of the locker rooms the two of you headed to the briefing room and sat down together. Where Tim was a TO you were not, you had the option to be one but decided against it. The briefing went quickly and before you knew it you were out on the road starting your shift.

The start of your shift was easy and quiet and you usually liked that but now it had your mind wandering to your conversation with Tim. You both were ready and your house was big enough plus you had two extra rooms. As he said the two of you had a steady income and you both were ready for another child. As you started thinking a call came through saying that backup was needed to clear out a homeless spot, your husband responded and so did you so you drove over there. When you got there you parked next to Tim’s and Lucy Chen’s, Tim’s rookie, shop and got out as he began to speak. “All right, listen up! Till tomorrow at 3 PM the stretch of line between Melrose and Franklin will be off limits! Sanitation services will be arriving in 20 minutes, you’ll have until then to pack up!” He said as you looked back at him after checking some people out. “Rope off block.” He said to a fellow officer. He then turned to look at you “Make sure everyone moves.” He said to you and you nodded as he headed off and you and Lucy began to make people leave. You walked over to a homeless sleeping man.

“Sir,” You said as another homeless man woke him up “Sorry to wake you but I’m going to you to start packing up, alright?” You asked as he set up and looked at you.

“Bitch!” A woman yelled which caused you and Lucy to look up “Those are my sneakers! Get-” She yelled and a fight began.

“Hey hey stop it!” She yelled as the both of you took off to stop the fight. You got in between them and they started attacking each other around you and sent the three of you into a pile of trash. You felt something prick you but paid no attention to it. Tim was quick to rush over and grabbed the other woman.

“That’s enough. That’s enough.” He said as he pulled the one lady up and held her back cuffed as you got on top of the woman who started it and cuffing her.

“Hands behind your back.” You said pulling out your cuffs. “Stand up.” You said standing her up.

“Bradford.” Tim said keeping it professional you looked at him as he looked down “Stop. Don’t move.” He said and you looked down confused and then you saw the dirty needle sticking out of your side and you froze mind racing. You looked up at him with panic written on your face. Lucy took the woman you were holding and another officer took the one Tim was holding. He pulled out gloves and knelt down. “Y/N.” He said looking up at you and you looked down at him he didn’t like seeing you like this. He started to ask you questions about protocol and you answered them with ease but you weren’t really there.

“I’m going to miss Molly’s game. I’m gonna put her in danger.” You said as he worked to remove the needle.

“No no you’re not. We’re going to get this out. Then go to the hospital and get you tested. You’re going to be ok and you’ll be able to see Molly play tonight. You’re going to be ok.” He said as he pulled the needle out and dropped it in a bag. He stood and put a hand on your lower back and started to walk you to your shop. “Lucy, take the shop. Meet us at the hospital.” He said and she nodded. He put you in the passenger side of yours and then got in the driver’s side and started off towards the hospital.

“Tim, this is bad. I’m going to put everyone in danger.” You said not really making sense as sped to the hospital with lights on and it was quickly approaching.

“Baby, you’re not. You’re going to be ok.” He said as he pulled into the hospital entrance. “You’ll be ok.” He said as he parked and then got out and came over to your side and opened the door and you got out and walked into the entrance and to the receptionist and he looked up at you.

“Hi, I need to get my blood tested. I got stuck with a used hypodermic needle.” You said

“Oh. Yea. One sec.” He said as he started to look around for something and then pulled out a clipboard. “If you could fill this out and have a seat in the waiting room, we’ll be right with you.” He said and you took it looking at it so out of it not even noticing his mistake and Tim did not like what he said to you because he became furious as he walked up to the counter and you looked up at him.

“You must be new. There’s no experienced nurse that would let an armed cop sit with civilians. What do you think happens if someone attempts to grab her weapon?” He asked furiously.

“I-” He started but Tim cut him off.

“The hospital protocol dictates that an armed officer be seen immediately. So set her up in a room right now and find a doctor.” He said fuming.

“Yes sir. Right this way.” He said getting up and you looked up at him and started to follow him with Tim right behind you. They set you up in a room and you were still zoned out. Normally he would need to go back to work but there was no way in hell he was leaving you, his wife and mother of his child, alone. A doctor came and took your blood and then left. You got on your phone and started looking things up. Tim saw this and took it away from you. “Stop, please. Falling down the WebMD rabbit hole isn’t going to change the results.” He said and you nodded.

“What if I get Hep C from this needle, and one day I get shot and you’re trying to stop the bleeding and you forget that, you know you have a– you have a cut on your hand? Or I get cut and Molly gets in on her and she has a cut?”

“Then you’ll be a cop with Hep C and a cut. Baby, you signed up to put your life on the line. That also means your health, too. Focusing on fear isn’t gonna change the outcome. Do you want to hang out in the worst-case-scenario panic room, or do you want to get back to work and make it to Molly’s game?” He asked, you knew he was giving you tough love and he knew that was the only way you would listen. “Go splash some water on your face. Let's get back out there and finish the shift so we can go watch our little girl play.” He said and gave your phone back and you took it. “I love you.” He said as he brought you into a hug and kissed your head.

“I love you too.” You said hugging him back. You both walked out of the room to be met with Lucy and Wade Grey.

“How are you holding up?” He asked you.

“Shaken but ok.” You said “I’m going to stick around here until the results.” You said and he nodded and looked at Tim.

“I’m guessing you’re staying too?” He asked and nodded.

“I’m not leaving my wife in a time of need.” He said and Wade nodded.

“I understand.” He nodded “Lucy you’ll be with me until everything is figured out.” He said and she nodded and then they were leaving. You looked over at Tim who was still looking at you. Now it was time to kill time. It didn’t take long for the results to come back; you and Tim were going back into the room. The doctor did her introductions to Tim and then she was telling you the results.

“Well, the results came back and you don’t have Hep C but it also showed something interesting.” She said looking at the results and your heart started pounding. “Your hCG level was greater than 5 which usually shows when a woman is pregnant.” She said.

“Are you saying... That I’m pregnant?” You asked and she smiled.

“I am. Congratulations mom and dad.” She said and you looked at Tim and he wore an expression of many emotions but the most noticeable was happiness. “I am going to put you on antibiotics just in case of infection.” She said writing a script out and handing it to you. “Again congratulations.” She said again smiling and then walking out of the room.

“Pregnant. How are you feeling Daddy?” You asked, smiling up at him.

“Wonderful. Excited. How about you, Mommy?” He asked and you smiled.

“Pretty much the same.” You said and he smiled and kissed you “Let’s finish out the shift and get to Molly’s game.” You said and he smiled and nodded and started walking out of the room as you stopped.

“What?” He asked quickly.

“We’re gonna have to tell her she’s going to be a big sister.” You said and he smiled.

“Yea we are.” He said as he brought you under his arm and the two of you started to walk out. The rest of the shift went by with a breeze especially with you feeling like you were on cloud 9 after hearing the results you just found out. As you were back at the precinct getting ready to end the shift when Angela stopped you.

“Alright what is up with you?” She asked and you raised an eyebrow at her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You said

“Bullshit. Spill.” She said and you smiled a cheeky smile.

“I don’t have Hep C but I do have another thing going on with me.” You said and she started smiling.

“Are you pregnant?” She asked and you nodded.

“I am.” You said confirming it.

“I’m so happy for you. I’m guessing Tim was there when you found out?” She asked and you nodded.

“He seemed way happier.” She said and you chuckled then the both of you were going to change. You both gossiped and talked as you changed and then you were walking out meeting Tim.

“Il take it you told her.” He said and you nodded.

“You know I was going to anyway.” You said and he nodded. You three walked out the parking lot and then said bye to her and then you and Tim were getting into his truck heading to the soccer field at the elementary school. Tim parked and the two of you got out of the truck heading to the field as a voice no voices called your name. You turned around and everyone was hurrying to meet you. “Hey guys!” You said.

“Hey.” Everyone said

“What are you guys doing here?” Tim asked

“We wanted to see Molly play.” John Nolan said and you smiled.

“Well, she’ll be happy to see that you guys are here.” You said

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Jackson West said and you smiled again.

“Well, we better go secure some seats.” Tim said and that is what you did. The game started shortly after finding seats. Everyone cheered on Molly and after 90 minutes the game was over with Molly’s team winning. After the other team and their team congratulating each other, she was running over to you and Tim. Tim picked her up and spun her around and she giggled and that brought a smile on your face and the others, they were so happy to see him happy.

“I guess with everyone here. We can share the news.” You said and Angela was smiling from ear to ear along with Tim. “Molly.” You said and she looked at you from Tim’s arms.

“How do you feel about being a big sister?” You asked and a smile broke out onto her face.

“Really?” She asked and you smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Baby.” She squealed and you chuckled. She had been asking for a sibling for a while and now you made one of her dreams come true.

“Congratulations you two!” Lucy said and you thanked her.

“Another Bradford running around. I don’t think the world is ready for that but we sure are.” Jackson said and everyone chuckled.

“That is amazing. So happy for the two of you.” Nolan said and the both of you thanked him as you did the others.

“I already knew.” Angela said and everyone chuckled. As you were surrounded by the ones you loved, the events of today were pushed to the back of your mind. Sure, it was a critical moment but you were with your husband through it all and that made it easier. You didn’t have Hep C but now you two were having a second kid and you couldn't wait.

*9 months later*

You laid in the hospital after having been in birth for 12 hours. You were exhausted but you delivered a healthy baby boy, Samuel ‘Sam’ Bradford. A shirtless Tim currently held his sleeping son as Molly was on the couch sleeping. Tim was staring down at his son with a smile and adoration on his face. You took a picture and sent it to the group message and almost immediately everyone replied. “I can feel you staring.” He said looking up and you smiled at him.

“I can’t help it.” You whispered and he smiled.

“You did great, Baby.” He said getting up and coming to sit/lay on the bed next to you, you looked down at him. You ran a finger over your son’s cheek and he stretched and then snuggled closer into Tim while leaning into your touch. He kissed your head.

“He looks like you.” You said “Which I’m not mad about.” You added and he chuckled and shook his head.

“No, he looks like you.” He said

“Whoever he looks like he is going to be a heartbreaker and a heart throb.” You said and chuckled.

“You got that right.” He said and you yawned.

“Get some sleep, we’ll be right here.” He said quietly and nodded as you leaned into him and got comfortable. As you closed your eyes as Tim’s lips met your hairline once again you smiled, you were surrounded by your family and you wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love you three.” He said quietly and with that you fell into a peaceful sleep.

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dearlenore · 26 days ago

Note

Do you write smut? Or if not, lots of fluffy romance. I need a Tim Bradford x reader when Tim is thinking reader is cheating because she keeps staying out late but turns out she's been going to art classes because she wants to learn how to paint him

Hey love! Thanks the the request as always, I don’t write smut at the moment, don’t know if I ever will but I’m obsessed with the fluffy idea you gave me🥹❤️ so I for sure wrote that!!

CAUGHT RED HANDED • T.BRADFORD

SUMMARY: when you begin sneaking around secretly to receive painting lessons to paint your perfect boyfriend, he can’t help but grow suspicious…

PAIRING: fem!reader x tim bradford

tags: reader is a housewife, cheating suspicion, insecure bradford, fluff cutesy stuff

a/n: the grind never ends.

w/c: 1.2K

TIM BRADFORD WASN’T the jealous type. He prided himself on that. Years of being a cop, years of working in high-stakes situations where trust meant everything, had hardened him to unnecessary doubts. But this—this gnawing, irritating feeling in the pit of his stomach—was new. And he hated it.

He sat in his truck outside the café, watching through the windshield as you stood inside, laughing—glowing, really—while talking to someone he didn’t recognize. Some guy. Some guy he’d never seen before, who was clearly making you smile in the way that made his heart ache violently.

For the past few weeks, you’d been different. More secretive. Slipping out of bed early in the morning without a goodbye, Taking phone calls in hushed tones. Canceling date nights last minute with vague excuses. And now, this? Meeting up with someone behind his back? A man?

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, feeling his knuckles go white at the intensity of his grip. He was probably overreacting. You weren’t the type to cheat. You loved him—God, he knew that. You were the sunshine to his storm, the one person who could make even his worst days bearable. He trusted you.

And yet…

He exhaled sharply, running a hand over his jaw before forcing himself to look away. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t some paranoid boyfriend stalking his girlfriend like a jealous idiot. He just needed answers. A conversation. That’s all. For all he knew , that could be your distant cousin!

So that’s what he told himself when you walked through the front door that night, smiling like nothing was wrong. Like you hadn’t just been somewhere he didn’t know, with someone he didn’t know.

“Hey, baby,” you greeted, dropping your bag by the couch before walking over to press a kiss to his cheek. “How was work?” You smiled warmly.

“Fine,” he said, barely managing to keep his voice steady. His eyes searched your face, looking for something—guilt, hesitation, anything—but all he found was warmth. That same sunshine that had pulled him in from the very start.

You hummed, running your hands up his arms, completely oblivious to the war raging inside him. “You’re tense. Long day?”

“Something like that,” he muttered, gently holding your waist. A beat passed, then—because he couldn’t help himself—he added, “Where were you?”

You blinked up at him, not surprised by maybe taken off guard. “What?”

“Tonight. You had plans.”

“Oh! Yeah, I—” You hesitated, just for a second, before forcing a bright smile. “Just out.” You laughed, shaking your head dismissively.

Just out.

Tim clenched his jaw, nodding slowly. “Right.”

That should’ve been the end of it. He should’ve let it go, let the doubt slip away like every other pointless worry. But instead, all he could hear was the way your voice wavered, just a little. The way you didn’t quite meet his eyes when you said it.

For the first time in his life, Tim Bradford didn’t know if he wanted to know the truth.

And so, for days, the tension had been building between you two. He wasn’t sure if you noticed it—if you felt the way he was pulling back, the way his usual warmth had been replaced with something quieter, something watchful. But how could you not? He wasn’t the type to pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t. And right now? Right now, nothing felt fine.

So tonight, he decided, was the night. No more wondering. No more doubts eating away at him. He was going to ask you outright.

When he got home, you were already there, curled up on the couch with your sketchbook in your lap. Your face lit up when you saw him, the same way it always did, and it made his chest ache.

“Hey, you’re home early!” you said, setting the sketchbook aside. “I was just about to—”

“Who is he?”

The words were out before he could stop them, blunt and heavy in the air between you.

You blinked, the smile slipping from your face. “What?”

Tim crossed the room, his eyes locked onto yours, searching for the truth. “The guy at the café. The one you’ve been sneaking off to see.”

Your mouth parted slightly, and for the first time in all the years he’d known you, you looked… nervous. Not guilty, but nervous.

“Tim…” you said softly, sitting up straighter. “It’s not what you think.” You bit back a smile, you knew he was stressed but something about the way he looked at you like Kojo when his bowl was taken away was too damn cute.

“Then tell me what it is,” he said, voice low, controlled. “Because for the past few weeks, you’ve been different. You leave early, you take calls in private, you cancel our plans last minute. And then I see you with some guy—” He let out a breath, shaking his head. “I trust you, but you’re not giving me much to work with here.”

You swallowed hard, pressing your lips together as you dropped your gaze. Your fingers twisted together in your lap, a telltale sign that you were nervous. And that only made his stomach tighten more.

“Come with me,” you said suddenly, standing up, not trying to hide your smile now.

Tim’s brows furrowed in confusion at your smile, but he followed as you led him down the hall to the spare room—the one you always kept locked. The one he had never questioned until now.

You hesitated for a second before pushing the door open, revealing a room filled with art supplies. Paint tubes scattered across a small desk, canvases stacked against the walls, brushes in jars—everywhere he looked, there were signs of creativity, of hours spent in quiet dedication.

And then, in the center of the room, stood a large canvas, half-covered with a cloth.

You walked over, fingers gripping the edge of the cloth tightly before glancing at him. “I was going to wait until it was finished, but…” You took a deep breath, then pulled the cloth away.

Tim stared.

It was him.

The painting—your painting—was of him. But not just any version of him. This was him as you saw him, not as a cop, not as a hardened, disciplined man, but as yours. The warm glow of sunlight painted across his face, the small crease between his brows that only appeared when he was deep in thought, the way his lips barely quirked at the corners, like he was on the edge of a smile. It was detailed, painfully detailed, and so full of love that it nearly knocked the breath from his lungs.

“I’ve been taking classes,” you said quietly. “I didn’t want to tell you until I got better, but I—I wanted to learn how to paint you. The way I see you.” You let out a nervous laugh, hugging yourself. “I asked my instructor for help, and that’s who you saw. The guy at the café. Who is very… very homosexual might I add.”

Tim didn’t speak. He couldn’t. His throat was too tight, his chest too full of something he couldn’t name.

You mistook his silence for something else.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” you rushed out. “I swear I wasn’t trying to be shady, I just—I wanted it to be a surprise. I didn’t think— I know it’s not the best but it’s … it’s you..? I think—“ you laughed nervously, looking between the painting and him.

Before you could finish, he crossed the space between you in two long strides and pulled you into his arms. You gasped, hands gripping his shirt as he buried his face in your hair, holding you tighter than he had in weeks.

“Tim?” you murmured.

“I’m an idiot,” he muttered, voice rough with emotion.

You pulled back just enough to look at him, brows furrowed. “You’re not—”

“I thought—” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head at himself. “I thought you were pulling away. I thought I was losing you.”

Your expression softened instantly. “Baby…” You cupped his face, your thumb tracing over his jaw. “I’m so sorry.”

Tim let out a shaky breath, pressing his forehead to yours. “I should’ve just asked you. I should’ve trusted you.”

You smiled, tilting your head slightly. “Well, technically, you did ask me. Just, y’know, after stalking me to a café and jumping to conclusions.” You teased, faking a hurt expression.

His lips twitched. “I didn’t stalk you.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You sat in your truck and glared through the window, didn’t you?”

Tim groaned, closing his eyes. “Okay. Maybe a little.”

You laughed, the sound light and full of love, before wrapping your arms around his neck. “You’re an adorable idiot.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He sighed, squeezing your waist. “Laugh at grumpy cop, get it out now.” He chuckled. “So… you really spent weeks learning how to paint me?”

You beamed, nodding. “I wanted to capture you like a French girl,” you mused dramatically, holding out your hand to show off nothing in particular.

Despite the over usage of that joke in your relationship , something inside him melted at that. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve you, but whatever it was, he wasn’t letting go.

Tim glanced at the painting again, then smirked. “So, when do I get to take it home?”

You gasped, playfully smacking his chest. “Excuse you, it’s not done.”

“Looks done to me.”

“Timothy Bradford, I swear—”

He cut you off with a kiss, one that was filled with every unspoken word, every ounce of love he had for you. And in that moment, with your laughter still lingering in the air and the painting standing as proof of how deeply you saw him, Tim knew one thing for sure:

He had never been so stupidly, hopelessly in love.

#the rookie #tim bradford #x reader #tim bradford x reader #fanfic #the rookie fluff #fluff #request

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newobsessionweekly · 28 days ago

Text

I won't remember you

Main masterlist | The rookie masterlist

Protective!Tim Bradford x girlfriend!reader

Fandom: The Rookie

Summary: After an attack leaves you bleeding out, Tim races to your side, terrified of losing you. In a desperate moment, you confess your fear of forgetting him after death. Tim swears nothing, not even death, will ever take you from him.

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of injury (stabbing, blood loss), panic, anxiety, fear of death ,near-death experience, heavy emotional distress, Protective!Tim in full force

Angst

Words: -

Fear lived in you now.

It wasn’t always this way. You used to be able to kiss Tim goodbye before a shift without feeling like you were sending him off to war. You used to be able to close your eyes at night without fearing you might never wake up. But lately, it had taken root inside you, growing deeper with every passing day.

It started as a whisper—soft, insidious thoughts creeping into your mind at odd hours. What if something happens to him today? What if you don’t wake up tomorrow? What if you forget him?

You told yourself it was just anxiety. That you were being paranoid.

Then, the panic attacks started.

Some nights, you’d wake up gasping for breath, your heart slamming against your ribs as if trying to claw its way out. Other nights, you didn’t sleep at all, too afraid that if you closed your eyes, you’d never open them again.

Tim noticed. Of course, he did.

He had always been good at reading you, knowing when something was wrong even before you did. At first, he didn’t push, just watched you carefully, his sharp blue eyes tracking your every move. But when he caught you trembling after waking from another nightmare, your arms wrapped around yourself like you were trying to hold your body together, he couldn’t stay silent.

"You’re not okay," he had said one night, his voice low, careful, as if afraid to spook you.

You had tried to lie.

"I’m fine."

"Don’t do that." He had stepped closer, fingers grazing your jaw, tilting your face up so you couldn’t look away. "Talk to me, sweetheart."

You had broken then, the dam inside you shattering all at once.

"I’m scared," you had admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "All the time, Tim. I can’t—I can’t shut it off."

His arms had been around you in an instant, his body solid and warm against yours. "What are you afraid of?"

You swallowed, gripping the front of his shirt like he was the only thing keeping you grounded. "Losing you."

Tim had tensed at that, his grip on you tightening. "That’s not going to happen."

"You don’t know that." Your voice cracked, a tear slipping down your cheek. "You leave for work every day, and I—I feel like I can’t breathe until you come home."

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t pull away. He just held you, his lips brushing against your hair.

"I always come home," he murmured. "I will always come home to you."

"But what if you don’t?" Your fingers curled into his shirt, your breath shaky. "What if one day, something happens, and I lose you? What if I lose me? I don’t—I don’t want to die, Tim."

His hands cupped your face, his thumbs brushing away the tears slipping down your cheeks.

"You’re not going anywhere," he said fiercely. "Neither of us are."

You had wanted to believe him.

But now, as you lay on the pavement, blood pooling beneath you, you realized—you should have believed him while you had the chance.

It had been a normal evening.

You had left the apartment to pick up dinner—Tim’s favorite, because you knew he had a long shift and would come home exhausted. The air was crisp, the streets familiar, and you had felt safe.

Until you weren’t.

You didn’t hear the man coming.

One second, you were unlocking your car. The next, an arm wrenched you backward, slamming you against a brick wall.

A blade pressed into your side.

"Give me your bag," a low voice hissed in your ear.

Your breath hitched. Your heart pounded so hard it hurt. You nodded quickly, hands shaking as you slipped the bag from your shoulder, pressing it into his grip.

But he didn’t let go.

"This ain't enough," he snapped, his fingers digging into your arm. "You got a phone? Jewelry?"

You reached into your pocket, but he must have thought you were going for something else. Before you could speak, pain exploded through your side.

The knife slid in, hot and deep. You gasped, the world lurching as agony tore through you. For a second, you didn’t even understand what had happened. Then, warmth bloomed beneath your fingers.

You looked down.

Blood. So much blood.

The man cursed, shoving you backward before disappearing into the night.

You staggered, your body trembling violently as you pressed your hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

Someone screamed. Someone called 911. But not you.

You should have called your boyfriend.

Tim had seen people die before.

He had seen officers go down, had pressed his hands against bullet wounds, had watched blood stain the pavement, had heard final breaths rasp from broken bodies.

But nothing—nothing—had ever prepared him for the moment he heard your name come through dispatch.

"Victim is y/n y/l/n. Possible GSW. Medics en route."

It was like the world snapped.

The air was sucked from his lungs, his heart stopped beating, and for a split second, everything froze.

Then—he ran. He didn’t think. He didn’t breathe.

He was in the car before anyone could stop him, the sirens screaming as he tore through the streets, his hands clenching the wheel so tightly his knuckles went white. His mind was a chaos of images, panic clawing at his throat—

You on the ground.

You gasping for breath.

You—motionless.

His foot slammed on the gas. The drive was a blur. The city rushed past him in streaks of color, his own breath coming in short, ragged bursts. His heart was pounding against his ribs, so fast it hurt, so hard he thought it might break right out of his chest.

Please. Please. Please.

The second he saw you, his entire world collapsed. You were on the pavement, blood was everywhere. A dark crimson stain spread across your side, soaking into your clothes, pooling beneath you like an open wound in the earth itself.

Tim’s knees hit the ground before he even knew he had moved. His hands—steady on the field, in firefights, in life-or-death situations—shook as they pressed down over yours, trying to stem the bleeding.

"Y/n!" His voice cracked, his breath ragged. "Baby, I’m here."

You gasped, barely conscious, your eyes fluttering open just enough to meet his.

"Tim…"

The way you said his name—weak, broken, like you weren’t sure you’d ever get to say it again—ripped him apart.

"Hey, hey, baby, stay with me." His fingers curled over yours, pressing against the wound, desperate to stop the blood, to fix this, to save you. "You’re okay. Just hold on, sweetheart. Just—just stay with me."

You blinked up at him, your lips trembling.

"I didn’t call you," you whispered.

Tim’s jaw locked, his breath shuddering.

"Why the hell not?" His voice was sharp, raw, barely controlled beneath the sheer terror gripping him.

You swallowed, your fingers twitching against his. "Didn’t want you to… hear me like this."

A choked noise caught in his throat.

"Jesus, y/n" His hands tightened on you, pressing against the wound, his body instinctively shielding yours like he could keep you safe just by being there. "You always call me. Do you hear me? Always. I don’t give a damn what I’m doing—I will always come for you."

A soft sound left your lips—half a breath, half a whimper.

"Scared," you murmured.

Tim exhaled sharply, his chest aching at the fragility of your voice.

"I know, baby," he whispered. His fingers brushed against your face, streaking your cheek with your own blood. "I know."

You inhaled shakily, a weak tremor racking through your body.

"I don’t… I don’t want to die."

Tim clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached. A burning sensation settled in his chest, threatening to consume him.

"You’re not going to die," he growled, his voice shaking. "Do you hear me? You’re not leaving me. Not now. Not ever."

You blinked sluggishly, your pupils unfocused.

"But if I do…"

Tim’s stomach dropped. His heart stopped dead.

"Don’t," he begged, voice hoarse. "Don’t say it."

Your hand—so cold, so weak—curled around his wrist.

"But if I do…" you whispered. "I won’t remember you."

Tim’s entire body locked. A shuddering breath left him, raw and wrecked.

Tears blurred your vision as you forced yourself to continue, despite the sharp ache in your chest. “They say—at weddings, they say ‘till death do us part’ because when you die, you forget. You forget the people you love. And I don’t want to forget you.”

Tim broke. The breath he sucked in was sharp, painful, like glass cutting down his throat.

"You’re not going to die," he choked out, his grip tightening on you like he could physically hold you here, keep you tethered to him.

Your lips trembled.

"But if I do… Will you find me?"

A tear slipped from Tim’s lashes, burning against his skin. His forehead pressed against yours, his breath warm and unsteady.

"Always." His voice shook, barely above a whisper. "I will always find you, baby. No matter what. I swear to you."

Your lashes fluttered.

"’Til death do us part," you murmured.

Tim flinched. No. No, he hated that phrase.

He hated the finality of it. The implication that death was the end. That you could be taken from him and there would be nothing after.

His hands cupped your face, his thumbs brushing over your cheekbones, smearing blood over your skin.

"Not even death," he whispered fiercely. "Not even death could take you from me."

You shivered beneath his touch, the cold creeping into your bones. Tim felt it and it terrified him.

"Stay with me, sweetheart," he pleaded, his voice breaking. "Please."

Your lips parted then your body went limp. His heart stopped.

"No—no, no, no—y/n!" His voice was a roar, pure desperation as he shook you, as he pressed his hands against the wound, as if he could force life back into you. "Stay with me!"

The paramedics were suddenly there, voices shouting, hands pulling him back, but Tim fought them.

"No!" He thrashed against their grip, his voice ragged, his hands bloody as they tried to push him away from you. "I’m not leaving her!"

"Y/n, stay with me, baby, please—"

They wrenched him back, and suddenly—he couldn’t touch you anymore. He couldn’t feel you.

"Her pulse is weak—get the stretcher, now!"

"She’s lost too much blood—"

Tim’s breath came in ragged, painful bursts, his hands shaking so violently he couldn’t control them.

He watched—helpless—as they lifted you, as the sirens screamed, as your head lolled to the side, your skin too pale, your breath too shallow.

Panic clawed at his throat.

He shoved past the medics, gripping your limp hand.

"You’re not leaving me," he whispered, his voice shattering.

They loaded you into the ambulance, and Tim didn’t let go.

He climbed in after you, his fingers clutching yours, his forehead pressing against your knuckles.

"I will always find you," he whispered, a silent prayer.

"Just—please—find your way back to me."

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roseandxanderfics · 1 month ago

Text

“Stay With Me” — Tim Bradford x Single Mom Reader

Summary: A routine call turns personal when Tim responds to a terrified 4-year-old reporting their mom collapsed. He finds you barely conscious—and realizes you’ve been fighting alone far too long.

————————

The 911 call came in just after seven. Late enough that most emergencies were winding down, but not so late that anyone relaxed. Tim Bradford had been running paperwork, thinking about grabbing dinner, when the dispatcher’s voice clipped through the radio.

“Child caller. Four years old. Mother unresponsive. Possible medical.”

That was all it took. One word—“four”—and Tim’s blood turned cold. He barely heard the rest before snatching up his radio.

“1-Adam-07, patch me through. I’m on it.”

⸻

The kid’s voice was barely a whisper when it crackled through.

“H-hello?”

Tim inhaled sharply. “Hey, buddy… This is Officer Tim. Can you hear me?”

“Uh-huh.”

That tiny sound hit him harder than it should’ve. “Good job, Eli. I’m coming to help you and your mom right now, okay? Real fast. Can you tell me… is she breathing?”

“I dunno… I scared.”

Tim forced his voice steady. “It’s okay to be scared, kid. You’re really brave. Can you touch her? Tell me if she feels warm or cold?”

Rustling. Sniffles. Then a small, broken sound. “Cold… Tim, s’cold.”

Tim’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as he flipped the sirens on. God, please…

“I’m almost there, Eli. Can you unlock the door for me?”

“I try.”

⸻

By the time he screeched to the curb, his heart was hammering. The neighborhood was quiet—too quiet. Dim porch lights. Empty driveways.

The front door creaked open a sliver. A tiny face peeked out—tears streaked, cheeks blotchy.

“There you are, buddy,” Tim murmured, crouching low. “You did so good. Where’s Mom?”

Eli didn’t answer. Just… pointed.

Tim pushed the door wide and stepped inside—one hand instinctively hovering over his holster, the other reaching back for the kid. “Stay close, okay?”

The house was small. Lived-in. Crayon drawings taped to the fridge, a stuffed bunny abandoned on the couch. And there—on the kitchen tile—was you.

You were pale. Too still.

“Shit,” Tim breathed, rushing forward. He pressed two fingers to your neck, searching—there—a faint, thready pulse.

He grabbed his radio. “Dispatch, I’ve got the subject. Female, early thirties. Pulse is weak. Roll EMS, now.”

“Copy, 1-Adam-07. EMS en route.”

Eli whimpered behind him. “Mommy?”

Tim glanced back, softening. “Hey, buddy. She’s okay. She’s breathing. I need you to be my big helper now, alright?”

The kid nodded, lip trembling.

“Can you grab me that blanket?” Tim pointed. Eli scrambled, dragging it over with tiny hands. Tim tucked it around you, jaw tight.

“Okay, sweetheart,” he murmured—half to you, half to the kid. “Just stay with me.”

⸻

Minutes felt like hours. Tim didn’t leave your side, one hand checking your pulse over and over, the other resting protectively over Eli’s shoulder.

EMS burst through the door—young, efficient. They worked fast, lifting you onto the stretcher. Tim stayed kneeling until they moved past.

Eli’s eyes filled again. “I come?”

Tim didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, kid. You’re with me.”

⸻

The ride to the hospital was quiet. Eli sat curled in Tim’s lap, face buried in his chest, fists gripping the dark fabric of his uniform.

“She okay?” the little voice finally asked.

Tim swallowed hard. “She’s gonna be. You did good, Eli. You saved your mom.”

⸻

The ER was bright. Too bright. Tim hated hospitals. Hated the smell, the noise. But he stayed. Watched as nurses buzzed around you, checked monitors, whispered words like “dehydration” and “exhaustion” like they were medical diagnoses and not just proof that life had beaten you down.

⸻

You woke slowly. Blinking against the light, brow furrowing.

“Easy,” a deep voice murmured. “You’re okay.”

You turned your head—and saw him.

The cop. Tall. Broad. Blue eyes way too gentle for a man who probably carried a gun for a living.

“Your son’s right here,” he added, voice soft. “He’s… he’s been really brave.”

Eli popped his head up, face blotchy. “Mommy!”

Your eyes welled instantly. “Eli… oh god…”

Tim helped him onto the bed, watching as tiny arms wrapped around your neck.

“I… I’m sorry,” you rasped. “I didn’t mean—”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Tim cut in. “You’ve been running on empty. Doc says exhaustion, dehydration… You’ve been doing too much on your own.”

You blinked at him. “I don’t… even know your name.”

“Tim.” He smiled faintly. “Tim Bradford.”

A beat of silence.

“You stayed.”

“Yeah,” he exhaled. “Didn’t feel right to leave.”

⸻

They discharged you hours later. Tim was still there—Eli wouldn’t let go of him.

“I’ll drive you,” he said gruffly, like it wasn’t a question. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

⸻

Your house felt colder when you returned. Tim helped you in, set Eli on the couch, and knelt in front of you one last time.

“I meant what I said. You’ve been doing too much alone.”

You stared at him, exhausted tears threatening. “That’s… just how it is.”

“Doesn’t have to be,” he muttered. “I’ll… check in tomorrow. Groceries. Whatever you need.”

You tried to argue—but Eli’s head flopped onto Tim’s shoulder mid-yawn.

Tim smiled, slow and soft. “You good if I hang around until he’s out?”

You nodded, too tired to fight it.

⸻

And just like that… Tim Bradford became the first safe thing you’d known in a long, long time

#tim bradford #tim bradford x reader #the rookie #comfort #hurt/comfort #the rookie x reader

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chiefdirector · 1 year ago

Text

Risking | Tim Bradford | The Rookie

One Year Ago.

March 16th.

Despite every fibre of her being screaming for her to run in the other direction, (Y/N) kept her pace steady as she approached Lamberts Coffee Shop. The place had been in operation for as long as she could remember, the owner, Reggie Lambert, was (Y/N)’s landlord at one point in time. She had always come here on weekends when the old man had been working behind the counter. If he still did, she would not have come. He was another life that she could not risk.

Pulling her hood over her head, she entered the cafe and placed an order for a plain black coffee. She would normally go for some complex, overly sugary coffee but talking was the last thing she wanted to do so the bitter taste would have to do. It came in a flimsy paper cup, resisting the urge to wrinkle her nose in disgust, (Y/N) made her way to the back of the cafe and sat down in the furthest corner.

This spot, unlike the rest of the store, did not attract many customers to sit. The lack of windows causes the area to seem unwelcoming and somewhat neglected. All of the sofas and the comfier chair were in the main section of the cafe, near the counter. If it were a normal day, she would have sat on the green sofa she had once owned. It got donated to Reggie when she moved in with Tim.

The sofa was old and worn down in all the best ways. The cushions seemed to consume anyone who sat on it. The tops of the cushions had lost some colour over the years and the cotton blend covers had gotten softer with use. Blankets were strewn over the back and there were some decorative pillows stacked up one one side.

Her favourite part was the small embroidery over top of the frontmost left foot. She had embroidered her and Tim’s initials into it just before she gave it away. The sofa had been her first purchase when she had started as a rookie Even though she had gotten it second hand herself, it had become one of her most valuable possessions. It hurt to give it away, even though she knew that she would be back in the cafe. It was like she was giving up a part of her life.

(Y/N) chuckled at the thought. Of course she thought it was one of the most tragic things, if only she could see herself now. Sitting in a cafe on the off chance she may see Tim again.

He didn’t know she was here, so he had no reason to come. They had always come together, the only time they had come alone was the day they had met. Reggie had mixed up their orders (he claimed it was accidentally but (Y/N) knew that he had been trying to get her to get back on the dating scene for a while). They sat down together and chatted. Tim left with her number. It was March 16th.

And they have spent every March 16th there since. Until now.

(Y/N) winced at the strong bitter taste of her coffee, slightly regretting not taking the extra seconds to get cream. She placed the cup back down on the table, she could bear the taste while she waited. It only took another couple of minutes, before the bell on top of the door chimed again. (Y/N) looked up at the noise and then back down at the sight of an elderly couple walking in.

It passed this way for a few hours. She would look up when the door chimed, only to look away when another stranger entered. She would take a sip of her now cold coffee and wait for another chime. By the time the clock read 4:30, she had been drinking for an empty cup for at least an hour.

Resigned to the fact that she would not see Tim today, (Y/N) binned her cup and moved in a hurry, cursing herself that she had thought that he would be there. Why would he have, he had no reason to go anymore. She was no longer in his life, she was no longer an anniversary worth remembering.

Adjusting her hood and keeping her head down, she opened the door to exit but waited for a man to enter. Swiftly, she left the premises, barely registering the all too familiar voice thanking her.

(Y/N) left the city after that. She knew the risk she had taken by coming here today, a part of her was thankful that she hadn’t seen Tim today because her selfishness hadn’t cost him anything. It took a few hours to arrive back at the dingy motel she had taken as residence.

The door was open when she arrived.

She had always gone out of her way to ensure that her accommodation was thoroughly locked and secure. There was no way that she had left it like that, it wasn’t in her nature. Nothing Has changed inside, her spare firearm was still tucked away in the bathroom cabinet, and her phone she used to call Williamson was still under the bed-side table. None of her clothes had moved from where she had strewn them across the floor.

The only difference was a polaroid on the bed.

The image was slightly blurry but it was clear what was being shown. Reggie slumped forward in a chair he was tied to. He was badly bruised, sporting a broken nose and a blackened eye. His lip was swollen up and cut from where had bitten down in pain. Blood was streaming from a wound on his head and from a single bullet wound in his chest.

As she examined the image even more, it became clear why such an atrocity had happened. At the bottom of the photograph in the white frame were two simple words.

Strike Two.

Silent, she picked up the photograph and moved to open the bedside drawer. Gently, she placed it down into the drawer on top of an nearly identical picture of her brother that read Strike One.

She knew what this meant. She had been sloppy. And she would pay the price. As she closed the door, she swore that she would not let her emotions allow her to make a decision that ended up taking a life of someone she loved.

Part Twelve | Part Fourteen

Series Masterlist | Masterlist

Tags: @xceafh @kmc1989 @buba424 @salty0cracker @iamasimpingh0e

Tags are open :)

#tim bradford x reader #time bradford imagine #tim bradford #the rookie #bottom of the river #chiefdirector

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mischievoushiddleston · 3 months ago

Text

Jealous? Never.

Tim Bradford x Reader

Materlist Here!

The sun warmed Y/N's skin as she got out of her patrol car. She paused for a moment, letting the stress of the day fall away and simply enjoying the peace and quiet. Her eyes closed for a split second before she was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts by a familiar, teasing voice.

“Daydreaming, Officer Y/L/N?” The words were accompanied by an unmistakable scent that enveloped her, as it often did, before she even turned around.

Y/N slowly lifted her gaze and met Sergeant Bradford's piercing blue eyes, which, as always, scrutinized her impassively.

“No, Sergeant Bradford,” she replied with a slight smile that emphasized her own teasing. “I was just enjoying the peace and quiet ... at least until you showed up.” She closed the patrol car door with a soft click before pushing past him and walking over to the table where Angela and Harper were already seated.

“No food?” Harper looked at her with raised eyebrows, her voice carrying a hint of surprise.

Y/N shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "My rookie will take care of it. There's something reassuring about it. Now I understand why Tim always let me do it." She gave Tim an amused sideways glance, while he merely shook his head and made a skeptical sound.

Angela, who was watching the spectacle with a broad grin, leaned forward and changed the subject. “Anyway,” she began, "I heard you had a date yesterday? How did it go?"

Y/N opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by her Rookie, who appeared just in time with a tray of food. She gave him a grateful nod, waited until he was out of earshot again, and then took a deep breath. With a resigned shrug of her shoulders, she let the tension of Angela's question slide through her body.

“So?” Angela urged with a knowing glint in her eye.

“It wasn't as satisfying as I expected...” she admitted slowly.

“Go on,” Angela urged as she casually took a bite and looked at Y/N curiously.

Y/N sighed softly before she began to recount the disastrous date. The man she had gone out with turned out to be a completely incompetent jerk, and the whole date was a bust from start to finish. As she recounted the most embarrassing details, she secretly vowed never to go on a date again - at least not if it was just to distract herself from her own feelings.

Because deep down, she knew that she always found herself thinking about someone else. Someone who was unattainable. A man who was far too present in her fantasies and completely taboo in reality: Tim Bradford, her supervisor.

She kept talking, but the more she said, the more she became aware of the unusual silence emanating from the side where Tim was sitting. Normally, he could hardly resist a sarcastic comment or a biting remark when she complained about something. But this time there was nothing. Not a word.

Maybe she was just imagining things? Maybe he just didn't feel like taking part in the conversation. But the longer the moment went on, the heavier the tension became. She risked a furtive glance at him, only to find him silent and with an indefinable expression in his eyes.

Was it disinterest? Or perhaps something else? Uncertainty gnawed at her, and she had to force herself to turn her attention back to Angela and Harper, even though she was already beginning to rethink her words.

Eventually the topic drifted, and Y/N tried to concentrate, to really listen, as Angela and Harper took the conversation in a new direction. But as much as she wanted to, her thoughts seemed to keep wandering back to Tim. His silence, his look - everything suddenly seemed more meaningful than it probably was.

“I could set you up with one of my cousins,” Angela suddenly interjected with an amused smile, as if she'd had a flash of inspiration.

The words had barely been spoken when Tim stood up abruptly. His chair scraped loudly across the floor and he reached for his barely touched food.

“Break over,” he explained curtly, but there was an underlying growl in his voice that Y/N heard all too clearly. It was so quiet that Harper and Angela might have missed it, but Y/N sensed the tension in his words.

She frowned involuntarily, watching as he marched away with quick steps and finally got into his car. The door slammed so hard that the bang echoed through the air.

“Someone's in a bad mood,” Harper muttered, shoving another forkful of food into his mouth without taking his eyes off Tim's car.

Y/N just hummed softly, an indeterminate response, as she replayed the scene over and over in her head. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his behavior. Eventually, she rose as well and set off, but her heart beat faster as she approached her car.

The rest of the shift passed without incident, but Y/N struggled to really concentrate. Her thoughts kept returning to Tim, his unusual tension and the unspoken words that hung between them. When the shift finally ended, she was both relieved and uneasy.

At the station, she dropped off her gear and began to get ready for the end of the shift. As she walked down the corridor, her gaze fell into the distance, where she saw Tim disappearing towards the changing rooms. Even from a distance, she could see his tense posture - the stiff shoulders, the quick steps. It was obvious that something was bothering him.

Y/N sighed softly, almost unconsciously, and followed him. As she came closer, their eyes crossed for a brief moment. She smiled cautiously, hoping to lighten the mood, but he didn't return it. His face remained expressionless, perhaps even more withdrawn than before, and he disappeared behind the door without a word.

An unpleasant feeling spread through her. Had she said or done something wrong? She went over the day's events in her mind, but couldn't find an obvious reason.

Suddenly John passed her and she took the opportunity to stop him. “Is something wrong with Tim?” Her voice sounded quiet, almost hesitant, but the concern in it was unmistakable.

John paused and shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know... He's been like this since lunch,” he said casually before moving on, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Y/N sighed again, deeper this time, feeling even more at a loss than before. But she decided not to just go home without at least trying to figure things out. Reluctantly, she walked towards the changing rooms, her steps slower than usual. Maybe, just maybe, she would be fast enough to intercept him in the parking lot. It was a weak plan, but she knew she wouldn't get any rest all night otherwise.

When Y/N arrived at the parking lot, the disappointment was not long in coming. Tim's car had already disappeared, and with a frustrated sigh, she finally made her way home as well. The day had drained her, but the uncertainty and unspoken feelings weighed heavily on her.

As soon as she entered her apartment, she dropped her keys in the bowl in the hallway and ran a hand through her hair. Another disappointing day. Why did everything always have to be so complicated? The men she dated always turned out to be disappointments - idiots who couldn't come close to matching the man who was constantly on her mind.

Tim.

Why couldn't anyone be like him? Strong, resolute, reliable - and at the same time with an unconscious gentleness that touched her more than she would ever admit. These thoughts accompanied her to the bathroom, where she undressed with a sigh and stepped into the shower.

The warm water washed over her body, relieving the tension of the day, and she hung her head briefly before leaning against the tiles. Tim. His image forced itself into her mind again, so vividly that she could almost grasp it.

At first it had only been respect. His authority, his experience, his incomparable instinct - all that had made a deep impression on her. But over time, it had become something deeper, a feeling she could no longer ignore.

The water ran over her skin and she hummed softly to herself, enjoying how the heat relaxed her muscles. But then her thoughts drifted in a different direction. She imagined him looking at her - with that penetrating, all-encompassing gaze that always upset her.

Involuntarily, her hand slid to her breasts. In her imagination, it was his rough hands touching her sensitive skin, his fingers taking her nipple between them while he whispered soft, dirty words in her ear. A soft moan escaped her lips and a tingling sensation ran through her.

Her legs instinctively pressed together as she imagined his hard, muscular body pressed against hers, his erection rubbing firmly against her ass. His hands wandering determinedly over her stomach, sliding lower until they reached her pussy.

In her mind, it was Tim forcing her to open her legs with his knee, feeling her so intensely that she could barely breathe. Her hand followed her thoughts, touching her where she wanted to feel him, where the heat was strongest.

But before she could lose herself further in her fantasy, the sudden ringing of the doorbell snapped her out of her daydream.

Y/N paused, her hand trembling slightly as she found her way back to reality, breathing heavily. Whoever it was had ruined the perfect moment - and yet she wasn't sure if she was grateful or angry about it.

Y/N turned off the water, grabbed the towel and hastily wrapped it around her still damp body. The sudden ringing still echoed in her ears as she walked with quick, annoyed steps to the front door. Whoever it was had chosen miserable timing.

As she opened the door, ready to vent her frustration, she froze instantly. Her lips remained slightly parted, but no words came over her as she realized who stood before her.

“T-Tim?” Her voice trembled and her thoughts seemed to stop completely for a moment. The man in front of her, soaked from the rain, his blue eyes more intense than ever, left her unable to think clearly.

But before she could even understand what was happening, Tim closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was raw, demanding and full of suppressed emotion. Y/N stood transfixed for a moment, surprised by the sudden passion that overtook her.

But it didn't take long for her body to react. Her heart raced as she took the initiative, returning his touch and pulling him resolutely into the house. The door slammed shut behind them, the soft click drowned out by the sound of her own pulse.

Tim's hands were everywhere. They explored her body with an urgency that made her tremble. His fingers ran over her back, pulling her closer to him as he pressed her body against the cool wall. The thin towel covering her almost naked body suddenly felt like a barrier that they both wanted to get rid of immediately.

Their lips parted for a moment, and Y/N gasped for air before Tim planted hot kisses on the line of her neck, hitting her most sensitive spot and eliciting a soft gasp. His touch was firm yet demanding, his hands running over her waist, leaving her in no doubt as to how much he wanted her.

Her thoughts were blotted out, only the here and now mattered. And Tim. Only Tim.

With trembling hands, Y/N reached for the hem of his shirt. Her fingers touched his skin as she slowly pulled it over his head. The garment landed carelessly on the floor, but her attention was focused only on him. Her eyes slid over his muscular chest, sculpted by years of hard work and discipline.

With a mixture of awe and desire, her fingers traced the contours of his muscles, tracing each hard ridge of his chest and abs. Her touch was gentle, almost reverent, as she felt his muscles tense under her fingers.

“Please... Tim,” she breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper, but full of desire. Her hands traveled upward, caressing his shoulders and finally his neck, where she reached into his dark hair. She pulled him gently towards her while her body leaned longingly against his.

Tim paused for a moment, his penetrating eyes searching her gaze as if to make sure she was as devoted to the moment as he was. Then, without a word, he untied the towel that was wrapped around her body.

The fabric fell silently to the floor and the cool air of the room brushed against her now bare skin. Tim took half a step back, his eyes slowly gliding over her body. His gaze was intense, admiring, and his chest rose and fell noticeably faster as he looked at her.

“You're beautiful,” he murmured hoarsely before leaning forward again. His lips found their way to her breast and a soft gasp escaped Y/N as he encircled one of her sensitive nipples with his mouth.

The warmth of his tongue, the gentle but determined way he spoiled her, made her heart beat faster. She placed one hand on his head, holding him there, while her other hand pressed against the wall behind her to keep her footing. His teeth brushed lightly over her sensitive skin, sending a shiver through her body.

Tim didn't give her a moment to think, his hands finding their way onto her hips, pulling her even closer to him as his lips left her breast and sought their way lower. Y/N's breathing became heavier, her thoughts blurred, and she lost herself in the sheer intensity of his touch.

Y/N's breath came in gasps as Tim released his lips from her breast. His hands remained firmly on her hips, his fingers leaving a burning desire on her skin. For a moment he looked at her, his gaze dark and full of passion. Without a word, he bent down slightly, lifting her up with ease and carrying her in his arms.

Y/N wrapped her arms around his neck, her face close to his. Her lips found his, and she kissed him hungrily as he walked down the hallway with firm steps. The intensity of the moment made her forget everything else - the soft creaking of the wooden floor, the distant sound of the rain outside. All that mattered was Tim.

Once in the bedroom, he pushed the door open with his foot and gently laid her on the bed. Y/N felt the cool sheets against her skin, but it was the heat of his body that she really sensed. He leaned over her, supporting himself with his arms while his face was only inches away from hers.

“Tim...” she whispered and placed her hands on his chest. Her fingers slid over the hard contours of his muscles before holding onto his pants. “Take your clothes off,” she added softly, her gaze urgent and full of desire.

A wry smile played around his lips, but his eyes remained serious, almost hungry. “As you wish,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

He straightened up as Y/N lay on the bed, watching his every movement with an impatient tingle. His hands reached for his belt, slowly undoing it before he slid his pants over his hips and let them slide carelessly to the floor. Underneath, he was only wearing a pair of tight-fitting boxer shorts that barely concealed how much he wanted her.

Y/N's gaze traveled over his body, over the definition of his muscles, the strong line of his thighs, and she bit her lower lip slightly. “Anything,” she whispered demandingly, a shy smile on her lips, but her eyes betrayed that she was serious.

Tim slowly removed his boxers, and Y/N's breath caught as he stood completely naked in front of her. His body was a perfect blend of strength and masculinity, and her thoughts were momentarily blotted out.

He stepped closer to the bed, bent down to her again and placed a hand on her cheek. “Are you sure?” he asked softly, his voice gentle but imbued with passion.

“Yes,” Y/N replied without hesitation, pulling him close until his body was once again close to hers. The moment was unstoppable, and she knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Tim let his gaze slide slowly over her body until it finally lingered between her spread thighs. His eyes were dark, almost devouring, and the expression on his face made Y/N's heart beat faster. With a slight squeeze of his knee, he pushed her legs even further apart and she willingly obeyed him, opening herself completely to him.

“So good,” he murmured in a low, raspy tone that sent a shiver down her spine. “You're perfect...all over.”

Y/N's breath hitched as she felt his hand stroke her thigh, slowly, almost torturously. His fingers traced small circles on her skin as his gaze deepened between her thighs. He shook his head slightly, a smug, crooked smile on his lips.

“Do you have any idea how crazy you're driving me?” His voice was husky, and as he spoke, he let his fingers trail higher, just below her most intimate spot. Y/N's body tensed in anticipation, a soft gasp escaping her.

“Tim...” she pleaded softly, her voice full of longing, but he seemed to be taking his time tormenting her.

“So impatient,” he teased her, leaning forward until his face was close to hers. "I've been thinking about you all day. About what you'd look like if I had you right in front of me... naked, ready, and all for me."

His words made her tremble, and another gasp escaped her lips as his fingers finally slipped between her legs. The contact was gentle, almost teasing, but it was enough to drive her mad.

“Do you feel that?” he asked, his voice almost a growl as his fingers explored her further. "How hot you are? How wet?"

Y/N could only nod, unable to form words as her body arched toward him. Her hands gripped his shoulders, clawing into his skin as he slid one finger inside her and then added a second.

“You want more, don't you?” he asked as he slowly pleasured her with his fingers, driving her to the brink of madness. "Tell me. Tell me how much you want me."

“I ... I want you,” she gasped, her voice trembling with desire. “I need you, Tim ... please.”

The smile on his lips widened and his movements became faster, more intense. “Good start,” he murmured as he continued to work her, giving her pleasure and demanding at the same time: "But I want to hear everything. Tell me what you feel. What you want."

His body was now close to hers and she could feel the warmth of his skin, the strength of his muscles as he drew her into a world of pure ecstasy with words and touch.

Tim watched her every reaction, her unsteady breaths, the trembling of her body under his fingers, and a self-satisfied smile flitted across his lips. “You're so sensitive, Y/N,” he murmured as his fingers moved in a slow circular rhythm, deep inside her. “I could spend all evening tormenting you like this.”

Y/N writhed slightly beneath him, her hands seeking support on his arms, her head pressed lightly into the pillows. “Tim...” she gasped, her voice pleading. “Please stop teasing me ... I need you.”

His blue eyes fixed her, a dangerous gleam in them that made her tremble even more. “That urgent?” he asked, lowering his head to let her feel his hot breath on her neck. His lips brushed her skin, his tongue leaving a wet trail as he nibbled on her most sensitive spot.

His fingers suddenly left her, eliciting a soft, disappointed gasp from Y/N. But before she could protest, he knelt between her legs and pushed them further apart so that she presented herself fully to him. His gaze traveled slowly over her body, lingering on the heat between her legs, and his tongue ran over his lips as if he intended to devour her.

“You have no idea what you're doing to me,” he said hoarsely, his voice full of passion and possessiveness. "I want to hear you scream, Y/N. I want you to shout my name so loud that everyone knows who owns you."

Before she could answer, he leaned forward and his tongue stroked slowly and firmly over her most sensitive spot. Y/N's whole body tensed, a loud moan escaping her lips as he worked her with his mouth. His tongue found the perfect rhythm, alternating between gentle and more intense movements until Y/N began to squirm against him.

“So, so sweet,” he murmured as he paused briefly to savor her reaction. His hands gripped her hips, holding her tightly as she moved uncontrollably. "Stay still, baby. Let me finish you off."

Y/N could do nothing but obey him. Her fingers dug into the sheets, her chest rising and falling frantically as the waves of pleasure rolled over her. “Tim... I...” she gasped, unable to finish the sentence as he slid his tongue deeper, exploring her until she seemed to dissolve.

“I know, babe,” he whispered, pulling back a little to use his fingers again as his thumb teased her most sensitive spot. "I know exactly what you need. Tell me. Let me hear everything."

“I want you inside me,” she gasped, her voice rough with desire. “I can't take any more ... please, Tim.”

A dangerous smile appeared on his lips, and he straightened up, his imposing presence over her like a burning flame. “Suit yourself, baby,” he murmured as he wrapped her legs around his hips, positioning himself and filling her with a single, deep thrust.

The sensation made them both gasp out loud, and Y/N clutched at his shoulders, her nails leaving red marks on his skin. Tim moved slowly, enjoying seeing her beneath him, completely at his mercy and overwhelmed with lust.

“So tight... so perfect,” he moaned as he increased the rhythm, getting deeper and harder, each movement accompanied by a soft, dirty whisper. "Tell me how good I make you feel, Y/N. Tell me no one else will ever be enough for you again."

Y/N moaned his name, her voice rough and full of devotion as she clung to him as if she was finding support in him. His every movement sent waves of pleasure through her body, and with each powerful thrust, he rolled his hips with such precision that he hit the spot inside her that nearly made her lose her mind. Her fingers clawed instinctively into his back, leaving fine red marks that bore witness to the intensity of the moment.

His movements were a perfect blend of control and passion - possessive, as if he wanted to mark her as his forever, and yet tender, almost reverent, as if he was savoring every second with her. The alternation between demanding intensity and gentle devotion brought her to the brink of madness.

“You're so perfect, Y/N,” he murmured hoarsely, his voice vibrating deep in her chest as he looked at her, his eyes dark with desire. "Every inch of you is mine. And only mine."

His pace increased, his hips moving in a powerful rhythm as his hands gripped her hips as if he could pull her even closer. Y/N's body responded to his every touch, her back instinctively lifting off the bed as she arched towards him, completely lost in the thrill of his nearness.

Y/N felt the heat growing in her body, but she wanted more - she wanted to overpower him as much as he wanted to overpower her. With a sudden jerk, she spun around, using the momentum to push Tim onto his back. Surprised, he let himself fall, his eyes wandering up to her, full of desire and slight amusement.

“So you're taking the lead?” he asked, his voice dark and raspy as a crooked smile graced his lips.

“Oh, I will,” she replied breathlessly, her eyes sparkling with determination. She pushed her hair back and sat on top of him, her hands resting on his muscular chest, her nails scraping lightly over his skin, eliciting a low, rough moan from him.

Y/N moved her hips slowly, teasingly, letting him feel her heat without immediately giving him everything. His hands gripped her thighs, trying to guide her rhythm, but she stopped him with a challenging look.

“Patience, Sergeant,” she whispered with a confident smile. “Now it's your turn to be tortured.”

She leaned forward, her lips grazing his collarbone before she let her tongue glide over his skin. Her movements remained slow, provocative, and she savored the way his body responded beneath her - his tense muscles, the deep, raspy breathing coming from his chest.

As she began to move her hips in a deeper, steadier rhythm, a throaty moan escaped him. His hands slid over her body, holding her as if he wanted to regain control, but Y/N wouldn't let him. She moved faster, letting herself be driven by his desire and her own lust.

“You look so good when you give up control,” she whispered as she leaned back slightly, her movements becoming even more intense. “Tell me how it feels, Tim.”

“It feels like you're killing me,” he growled, his voice rough with arousal. “And I love it.”

His words drove her on, her movements becoming more demanding until they were both on the edge of a climax they reached together - their names mingling in a symphony of passion that filled the room.

Tim let her enjoy the control for a moment, but then something changed in his gaze - a mixture of challenge and burning desire. With a sudden movement, he grabbed her hips, held her tight and began to thrust into her from below. The unexpected depth made Y/N gasp loudly, her head falling back as her hands clutched at his torso.

“Did you think I was going to let you do all the work?” he murmured with a dangerous smile, his breathing heavy and erratic. His hips moved in a powerful rhythm, each thrust deeper and more intense than the last, until she could barely breathe.

Y/N's body shook above him, and she couldn't stop another moan from escaping her throat. But that wasn't enough for him. One of his hands let go of her hip and slowly moved forward until his fingers found the most sensitive spot between her legs. With skillful movements, he began to rub them as he continued to thrust into her from below.

“Do you feel that?” he whispered hoarsely, his gaze fixed on her face, which was contorted with lust. "I want you to explode. I want you to remember who you belong to."

His words and the intensity of his touch drove her to the brink of madness. Her fingernails scratched across his chest, leaving red lines as she moved towards him, taking him even deeper inside her.

“Tim, I...” she gasped, her voice breaking as she felt the climax inevitably approaching.

"Don't talk. Feel," he interrupted her in a raspy voice as he pressed his thumb harder against her sensitive spot, the movements of his fingers and hips perfectly synchronized.

Y/N's body tensed, her breath hitched, and then the wave of ecstasy overtook her with an intensity that made her tremble. Tim held her tightly, letting her enjoy the moment to the full without letting up for even a second.

As her breathing slowly calmed down, he pulled her closer to him, his movements becoming slower, but no less demanding. “I'm not done with you yet,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her passionately again and beginning to explain the next peak.

Tim held her body tightly, his movements deep and controlled, but the urge to reach his own climax began to make itself felt in every thrust. Y/N felt him tense inside her, his breathing becoming heavier, his rhythmic movements more erratic but just as intense.

“Y/N...” he gasped, his face buried in the hollow between her neck and shoulder as he pulled her against him, as if he wanted to feel her even deeper. His hips met her body so perfectly with each thrust that she thought she could feel the tension rising inside her again.

“I'm with you,” she whispered, her hands running through his hair and clutching the back of his neck. She could feel his muscles trembling, holding back hard to hold on a little longer.

“You feel so incredibly good,” he groaned, his voice rough and full of passion. “I want ... you to feel everything ... until the last moment.”

Y/N wrapped her legs around him tighter, pulling him even deeper inside her, and the sound of his throaty, low moans made her body tremble again. His movements became more uncontrolled, more intense, until he finally remained deep inside her and the tension was released.

A loud, harsh sound escaped him as he finally reached his climax. His grip on her hips tightened, his body vibrating as he released everything into her. Seconds passed in a frenzy, his breathing heavy and erratic, and his forehead rested against hers as they both tried to regain their senses.

“Y/N...” he finally murmured, his voice a husky whisper as he gently lowered her into the mattress. His eyes met hers, and for a moment the world seemed to stand still.

She smiled faintly, her fingers stroking his cheek. “That was...”

“Perfect,” he finished the sentence for her, pulled her closer and let his body sink against hers. Their breaths melded together and all that remained was the heat of their bodies and the unspoken words hanging in the air.

He held her gently in his arms, his fingers sliding soothingly through her hair as their breaths slowly found a steady rhythm again. Y/N snuggled up to him, her head resting on his chest, which was still rising and falling slightly from the exertion.

“That was... unexpected,” she finally breathed, a soft giggle accompanying her words as she let her lips brush tenderly across his chest.

Tim let out a low, satisfied hum as he lightly brushed her neck with his lips. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you first,” he admitted, his voice soft but firm, “but when I saw you in just that towel...” He interrupted himself, a slightly guilty but amused smile crossing his face. “I just couldn't stop myself.”

Y/N lifted her head slightly, resting her chin on his chest and facing him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “What did you want to say?” she asked curiously as her fingers brushed playfully over the line of his jaw.

He took a deep breath as if to gather himself for the words to come. His eyes met hers, full of honesty and determination. "You're mine ... whether I'm your superior or not. I don't want to hide that any longer, Y/N. I'm in love with you."

His words made her heart beat faster. She searched his eyes for a hint that he was hesitant or unsure, but instead all she found was sincere emotion. A warm smile spread across her lips and she leaned in to kiss him gently.

“I love you too,” she whispered against his lips before smirking slightly. “Or rather, I'm in love with you.”

Tim raised his eyebrows and grinned mischievously. “I liked the first one better - with the ‘I love you’,” he teased and pulled her towards him for another kiss. Their lips met, passionate and intimate, as if the tension of the last few months had finally dissolved into something tangible.

When she pulled away, he looked at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Just so we're clear, you're not going on any more dates. Unless they're with me."

Y/N laughed softly, raised an eyebrow challengingly and asked pointedly, “Oh yeah? And what if I do?”

His grin widened, and before she knew it, he had turned her onto her back with a smooth jerk. A surprised sound escaped her as he leaned over her, his hands on her wrists, his gaze intense and playful at the same time.

“Then I'll remind you every time who you really belong to,” he whispered harshly, before his lips found hers again and the world around them faded away.

#tim bradford x reader #tim bradford smut #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford #the rookie #eric winter smut #eric winter #eric winter x reader

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cherryxbooo · 3 months ago

Note

Please a “the rookie” Tim Bradford fluff. For Valentine day, when Tim and Lucy are patrolling, Lucy is surprised that Tim is dating for couple days and Lucy wants to meet her. The end of the day, lucy saw Tim walking towards shy!reader. Couple minutes later, Lucy caught Tim and Shyreader making out in the breaking room. https://youtu.be/7MqzwaO-eQE?si=K1M4TDlFaIehiDoU

You deserve all of this and more

Summary: Lucy is shocked to discover that Tim isn’t single and sets out to uncover the mystery of his girlfriend.

Note: I'm back! Thank you for your request! Even though I still have one more exam to go, I decided to give you all an early present! You know me by now and how I like to put my own spin on the stories I write, so it’s not just a direct copy of the original scene. Hope you like it!

Shy reader x Tim Bradford

Genre: Fluff

The morning sun shone down brightly, casting a soft golden glow over the city streets.

The sky stretched out in a crisp shade of blue, unmarred by a single cloud.

It was one of those perfect mornings, cool but not too cold, with the promise of a calm day ahead.

As Officer Lucy Chen approached the patrol car, she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief.

After the chaos of the past few shifts, today seemed like it might be a breeze.

Sliding into the passenger seat, Lucy clicked her seatbelt into place with a practiced motion.

She shifted in her seat, adjusting herself for comfort as she stole a quick glance at her training officer, Sergeant Tim Bradford.

His presence, as always, was commanding.

Even though they were just about to start their routine patrol, Tim had that same focused, unflappable demeanor that made him so intimidating to most.

But Lucy had been through enough shifts with him to know there was more to him than the steely exterior he projected.

Tim was staring down at the patrol car’s navigation screen, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel.

The sound of his fingers drumming lightly filled the car, a sound she had become intimately familiar with over the months of riding along with him.

It was his way of staying grounded, of keeping himself in control.

He wasn’t the kind of person who liked to feel rushed or out of sorts, even on a simple day like today.

"Alright, Chen," Tim said without looking up from the screen, his voice flat and businesslike as usual.

"Looks like we’re covering the usual sectors today. Try not to get distracted."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Distracted? Me?" she asked with mock innocence.

"Never." She leaned back in her seat and grinned, knowing exactly how to push his buttons.

Tim shot her a quick, side-long glance, his lips twitching just slightly. He was trying to hide it, but Lucy could tell, his mood was a little different today.

Normally, he was calm and collected to the point of being nearly emotionless, but today there was a subtle shift in his energy, a lightness to his presence that didn’t quite match his usual serious tone.

Lucy, ever the observant one, picked up on these small changes faster than most.

She studied him a bit longer, trying to gauge what was going on. Something was off, no, wait.

Something was better.

The way his posture was just a little less stiff, the way his eyes seemed more focused on the present moment rather than scanning the horizon for potential trouble.

Tim wasn’t just going through the motions today.

There was something in his demeanor that told her he was… happier?

Her curiosity piqued, Lucy narrowed her eyes, leaning forward slightly.

"Okay, what's up?"

Tim sighed, but it wasn’t the usual exasperated sigh he gave when Lucy’s questions got too personal.

No, this time it felt almost... indulgent? He didn’t answer immediately, instead focusing on pulling the car away from the curb with a smooth, practiced motion.

His eyes were still locked on the road ahead, but the subtle hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Nothing’s up," Tim replied, but Lucy wasn’t buying it.

She studied him intently, her brow furrowing.

Something in the way he said it, the slight change in his voice, told her that something was definitely up.

"You’re different today," she pressed, her tone more inquisitive now.

"You seem... I don’t know. Lighter? Did you actually get a full eight hours of sleep for once?"

Tim scoffed and glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his lips curling into a small, wry grin.

"Yeah, right. Like that ever happens."

Lucy smiled to herself, but she wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily.

She tilted her head, her gaze lingering on him as she continued to study his expression, trying to unlock the mystery of this odd shift in his usual mood.

Tim wasn’t the type to be so… light. He was always on guard, always the professional, always a little bit closed off.

But now, there was something different. She could feel it in the air between them.

Regardless she decided to let it rest. For now.

"You know Angela asked me earlier who I thought was more difficult. Her or you."

Tim frowned at what Lucy said, before rolling his eyes.

"Of course you're going to choose me."

Lucy laughed at his behaviour.

"You know, Angela knew you were going to say that. Now I understand why she said that you're the most stubborn person alive."

Tim looked offended. "Me? Stubborn? Yeah sure."

Lucy couldn't help but annoy him more.

"Yeah, she also said that was probably the reason why you're still single."

Tim looked once again very offended before defending himself.

"First of all, I'm not stubborn like she makes me out to be, and second of all who said that I'm still single huh?

A sudden thought hit her, sharp and startling. Her eyes widened in realization.

"Oh my god," she whispered, the realization dawning on her like a flash of lightning.

"You’re seeing someone?"

Tim’s grip on the steering wheel tightened just a fraction, his jaw clenching for a split second before he forced his muscles to relax.

But Lucy saw it, the small, almost imperceptible shift in his body language that confirmed her suspicion.

Lucy’s mouth dropped open, unable to contain her surprise.

"You? Tim Bradford, the man who never lets his guard down, is in a relationship?"

Her voice was tinged with disbelief and excitement. She smacked his arm lightly, unable to help herself.

"Why didn’t you tell me?!"

"Because it’s none of your business,"

Tim said flatly, his usual deadpan tone back in full force.

But Lucy wasn’t having it. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in, pressing him for more.

"Oh, come on. How long has this been going on?" she asked, crossing her arms in mock indignation.

"A week? A month?"

"That doesn't concern you Chen," Tim admitted reluctantly, his voice quiet and almost defensive.

Lucy’s eyes grew even wider. "Yes it does concern me!" she repeated, stunned.

"And you don't want to tell your best friend?"

Tim scoffed and shot her a dry look. "You’re not my best friend."

Lucy put a hand to her heart in mock offense.

"Fine. Your work best friend," she corrected with a grin, clearly enjoying this newfound tidbit of information.

"So, who is she? Someone I know? Ooh, is it a nurse? You do have a thing for tough women."

Tim let out a slow, controlled breath, clearly fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

"You’re relentless, you know that?"

Lucy just grinned wider, her curiosity burning with every new question.

She wasn’t going to let him get away with being so mysterious.

"You know you’re going to have to introduce me, right?"

Tim’s lips quirked into a smirk, but he didn’t answer.

He just shifted the car into gear and pressed down on the accelerator, clearly choosing to leave the conversation there for now.

But Lucy wasn’t done yet.

She knew better than to let something like this slide. No, she was going to find out everything.

After a long, relatively uneventful shift, Lucy still couldn’t shake the feeling of curiosity off.

She had spent the entire day trying to crack the mystery of who Tim was dating.

Every time she threw a playful guess at him,

"Is she a dispatcher, a nurse, oh no maybe a fellow officer? No no that seems unusual. A firefighter perhaps?".

Tim just gave her that same tight-lipped response, his eyes flicking to her for just a moment before his expression slipped back into its usual mask.

But Lucy had been riding along with him for long enough to know when he was holding back, and right now, everything about him felt different.

He was still the same Tim, the solid, reliable training officer, but there was an unfamiliar lightness to him.

And she needed to know who caused it.

When they finally finished their last call and the end of the shift was in sight, Lucy was practically bouncing in her seat.

Her mind was racing with possibilities.

She threw out her last guess of the day:

“Someone from the gym, right? Is that it? Did you finally get tired of the ‘no-strings-attached’ thing?”

Tim didn’t even look at her, his eyes firmly on the road ahead, his jaw set in that familiar way.

He didn’t respond, not even with his typical sarcastic quip.

That only fueled her curiosity more. The silence was unbearable.

As they pulled into the station parking lot, the car’s tires made a soft hum against the concrete, signaling the end of another long shift.

Tim parked with his usual precision, and Lucy immediately hopped out of the shop, stretching her arms over her head to shake off the fatigue.

The cool air nipped at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was still on him.

“Alright, I’m calling it now. You are introducing me to her at some point, right?”

Lucy asked, her voice light but with an edge of excitement.

She wasn’t about to let this drop, not when she was so close to the truth.

Tim shot her a quick glance, lips barely twitching.

“See you tomorrow, Chen,” he said in his usual deadpan voice, but there was something a little too… casual about it, like he was almost trying to brush her off.

Lucy narrowed her eyes, but before she could reply, Tim turned and started walking away toward the parking lot.

“Hey, wait-!”

She was about to call after him when something or better said someone, caught her eye.

There, standing a little off to the side, was a woman.

She was fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater, her posture slightly hunched like she was nervous, waiting for something or someone.

The moment Lucy noticed her, a jolt of realization hit her hard.

No. It couldn’t be…

Lucy’s heart skipped a beat as she watched Tim’s figure slow as he approached the woman.

There was no mistaking it now.

This had to be the woman he was seeing.

Lucy lingered near the door, pretending to check her phone, but her eyes never left the scene unfolding before her.

She wasn’t trying to spy, but she was trying to understand.

Tim’s steps grew slower as he neared her, and Lucy’s breath caught in her throat when she saw his expression shift.

The usual, ever-present stoic mask that Tim wore like armor, shattered in an instant.

His face softened as he looked at the woman.

He wasn’t the unapproachable Sergeant now; he was just… Tim.

Lucy blinked, her mind racing.

“No way…” she muttered under her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

She couldn’t take her eyes off them.

She watched in amusement, having never seen Tim like this before.

The woman looked up, her face lighting up like the sun at the sight of him.

She smiled, shy but warm, and Lucy felt a pang of something unfamiliar at the sight.

Something inside her, a strange blend of awe and curiosity stirred. It was as though she was witnessing something sacred.

Tim’s lips curled into the faintest of smiles in return. His hand, which had been at his side, moved slowly toward the woman.

Lucy saw his fingers brush against hers, tentative at first, as though testing the waters.

Then, with a smooth, fluid motion, he took her hand completely, holding it gently.

His thumb moved across her knuckles in a soft, comforting motion as he squeezed her hand, his touch reassuring and intimate.

Lucy’s mouth went dry. She had to blink a few times to process what she was seeing.

This was a side of Tim she hadn’t even imagined before.

The stern, unflappable Tim who had always been so professional, so untouchable, was now showing a side of himself that was raw, unguarded, and, dare she say, in love?

It was like she was seeing him for the first time.

The woman looked up at him, her eyes full of something that Lucy didn’t quite understand but recognized immediately.

Adoration? Trust? The kind of quiet affection that only came from knowing someone in the most real, vulnerable way.

Tim’s voice, when it broke the silence, was lower than usual, softer somehow.

She couldn’t hear the words, but the tone was unmistakable, a kind of tenderness that had never been directed her way.

Lucy could almost feel the warmth between them, and for a brief moment, she felt like an intruder, a third wheel to this incredibly private moment.

Should I walk over? Should I say something?

The thought crossed her mind, but as quickly as it came, she dismissed it.

No, she couldn’t interrupt this.

Not when it was so obvious how much this moment meant to both of them.

She stood frozen, watching Tim lean down a bit, his voice even softer now as he spoke to her.

The way the woman’s face lit up when he said something, there was a spark in her eyes, a knowing smile that made Lucy’s heart flutter.

The connection between them was so palpable, it almost felt like something she shouldn’t witness.

Lucy could feel the curiosity still eating away at her, she was dying to know more, to meet the woman who had somehow unlocked this side of Tim, this version of him.

But something told her that now was not the time.

No, if she interrupted this moment, if she said anything, it would ruin it.

She wasn’t sure why, but she knew in her gut that this was their time, not hers.

With one last lingering look at them, Lucy stepped back toward the door, a plan forming in her mind.

She didn’t need to rush this.

She could wait. But she was definitely getting answers later.

No one keeps secrets from Officer Lucy Chen for long.

Meanwhile, before Lucy started spying on the both of you:

The clock on my dashboard blinked 6:30 PM, casting a soft glow in the otherwise dim interior of my car.

The day had stretched on longer than I’d expected, and now, the world outside was slowly shifting from the golden light of late afternoon into the cool, gentle hues of evening.

The city lights were beginning to twinkle in the distance, like tiny stars scattered across the darkening sky, and the air had a slight chill to it, carrying the faint scent of rain from earlier.

I was standing next to my car in the parking lot of the police station.

My fingers nervously drummed on the steering wheel as I glanced back at the clock again.

I had been waiting for a little while now.

6:30, Tim should be done soon.

The thought of seeing him again had my stomach fluttering in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

I had spent the whole day surrounded by the chaos of my kindergarten class, the kids bouncing off the walls, asking questions I could barely keep up with.

But now, here I was, finally getting a quiet moment.

A moment with him. The thought was enough to make me smile softly to myself.

It wasn’t just the anticipation that had me feeling all soft inside.

It was him. Tim.

Ever since he’d stepped into my life, things had felt... different.

Better. His presence was like this quiet anchor that grounded me, even in the most chaotic moments.

I remembered how shy and awkward I’d been at the start, fumbling over my words, avoiding his gaze, terrified that I wasn’t good enough for him.

But he never seemed to mind.

Tim had a way of making me feel seen in a way no one else ever had.

And with each passing day, I grew more comfortable around him.

I was still shy, so shy, but Tim made it feel like being myself was exactly enough.

His words, his gentle touches, his quiet but steady affection, it all added up to something that made my heart race every time I thought about it.

And tonight, I was lucky enough to be spending time with him, just the two of us, away from the noise of the world.

As I sat there, staring out at the parking lot, I couldn’t help but feel my heart pick up its pace.

It was ridiculous how excited I was to see him.

I was probably blushing just thinking about him.

But it was impossible not to.

Tim had a way of making everything seem so effortless, yet so real.

I was in love with him. It was that simple. (real girl so so real)

A soft sound broke through my reverie, the rhythmic tap of boots against concrete.

I snapped my head toward the sound, my pulse quickening, and there he was.

Tim. Walking toward me, his figure cutting through the soft twilight as if he belonged in this moment, like everything in the world was right because he was here.

I couldn’t help but stare.

Even in his police uniform, looking all serious, he had this effortlessly handsome way about him.

His jacket sleeves were rolled up, giving him a slightly more relaxed look than usual.

Yet, even with all of that, the power and authority in his stance were still there.

He was... just Tim, and in his presence, I felt both completely small and incredibly safe at the same time.

His eyes softened when they met mine, and that subtle smile, oh, that smile, stretched across his face.

My heart skipped a beat.

The usual confident, almost stoic Tim had this side to him that he only ever showed to me, and it made me feel like the luckiest person alive.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he greeted me, his voice low and soothing, as he came to a stop in front of my car.

There was a softness there, a tenderness that never failed to make my insides flutter.

“Sorry I kept you waiting. I was wrapping up some stuff. Didn’t mean to make you hang around.”

I smiled up at him, my cheeks flushing a little.

“It’s okay, Tim. I didn’t mind. I’ve been thinking about you, actually.”

His brow quirked, and he stepped closer, his body just barely brushing mine as he leaned against my car.

“Oh really?” His voice dropped an octave, and I could hear that teasing edge.

He was so good at it. “What exactly were you thinking about, hmm?”

I could feel the butterflies swirl in my stomach, and I dropped my gaze for a moment, my heart thudding harder in my chest.

“I—uh, I don’t know,” I muttered, too shy to meet his eyes.

“I’ve just been thinking about... us. About how happy I am when I’m with you.”

Tim’s gaze softened immediately, and he stepped even closer, his hand brushing against mine as if by accident, but I knew it wasn’t.

Tim was never the type to do anything by accident.

Every touch from him felt deliberate, and that made my heart race even more.

“You make me happy too, Y/n,” he said, his voice so sincere it almost took my breath away.

“I’m really glad you’re here. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.”

His hand found mine, and his fingers interlaced with mine, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver of comfort through me.

There was this quiet moment where neither of us said anything, just stood there, fingers intertwined, breathing in the cool air of the evening.

I felt like time had slowed down, like the world outside us didn’t matter anymore.

It was just him and me in this little bubble we had created for ourselves.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be here with you, Tim,” I whispered, voice barely above a breath.

I didn't know where this was coming from, but for some reason, my insecurities spilled out just like that.

“I didn’t think someone like you would even notice someone like me.”

Tim’s eyes softened, and he gently cupped my face with his other hand.

His thumb brushed across my cheek in a slow, comforting motion.

“I notice you, sweetheart. I see you. And I’ve been wanting this... wanting us... for longer than you think.”

His voice was so steady, so sure, that it melted any lingering doubts I had.

“I’m really lucky,” I murmured, my voice small but sincere.

“I don’t deserve you, but I’m really lucky.”

“Don’t say that,”

Tim murmured, his gaze intense and warm.

“You deserve all of this and more.”

He smiled again, and his thumb brushed my lip this time, sending a jolt of warmth through me.

“You’ve got no idea how much you mean to me, babe.”

My heart fluttered in my chest, my face burning as I looked up at him, not sure if I could handle the weight of his words.

But just the fact that he was saying them, just the fact that Tim Bradford, this strong, serious man, was sharing his heart with me, made everything feel right.

“I... I feel the same,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Tim’s eyes never left mine. “Yeah? You feel the same?”

His tone was soft now, teasing, but there was a quiet edge to it.

“Good, because I’m not letting you go, Y/n. Not now, not ever.”

My stomach flipped with a combination of nerves and excitement, and I couldn’t help the tiny laugh that escaped me.

“I wouldn’t want you to,” I said quietly, the words leaving my lips before I could stop them.

Tim chuckled lowly, his hand sliding from my cheek to the back of my neck, pulling me in closer until our foreheads were nearly touching.

“Good,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.

“Because I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”

Tim suddenly took a step back as if he just remembered something.

“I just remembered that I still have to change and get some things from the break room. So what do you say? Mind joining me inside for a bit?”

I nodded, grateful for his company, even though I felt my cheeks flush a little.

He had this effect on me, making me feel both nervous and at ease at the same time.

We walked together into the station, the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights above creating a steady, almost comforting rhythm.

The sound was oddly relaxing, predictable in its way, like the background music to a peaceful evening.

My steps naturally matched Tim’s, and I found myself gravitating toward him, enjoying the steady pace of his stride as he led me through the hallways.

There was something about the way Tim walked, so assured, so composed, that made me feel small in the best way possible.

Like I could follow him anywhere and feel completely safe doing so.

His presence seemed to fill the space around us, creating an invisible bubble of calm that I didn’t want to escape.

As we turned corners and passed through doors, I realized how easily I’d fallen into step with him.

It wasn’t just his confidence that made me follow; it was the way he made me feel.

Like everything was just right, even when things weren’t perfect.

When we reached the break room, Tim reached for the door handle, holding it open for me with that familiar soft smile of his.

I stepped inside first, taking in the simple surroundings. The room was nothing special, just a standard break room.

The coffee machine sat against the far wall, the usual clutter of papers scattered across the table.

But with Tim here, everything felt different.

Warm.

Personal.

Like the room had been transformed by his presence as if it was no longer just a mundane spot to take a break, but a space where something... special could happen.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Tim said as he closed the door behind us, his voice smooth and reassuring.

“I’ll just be a minute. Need to finish up some last details from the shift.”

I nodded, settling into one of the chairs at the table as he moved to sort through some papers.

He always looked so focused when he worked, his brows furrowing slightly in concentration, yet there was a gentleness to his movements, as though nothing about this, nothing about me, was ever a chore.

I watched him for a moment, taking in the way he moved with a quiet grace, confident but never rushed.

There was something magnetic about him, something I couldn’t quite put into words.

I sighed quietly, half from contentment and half from the nagging realization that I was once again struck by how lucky I was to be here with him.

It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling, this peaceful, giddy joy that washed over me whenever Tim was near.

But it was real, and every moment spent with him only deepened the warmth in my chest.

I glanced up, finding Tim’s eyes on me.

His lips quirked into that mischievous little smirk, the one that always made my heart skip a beat.

“What?” he asked, his tone playful, his voice lowering just enough to make me feel like I was the only one who mattered in the room.

“Nothing,” I mumbled quickly, my face heating up as I averted my gaze, looking down at my hands folded in my lap.

But Tim wasn’t about to let me off that easily.

He took a few steps toward me, his boots making a soft, rhythmic sound on the floor, and I could feel his presence all around me.

When he stopped beside me, I couldn’t help but notice the way his tall frame seemed to fill the space.

His body language confident and sure, but there was that warmth in his eyes that made me feel like he was looking at me in a way that was all his own.

He leaned in just enough that I could feel his breath against my cheek, his voice a soft, teasing whisper.

“You’re so cute when you’re shy,” he murmured, the affection in his words sending a flutter of warmth straight to my heart.

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt the heat flood my face, turning me into a blushing mess.

“I’m not… I’m not shy,”

I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper, but my trembling hands were betraying me, making it obvious that he was right.

Tim chuckled, the sound low and warm, like a comforting melody I never wanted to end.

“You are,"

He said gently, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch soft and deliberate, sending shivers down my spine.

“And I like it. I like everything about you.”

The world seemed to tilt just a little bit as my heart skipped a beat.

How could he do this to me?

How could he make my chest feel so full and my stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies every time he touched me, every time he spoke?

“I—” I started, but the words caught in my throat.

I swear he does it on purpose.

I didn’t know what to say.

Tim’s gaze softened as if he could read every thought that flickered across my face, and without another word, his hand moved to cup my cheek, gently guiding my face toward his.

I looked up at him, eyes wide, lips parted in surprise.

He smiled tenderly at me, and his thumb brushed along my cheekbone, a quiet caress that made my pulse race.

“You’re beautiful,” he said softly, his voice low and full of sincerity.

“You know that?”

I could barely breathe, let alone respond. My words tumbled out in a rush, shaky and uncertain.

“You’re… too nice,”

I whispered, not feeling like I deserved such sweetness from him, even though every fiber of my being longed to believe him.

“I mean it, Y/n,” Tim said, his expression unwavering.

“You’re perfect. Every little thing about you is perfect.”

Before I could respond, before I could say anything more, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was slow, deliberate, timeless, almost, as if he was savoring every second of it.

I felt my whole body go warm like the world around us had disappeared, and there was nothing but the two of us in this quiet room.

His lips were soft but insistent, and I couldn’t help but melt into him, my hands instinctively finding their way to his shirt, gripping it as if I were afraid I might float away.

Tim’s other hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me in closer, and I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, the strength of his arms, the tenderness in his touch.

I was lost in the feeling, in the sweetness of the moment, the connection we shared.

This kiss soon turns into a make-out session.

But just as I was about to lose myself completely in him, the door to the break room slammed open with such force that it startled both of us.

The loud crash echoed through the room, and I gasped, pulling away from Tim in shock.

I blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened.

And there, standing in the doorway, was a woman.

Her eyes were wide with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, her mouth hanging open in a perfect expression of

"I can't believe what I'm seeing."

Her gaze flickered between Tim and me, and I felt my face go bright red in an instant.

I instinctively took a small step back, trying to hide behind Tim, but I could still feel the heat of my embarrassment creeping up my neck.

“Aha!” Lucy’s voice rang out, filled with mock triumph.

“I knew it!” she added, a teasing lilt in her tone that made my heart race even faster.

Tim groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated by the interruption.

I could feel the tension in his body, but it didn’t seem to bother Lucy in the slightest.

She was practically glowing with amusement.

“Well, well, well,” she drawled, taking a few steps into the room.

“So this is the mystery woman who’s been making Tim Bradford smile.”

My heart thudded in my chest, and I peeked out from behind Tim, too shy to look her in the eye directly.

My voice was a soft whisper as I managed a tiny “Hi,” my cheeks still burning with embarrassment.

Lucy’s expression softened as she looked at me, and a warm smile spread across her face.

“Oh, you’re adorable,” she said genuinely, her voice much kinder than I’d expected.

“I’m Lucy, by the way. Tim’s very annoying work best friend as he likes to call me.”

I smiled shyly, feeling the weight of the moment, but I managed to squeak out,

“I’m Y/n. Nice to meet you.”

Lucy’s gaze flickered back to Tim, and her eyebrow raised playfully.

“What did you do to him?” she asked, her voice dripping with exaggerated curiosity.

“I’ve known this grumpy guy for years, and I’ve never seen him this soft.”

Tim groaned, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

“Lucy, leave it alone,” he muttered, but it was clear he wasn’t actually mad.

He was just trying to hide the softness I’d seen in him.

But Lucy wasn’t about to let this go.

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere,” she teased, shooting us one last playful glance.

“You two are too cute.”

I couldn’t stop the soft giggle that escaped me, my heart still racing with nerves and happiness.

Tim’s arm went around me instinctively, pulling me a little closer to his side as he shot Lucy a mock warning glare.

“Alright, Chen,” he sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes.

“Leave us alone.”

Lucy flashed me one last, teasing smile before she backed out of the room, her voice carrying through the door.

“Fine, fine. But I’m getting the full scoop later, you two. Oh everyone in the station is going to love this! Especially Angela!”

As the door clicked shut behind Lucy, the room felt quieter, and I finally exhaled.

Tim turned to face me, his gaze softening as he took a step closer.

He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle but deliberate.

"Sorry about that," he said, his voice low and smooth, almost teasing.

There was no real apology behind it, more like a recognition of the awkwardness in the air.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded, looking down at my hands, suddenly feeling self-conscious again.

My heart was still racing, and I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “Really.”

Tim chuckled softly, that familiar glint in his eyes.

“I didn’t think you’d be so shy even after everything we’ve been through and how long we've been together,”

he teased, his hand still resting lightly on my shoulder, just enough to make me feel grounded.

“I’m not shy,” I muttered quickly, though the way my cheeks burned probably said otherwise.

I tried to meet his gaze, but I quickly found myself looking down again.

“I just... don’t like being caught off guard.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” Tim said, his voice full of amusement.

He gently cupped my chin, lifting it so I had to look at him.

“It’s okay, Y/n. You know I don’t mind seeing you blush.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I felt my face heat up even more.

I was sure I looked like a mess, but I didn’t want to pull away.

He was so close, his presence overwhelming in the best way.

“You’re impossible,” I whispered, but the words had no real bite.

It was hard to stay frustrated when he was standing there, looking at me like that.

Tim’s grin only widened.

“You like it, though,” he said softly, his thumb brushing along the curve of my jaw.

“Admit it.”

I shook my head slightly, trying to hold onto some sense of control, but the way his hand was so steady on me made it hard to think straight.

“I—" I started, but the words seemed to get stuck.

Tim leaned in just a little, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured,

“It’s okay baby. You don’t have to say anything.”

I took a deep breath, feeling my hands shake slightly.

“I’m just not used to... this,” I confessed, still unsure of how to explain the mix of feelings I was experiencing.

“Not used to being... with someone like you.”

Tim’s smile softened, but there was still that playful edge in his voice when he spoke again.

“Someone like me?” he repeated, teasing.

“You make it sound like I’m some kind of monster.”

I gave a small, nervous laugh, finally managing to look up at him.

“No, it’s not that,” I said quickly, though I wasn’t sure if I was making it better or worse.

“It’s just... you’re so... confident.”

Tim’s eyes softened a little, and he stepped even closer, his hand now resting lightly on my waist.

“And you like that about me,” he said simply.

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement, and I couldn’t help but nod slightly.

“Yeah... I do,” I admitted, the words feeling more natural than I expected.

Tim’s grin returned, and he brushed his thumb over the back of my hand, his gaze warm but filled with that teasing spark.

“Good,” he murmured.

“Because you’re the only one who gets to see this side of me, Y/n. The side that doesn’t mind making you blush.”

I couldn’t hold back a small smile at that, and for the first time, the awkwardness of the situation didn’t feel so heavy.

I liked this, the way Tim knew just how to make me feel at ease, even when I was a mess of nerves.

“You’re lucky I’m still standing here, huh?”

I said quietly, but there was a hint of a smile in my voice, something I couldn’t quite hide.

Tim chuckled, the sound rich and easy.

“I’m lucky every time you’re here with me,” he said softly, his hand now settling more firmly on my back, pulling me in just a little.

I looked up at him, heart beating faster but with a little more steadiness now.

“You’re gonna be the death of me,” I murmured, not really meaning it, but not sure what else to say.

Tim leaned down just enough to place a quick, soft kiss on my forehead.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” he said, his voice warm, but still carrying that edge of playfulness.

“Not anytime soon, at least.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that.

Even though we’d just had a somewhat awkward moment, everything felt... okay.

It felt like it always did when I was with him, comfortable, easy, but still full of that undeniable connection.

“I’m just glad I’m here with you,”

I whispered, and this time, it felt like I actually meant it, fully and completely.

Tim’s hand lingered on my back, and for a second, the world outside the break room felt distant, irrelevant.

“Me too, sweetheart,” he said quietly, his voice steady and real. “Me too.”

The end

#tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford x reader #tim x reader #tim bradford #the rookie fanfiction #the rookie fanfic #the rookie imagine #the rookie x reader #tim bradford fluff #tim bradford fic #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford x you #tim bradford x fem!reader #the rookie fic

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nevereclipse · 3 months ago

Note

There isn't enough Tim Bradford smut on tumblr.. Can you write a story where Tim gets hurt in the line of duty and Y/N comes to check on him and they do it in the hospital or something like that?

Baby Boy

Pairing: Injured!Tim Bradford x femme!reader

Rating: Explicit

Genre: Fluff and smut

Warnings: use of y/n, smut, p in v, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), tim's kinda rough, subby tim bradford (that's a warning in and of it's self), use of pet names, praise, tim refers to reader as "toy" once in passing, rough sex, emotional sex, canon typical injuries.

Requested Y/N: yes, above.

Summary: After a shit few shifts, Tim ends up in the hospital with a nearly-dislocated shoulder. He's wound up and stressed, and when you visit him in the hospital, he realises that all he needs is you.

Authors Note: I hope this is what you were after! I saw your request and all I could think was needy, kinda subby Tim. Enjoy! I don't write a lot of p in v smut (i think this is my first time??) so I hope its okay!!

---

Tim really wasn’t that injured. He’d tried to convince Lucy not to take him to the hospital, and she’d agreed at first. But then she’d seen the look of pain on his face when he’d tried to lift his shoulder more than a few centimetres and had demanded he get admitted.

So now he was sitting in the hospital, waiting for Lucy to come back with something from the vending machine, and wishing he was on patrol. His shoulder wasn’t dislocated, just tweaked. In all honesty, he was probably getting old. He’d never admit it out loud, but he’d never have gotten an injury like this in his youth.

Tim stared at his phone, considering texting you to tell you where he was. He really didn’t want you to worry, especially considering that if he had his way he’d be back on patrol in a few hours, but he knew you’d be furious if he didn’t tell you. You’d be especially mad if Lucy was the one to tell you. Which let’s be honest, she probably already had.

And frankly, he just really fucking wanted to see you.

So he texted you.

From: Tim Bradford

To: Y/N ❤️

In the hospital. Not serious. Room 267A. Should be out in a few hours. I love you.

Tim put his phone away, refusing to let himself stare at it until you responded. In the silence of the hospital room, the weight of the last few days finally landed on him. He’d spent his day yesterday looking for an abducted kid, and he’d had nearly non-stop domestics today. Until, of course, his last call, a simple 211 which had some how resulted in him nearly dislocating his shoulder. He scrubbed a hand (the one attached to his good arm) over his face, wanting nothing more than to see you. Everything hurt, in some dull, achy way, and his shoulder was throbbing a little and he just wanted to see you. He’d been good to go back on patrol as soon as he’d held you for a moment.

Your reply came through almost instantly.

From: Y/n Y/l/n

To: Baby boy 💞

I’m on my way. I love you.

Tim sighed in pure relief. You’d be here soon. You work was just around the corner from the hospital, less than 10 minutes, and you knew your way around the building thanks to Tim’s unfortunate habit of injuring himself. And knowing you, you’d speed to get to Tim.

As per Tim’s assumption, you were at the hospital in 6 minutes. 8 and you were in his room, leaning against a doorway with your arms crossed, as you looked over him assessingly.

“Hi, baby.”

All the tension in Tim’s muscles released as soon as he saw you. The slight pounding of his head, and all his worries, softened when you put your arms around him. He practically melted into you.

“Hi,” He sighed, burying his face in the crook of your neck. After the last few days, your presence was more medicinal than anything the doctors had given him. He pressed a kiss to the slope of your neck, desperate to be closer to you. Tim Bradford was a clingy motherfucker, when you gave him the chance.

“Hi, baby boy,” You murmured and you ran your hands through your hair. You could feel the neediness radiating off him, and nothing meant more to you than his trust. That he let himself be soft around you. “Are you okay?”

Tim nodded. “I am now.”

You smiled softly, pulling Tim closer to you. You tipped up his chin and pressed a soft kiss to his lips and… well you probably should’ve seen this coming. Tim whined, a growly sort of sound in the back of his throat, and his hands were instantly on the small of your back, pulling you closer.

“Woah,” you said, pulling back from him and studying his face with a slight frown. “Are you sure?”

Tim’s nod was desperate bordering on deranged. “Yes. I need this, I need- I need you.” And he did. He had too much pent-up tension and worry that he needed to let off, and he couldn’t exactly go to the gym with his injured shoulder. Besides, that would involve being too far away from you. Your body (you, just you) could provide all the release and relief that he needed.

“What about your shoulder?” You asked, gently tracing your hand over the injured limb.

“I’ll be careful,” Tim insisted, kissing your neck again. He nipped at the slope of your shoulder and this time it was you who couldn’t help a little whimper. Convinced, you kissed Tim again, this time taking it deeper and allowing his tongue to slip into your mouth. You moaned when he nipped at your bottom lip.

Tim’s hands travelled over your hips, your waist, your back. He couldn’t get enough of you, and he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until he was inside of you. He also knew he wouldn’t be able to hold you up properly in one arm, and so he walked forward until you hit the bed. A hospital bed wasn’t the most romantic location for sex, but compared to Nolan’s guest bedroom, it wasn’t that bad.

As he kissed you, hard and demanding, Tim slid a knee between your legs, allowing you to search for the friction you were desperately starting to need. You ground down on his leg, whining at the pressure on your clit.

“Tim,” You moaned, your head bent back as Tim bit gentle at your collarbones. At the sound of his name, Tim snapped. All the pent-up emotion from the last few days came to a head as he ground out:

“Bend over.”

You obeyed instantly, unbuckling your belt and bending over the bed. Tim’s hands never left your hips. His grip was harsh, and you knew there would be reminders of it in the mourning. You grinned at the thought.

It wasn’t long before your pants were being pulled down off your waist and below the curve of your ass – just low enough for Tim’s access. The sound of Tim’s belt being pulled off filled the air, and you wriggled your ass in anticipation. You could feel the slick between your thighs, the aching emptiness inside you.

“You ready?” Tim bent over you, his breath tickling the shell of your ear.

You nodded. You knew Tim needed this, needed the release, which is why you whispered, “Use me, baby boy. Take whatever you need.”

Tim grunted, and he was fully sheathing himself inside you before you could take another breath. He groaned, the sound deep and guttural, and took a moment to adjust. You clenched around him, perfectly filled. You pushed your ass towards him, urging him to move, and that was all the encouragement he needed. He pounded into you, hips slapping against your ass. It was rough, and unrelenting and exactly what he needed.

“Fuck, y/n,” Tim moaned, reaching around to fondle one of your breasts. He tweaked your nipple between two fingers, and you whimpered, the sound falling from your lips.

“So good, baby, so good, fuck,” Tim was babbling a little, the sound combining with the wet noise of him snapping into you. “’m not gonna last,” he warned, refusing to cease. The sex was aggressive and harsh and so fucking good.

The hand on your nipples slid down your stomach and between your legs, toying with your clit as Tim continued to relentlessly pound into you. You moaned loudly, feeling your own orgasm approaching.

“Tim,” You almost shouted, “Fuck!” You pushed your hips to meet his thrust, his cock meeting just the right spot inside you.

“That’s right, baby, so good, so fucking good, good girl-,” Tim didn’t stop speaking, his thrusts getting sloppier as he neared release. “So fucking good for me, my good girl, such a good fucking toy, fuck-,” Tim bit down into your shoulder to silence his shout as he came. It wasn’t a worthwhile decision, as the pressure of his teeth and the feeling of his seed filling you had you yourself moaning loudly.

Your orgasm arrived soon after Tim’s, and when he slowly pulled out, you were both trembling and sweaty. He gently cleaned you up, his touch now all too different from just moments before.

“You alright?” He asked, looking at you with a softness that made you want to cry out of love.

You nodded. “I’m okay. Are you?” You turned around, running a hand across Tim’s glowing cheek. He keened into the touch, sighing softly.

“I’m okay. I just… needed you.” There was a hint of guilt in his words, like he regretting using you that way. “I wasn’t… did I hurt you?”

You shook your head and sat up in the bed. “No, my love. You were perfect.” Tim’s relief was visible.

“Now c’mere,” You scooched across on the bed, leaving space for him to join you. “You’ve had a shit few days, and I know your shoulder hurts more than you admit. Come cuddle me, baby boy.”

Tim was all too happy to oblige, curling against the one person who always felt like home.

#never rambles #never writes #never answers #tim bradford smut #tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x reader smut #tim bradford #the rookie

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fluentmoviequoter · 25 days ago

Text

Playing Favorites

Pairing: Tim Bradford x fem!rookie!reader

Summary: Tim trains you differently, uncaring that he's accused of playing favorites. When he realizes that the scars your trauma left go deeper than your approach to police work, he accidentally falls in love with you, and you're beside him for it all.

Warnings: touch starved reader, brief angst, depiction/discussion of past traumas, allusion to past domestic violence, canon-typical injuries and violence, fluff, comfort, obligatory makeout sesh

Word Count: 3.2k+ words

A/N: I used this fantastic idea by @nevereclipse!! As someone who is touch starved, I loved every single aspect of this dynamic and hope I did it some justice🤍🫶🏼

Masterlist | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List

Less than a minute after your TO slams on the brakes, declares he’s been shot, and demands you tell him exactly where you are, the radio crackles. Officer Bradford has been quiet since you answered him with the nearest cross streets and the direction the shop was facing, and his silence is something you assume you’ll have to grow used to. It’s better than the yelling, you think.

“7-Adam-19,” the dispatcher radios. “Domestic disturbance in your area.”

“Responding,” Tim replies. “What’s standard procedure for domestic calls, boot?”

You stiffen, straightening your back against the seat as you answer robotically, reciting your list of dos and don’ts for this type of call. Tim listens, glancing at you every few seconds. He has a reputation for judging his rookies quickly – and usually, he’s right in his judgements. Yet, he held off on deciding whether or not you would succeed. Though it’s your first day, Tim has, until now, been unsure what to think of you. You know your stuff; there’s no question of that.

“Good,” he murmurs when you finish. “Follow my lead.”

“Yes, sir,” you answer.

Tim slams the door to the shop, but when he walks past you to approach the front door of the dilapidated house, he realizes something. You’ve endured hard things, experiences you’ve probably kept to yourself and dealt with all alone. Despite that hurt and the devastation Tim knows comes with it, you decided to become a police officer. Whether to be the person you needed during the bad days and dark nights or to stop someone from going down the wrong path is irrelevant to Tim. All he knows now is that your potential outweighs your response to your memories, your dedication is stronger than your past. Tim will have to change his ways because you have what it takes to be a success story.

For the first time in his TO career, Tim adapts his training method to fit his rookie rather than molding his rookie to fit his style. For you, he can be different: gentler, kinder, quieter. You need to learn and grow, and Tim will do everything he can to help you...

Right after he kicks the front door in and starts yelling at the couple fighting on the kitchen floor.

“337.6,” Tim says.

Pinching your brows, you answer, “Unlawful use of a California Horse Racing license? Do you really think that will come up?”

“It’s not about whether or not you’ll need it,” Tim explains, “but whether or not you know it.”

“Okay.”

“Why do you know that one?”

“Why do you?” you challenge, smiling.

Tim shakes his head as he turns on to Pico. “628.5.”

You think for a moment, then remember, “Information attained during prosecution for criminal activity in relation to massage therapy is made available to the California Massage Therapy Council.”

Tim scoffs, though he's impressed by your knowledge of Penal Codes.

“I don’t remember the Business and Professions Code section, though,” you add softly.

“That’s fine,” Tim replies.

You stare out of the windshield, pulling your shoulders toward each other as you curl in on yourself.

“Boot,” Tim says. “You don’t have to know the whole code, just the premise.”

“What if it comes up?” you question.

“You’ve got a phone with internet and the entire LAPD dispatch at your disposal. Asking for help to fill in the blanks isn’t frowned upon, it’s good policing. You may ride alone someday but you are not expected to do this job by yourself.”

“10-50 multiple vehicles, at northeast intersection of Pico and Hauser,” dispatch alerts. “Service technician ETA seven minutes.”

Tim pulls the radio from the dashboard and attaches himself and you to the call. You flex your hands as he turns around and drives toward the accident scene.

“What would you like me to do, Officer Bradford?” you ask as Tim parks behind the wrecked cars.

“Get these people out of this lane,” he answers, opening his door. “We’ve got a few cones in the war bags, make them work.”

“Yes, sir.”

You open the trunk as Tim joins the other officers on the scene. While he checks for injuries and ensures statements will be taken, you direct a driver to go into the other lane.

“But I need to turn right!” he calls through his rolled-down window. “I’m late to a meeting!”

You walk to his car to assist him after checking that no one is trying to get through. “Go straight through when it’s clear, turn right on Carmona, and it’ll take you up to San Vincente,” you direct.

“But I’m going to Olympic,” he rambles quickly, gesturing to his GPS.

“You’re from out of town?”

“That obvious?”

You smile and point straight. “Go through this light. Right on Carmona, which merges into Masselin after you cross San Vincente. That’ll get you straight to Olympic.”

“Okay. Right, right.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thanks, officer.”

He pulls up to the white line at the intersection just as the light changes to red. Tim says your name, then gestures to the traffic backed up in the Northbound lane.

“Sorry,” you say.

As you turn to jog across the street and direct traffic, Tim calls your name again.

“One thing at a time,” he reminds you. “Good work.”

You nod, then look both ways. You’re out of earshot and are directing drivers to merge before crossing the intersection when Officers Lucy Chen and John Nolan look at your TO with wide eyes.

“What?” Tim questions.

“You just said good work,” Lucy says. “To a rookie.”

“You’re being… nice,” Nolan adds.

“I had to remind myself not to cry on numerous occasions as your rookie, but you tell her good job? I didn’t know you played favorites, Tim.”

“I’m not playing favorites,” Tim defends. He looks over his shoulder to check on you, then sighs. “Are we going to move these cars out of the way or talk about my teaching style?”

“EMTs are here to check the drivers, so we could do both,” Nolan suggests.

“Go put the sedan in neutral, Chen,” Tim instructs. “Nolan, you’re pushing.”

The service technicians arrive as Tim, Lucy, and Nolan get the first car out of the lane. As they take over, and another thanks you for your help and begins directing traffic, Tim leans against the shop and watches you return.

“Are you okay, Officer Bradford?” you inquire.

“How many times did you get flipped off?” he asks rather than answering.

“Four,” you answer. “Sir.”

“Should’ve written them tickets.”

Your brows raise, and you press your hands against your legs to stop yourself from wringing your fingers together. “Really?”

Tim shrugs as he says, “Up to the officer. In a backup like that, no, but if any of them had gotten hostile, absolutely.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“I know you will,” Tim replies, pushing off the shop. “Let’s go.”

As you buckle your seatbelt, a robbery in progress call comes through, and you gladly accept Tim’s offer to take the lead when you arrive at the nearby drugstore, smiling at his faith in you.

“Did you know Tim has a favorite officer?” Lucy asks.

“Yeah,” Angela replies. “It’s me.”

Nyla barks a sarcastic laugh, then smiles when Angela glares at her.

“Who is it this week?” Nyla inquires.

Lucy looks around, then leans forward to whisper, “His boot.”

“Tim?” Nyla asks, still sarcastic. “Falling for a boot? Who would’a thought it.”

“What we had was not this,” Lucy argues. “We were a fling, and now we’re friends. He’s- he’s nice to her, talks to her without yelling, corrects her without getting mad. It’s weird.”

“Lucy,” Angela begins. “As a TO, you have to do what is best for the rookie, not for you. Maybe that’s what she needs. For some people, the yelling and obnoxious reprimands are too much.”

“Tim Bradford does not care about being too much,” Lucy points out.

“Got a point there,” Nyla agrees, leaning back in her chair. “He breaks boots’ spirits, regardless of what they need. There must be something else going on.”

Angela juts her chin toward the door, and Lucy and Nyla turn in time to see Tim leading you into the station. You’re walking side-by-side, and he’s nodding along as you speak. Tim watches your face, then glances at your small hand motions. When one side of his lips quirks up, and he shakes his head, Angela and Nyla look at each other.

“See?!” Lucy exclaims when you turn out of sight.

“Oh, we see,” Nyla replies.

“So, what does it mean?”

“Ever heard of kindred souls?” Angela asks.

Lucy hesitates as Angela and Nyla stand to leave, then decides, “Tim is not kindred anything.”

“Maybe not to you,” Nyla says over her shoulder.

“Is she okay?” you ask.

Tim scrubs an antiseptic wipe across his knuckles as he returns from the ambulance. You were expecting the worst when you got a call for a possible 187, but walking into a home with two screaming teenagers and a bleeding child was far worse.

“Paramedics aren’t sure,” Tim answers. “They’re rushing her to UCLA Children's.”

“It doesn’t make any sense,” you murmur.

“No,” Tim agrees. “The detectives will figure out what happened, but unfortunately, we rarely get to play a part in deciphering the puzzle.”

You nod, tapping the toe of your right boot against the asphalt. If you’d gotten here faster, if you’d urged Tim to go inside the back door, or radioed for an ambulance as soon as the call came in, maybe the young girl fighting for her life would have a better chance.

“Hey,” Tim says. You don’t look up, so he lays his hand on your upper back and says, “It’s not our fault.”

You stiffen beneath his hand. Unable to remember the last time you were touched like this, you fight the urge to push him away as pain like pins and needles erupts under the warmth he gives. Then, suddenly, it passes, and the only thing you can feel is the comfort he provides.

Your muscles relax, and your shoulders drop as you unconsciously lean against his hand. Tim spreads his fingers when you seem to melt beneath him. At first, he thinks you’re going to fall. But, as quickly as you went from tense to wholly relaxed, a voice in his mind says, Oh.

There was no question that you’ve had hard times and seen and experienced difficult things that shaped who you are today, but Tim missed your touch starvation before now. With his hand on your back, Tim watches you take a deep breath before you look at him.

“There’s,” he begins, trailing off.

“I know it’s not our fault,” you say softly. “Thank you.”

Tim swallows as he nods, wondering why his hand fits so well. A car pulls over on the other side of the street, and Tim withdraws his hand when Nyla and Angela exit the front seats.

He nods to you before you begin speaking with the detectives, and the admiration you had for your TO and his knowledge begins shifting into something more.

“You alright?” Tim asks.

You raise your hand to your shoulder, press it lightly, and nod. Your frown tells Tim differently, and he gently hooks his finger beneath the collar of your uniform. He doesn’t have to pull the fabric far to see the redness of your skin.

“Get in the shop,” he says. “We have to get that checked.”

“It’ll be fine,” you reply. “Just sore.”

“Wasn’t a question.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” you answer with a salute.

Tim shakes his head and shifts the car into drive. It’s been nearly two weeks since Tim laid his hand on your back, and he’s lost count of how many easy touches he’s given you since then. But it works for both of you. You’re an even better cop than Tim expected. If he’d ask, you’d tell him it’s because of him.

The shop is filled with a tense silence as you drive back to the station. Tim is sitting like a statue in the passenger seat, and the man behind you stares at the back of your head as if he’s trying to make it explode.

You’ve known since the very first call of your training – a domestic disturbance – that Tim’s past affects him. Maybe you can see his trauma because you have your own, or it's evident because you cared enough to look. Either way, you know that calls like this affect him.

Finding a little boy hiding in the closet with a bruise on his cheek and drywall dust in his matted hair broke your heart, but it made Tim angry. You had to pull him off the man sitting behind you, and it’s only because of your demands and warnings that they’re both sitting in silence.

When you pull up to the station, an officer is waiting to take your arrest into custody, and you thank him before you return to the streets of Los Angeles.

“Do you want to talk about it?” you ask after several minutes alone.

“No,” Tim replies.

“Yeah, me neither,” you agree. “Wanna talk about the Braves?”

Tim jerks toward the door, his eyes wide in shock.

“Welcome back,” you mutter.

“It...” Tim begins.

“It’s hard,” you finish for him. “Especially when it reminds you of something or someone you recognize. I get it.”

“I know you do,” Tim murmurs.

“That’s why you’re so nice to me.”

“I’m just teaching you.”

You smile as you slow, parking outside a small strip mall. Turning toward Tim, you explain, “I’ve heard the stories, Officer Bradford. I know you don’t treat all of your rookies like this. But I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

Tim nods. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not today.”

“Wanna talk about the Dodgers?”

“You’d like that.”

“You wouldn’t?”

Your smile matches Tim’s, and everything feels lighter when Angela interrupts to ask for assistance with a new case.

“Big day tomorrow,” Tim reminds you as you walk out of the station together. “Get some sleep, don’t overstudy, and know you’re going to do great.”

“That’s it?” you ask. “No warning? Now if you make less than a 93, it’s a failure?”

“Lucy?” Tim questions.

You shrug, but Tim raises his hand, wrapping his fingers around the crook of your elbow to stop you.

“You are not Officer Chen. You are not a copied version of me. You are your own officer, your own person, and you do what you are capable of doing.”

“What if I’m not capable of doing this?”

“You are.”

“Only because of you,” you whisper.

“You did the work. I just offered an assist.”

You glance at Tim’s hand on your arm and don’t hesitate to wrap your arms around his neck. Hugging him tightly, you smile against his shoulder as he returns the hug. His light touches changed your life, but initiating physical affection and taking what you want is different.

“Thank you,” you say. “For everything.”

“You did the heavy lifting,” Tim replies.

As you step back, Tim’s hands pause on your waist. He looks at you, almost like he wants to say or do more. But then he steps back and wishes you a good night.

Alone in your apartment after graduating to short sleeves, you raise a glass and congratulate yourself. Your favorite movie is queued, you picked up dinner from the best restaurant in Los Angeles, and a congratulations card from Detective Lopez is now displayed on your bookcase. Yet, it feels like something is missing. While the movie plays, your thoughts wander to Tim.

A loud knock on your door distracts you from your daydreaming and the quiet night in. Pausing your movie, you walk to the door and look through the peephole. You smile as you open the door and invite your surprise visitor inside.

“Tim- Officer Bradford,” you greet. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re off the clock,” he reminds you. He sees your table and asks, “Celebrating?”

“Yeah.” Shrugging, you explain, “I figured, I made it this far.”

“It’s a big accomplishment. Have room for an extra guest?”

“Depends on the guest.”

Tim smiles and offers you a card. You thank him and set it on the counter as you offer to get him a drink or something to eat.

“I’m good, thank you.”

You nod, leaning against the counter as you look at him. He meets your eyes, and the silence around you is anything but awkward as you stare at one another.

“I came to congratulate you,” he says after a moment.

“Thank you.”

“You were right. I trained you differently.”

“Why?”

“Because I could tell that you were different. Whatever it was in your past that led you here, it made you special. It affected you, so I wanted to use that, let it help you rather than hurt you.”

“You never asked,” you muse.

“People who want to talk about it tend to start that conversation themselves.”

“Which you never do.”

“Not often, no.”

“Whatever happened to you, Tim, whether it made you the man you are or if you are here today in spite of it, you’re a good man.”

“Same to you.”

“You think I’m a good man?” you joke, smiling after the serious moment.

“It’s not obvious?” he replies.

You raise your hands to playfully push Tim away from you, but he catches your wrists and holds your palms against his chest. Standing together, you continue looking into his eyes. You’ve seen more in each other during your training than anyone else has ever cared enough to look for.

Falling in love with Tim was not intentional, and it wasn’t like free falling. After he touched you, he brought you back to life, and every day after, you fell a little more for him.

“Why’d you let me hug you?” you whisper.

“Because I wanted it, too,” he replies.

Tim brushes his thumb over the pulse point on your wrist. He releases your hand and cups your neck, tracing your jawline. You lean toward him while he pulls you closer.

Tim’s kiss feels like entering a new world, like coming home and finding paradise simultaneously. Sliding your hands up his chest, you shiver against Tim when his arm wraps around your waist. Tim bends slightly, lowering his hand to your hips before he lifts you. You don’t break the kiss as he sets you on the counter, and as his fingers tangle in your hair, you hold his jaw and lose yourself.

Through each breath, each movement, you give a piece of yourself to Tim and accept the pieces he offers you. Remembering that you stiffened and considered pushing him away the first time he touched you, you chuckle against Tim’s lips.

“What’s so funny?” he questions, pulling away and straightening your hair.

“I was touch starved a few months ago,” you reply. “And now you let me take whatever affection I want.”

“You’re welcome.”

You push your hand against Tim’s abs, and he wraps his arm around your shoulder.

“Some people think you were playing favorites with me,” you muse, looking up at him.

“I was,” he answers. “Still am.”

“Lucky me,” you murmur before kissing his jaw and tugging his shirt to bring him close again.

#tim bradford x reader #tim bradford fic #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford x you #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford #the rookie #the rookie x reader #the rookie abc #fem!reader #hanna writes✯

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justabigassnerd · 9 months ago

Text

A Different Man

Pairing - Tim Bradford x reader

Word count - 5,241

Warnings - inaccurate hospital scenes, mentions of needles, drugs, medicines, angst, fluff

Summary - after an incident with Lucy, Tim wonders if it's time to be honest about his marital status

A/N - hey y'all I'm back with another anon request which I hope I did justice! we all know I love writing for my pookie Tim so I had a blast writing this. I won't ramble but as per y'all please send in requests, feedback, and enjoy!!!

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If it was up to Tim, he wouldn’t be at work right now. But the Vice President chose to visit Los Angeles meaning he had to go to work when he would rather be relaxing at home. Now, Tim was patrolling LA with his rookie Lucy Chen, keeping a careful eye on their surroundings as they drove around. Eventually, the duo are directed to a homeless encampment where Tim makes an announcement that all the people living there have to pack up and move so that the stretch of road they were living on was going to be used for the visit. As they all packed up their belongings, a fight broke out between two women and Lucy was quick to step in yet her best efforts still got her caught up in the tussle, when the women dragged each other, and Lucy, to the ground, Tim was quick to step in, handcuffing one woman while Lucy got up and handcuffed the other. As Lucy got to her feet, Tim glanced over at her, stopping when he noticed something.

“Chen. Stop. Don’t move.” He instructs, watching as she looks at him confused before following his gaze down to the used needle sticking out of her thigh. At that moment, it was like Lucy could focus on nothing but the needle and all the diseases it could bring if it had actually embedded in her leg. Noticing Lucy’s distant gaze, Tim instructs other officers to take both women away so he can focus on making sure Lucy is okay and gets taken to the hospital.

“I didn’t see it,” Lucy mutters, looking up at Tim with a terrified expression.

“I have to pull the needle out. Stay still.” Tim says, feeling bad upon seeing the expression on his rookie’s face but he knew he couldn’t show any signs of worry because that would only panic her further. Tim pulls on a pair of gloves and grabs a box to put the needle in and he crouches down alongside Lucy, carefully extracting the needle from her leg and trying not to react when he sees the small traces of blood on the tip of the needle from where it had clearly made contact with her leg.

“What’s the protocol for when an officer is exposed on duty?” Tim then asks, straightening up after putting the needle away. He already had a good idea of how worried and panicked Lucy was and he needed to keep her focused on her job to stop her from spiralling. When he clocked that Lucy wasn’t focused he calmly gained her attention and got her to tell him what it was they needed to take as next steps. Lucy wasn’t used to Tim being so calm and gentle towards her but she appreciated it nonetheless.

“Where’s the nearest hospital?” Tim asks after Lucy tells him what protocol is for an incident like this.

“Shaw Memorial,” Lucy replies, getting a nod in return from Tim before he turns to another officer, making sure they know to keep an officer posted in the area while he takes Lucy to the hospital. Tim drives Lucy to the hospital and when he’s parked the shop, he escorts her to the first nurse desk he can find, letting her approach the desk herself.

“I need to get my blood tested. I got stuck with a used hypodermic needle.” Lucy says, trying to keep her voice steady as the nurse begins to look around, apologising before he grabs a clipboard, holding out to her.

“Just fill this out for us and take a seat in the waiting room. A doctor will be with you shortly.” Gino says with a friendly smile.

“You must be new. She’s got a weapon, so what if someone tried to grab her weapon? The hospital protocol dictates that an armed officer be seen immediately. So set her up in a room right now and find a doctor.” Tim says, an authoritative tone to his voice as Gino straightens up, nodding nervously before leading Lucy and Tim to a private room so she can safely fill out her information and wait for a doctor while he goes to grab one. Gino heads straight to your office, knocking on the door and entering with permission.

“Gino, what can I do for you?” You ask with a sweet smile, removing your gaze from your computer to Gino.

“Doctor Bradford, there’s a police officer who’s been stabbed with a used needle and needs bloodwork done,” Gino explains, watching as you nod, shutting off your computer and getting up from your seat.

“I’ll go and get acquainted with my patient if you could get the equipment I need. And Gino? Please call me y/n, Doctor Bradford is too formal.” You say with a slight chuckle as you follow Gino to the door of your office.

“Sorry.” Gino apologises as you both step into the hallway.

“No harm done.” You say dismissively, waving your hand loosely, turning in the direction of the room Gino tells you your patient is in.

“Oh just a heads up, the police officer's partner is a really grumpy guy,” Gino warns, and at the warning, you had a feeling you knew who was going to be in that room.

“Hi, I’m Doctor Bradford.” You introduce yourself as you walk into the room, smiling sweetly at the woman sitting on the end of a bed, not missing how her eyes flicked between you and your husband who was standing across the room, his arms across his chest.

“B-Bradford?” Lucy asks, eyes widening slightly as Tim scoffs, rolling his eyes at Lucy’s miraculous mood switch.

“Yes. Tim’s my husband.” You say with a soft laugh as you pick up the completed form from alongside Lucy, eyes scanning it and inputting the information into a file for Lucy.

“Sorry, that was so rude of me. I’m Lucy Chen. I’m Officer Bradford’s rookie and I just didn’t know he was-”

“Chen,” Tim said simply, making Lucy stop talking, apologising as she relaxed slightly.

“Don’t apologise Lucy. In fact, excuse me one second.” You say, walking over to Tim, taking his hand, leading him to the corner and glaring at him.

“What?” Tim asks, looking at you, confused.

“Do you seriously talk to everyone like that? Even the rookie’s you’re teaching?” You scold, watching as Tim sighs lightly.

“I gotta be tough. That’s my way of teaching. It’s how I learnt in the Army and how I learnt when I joined the force.” Tim says, explaining himself.

“I get that Tim but in the hospital? The poor girl is probably terrified and thinking of all the worst-case scenarios possible. Just tone it down a little.” You ask, eyes flicking over to Lucy who was wringing her hands nervously, eyes flicking all over the room as she takes deep breaths. At your words, Tim lets out a soft sigh, nodding lightly.

“Okay. I’ll tone it down for now.” He agrees quietly, getting a nod in response from you and a soft squeeze of the hand before you drop it focusing back on Lucy just as Gino enters the room with all the stuff you need to draw blood.

“Thank you, Gino.” You chirp happily, taking the tray from him and beginning to prep yourself.

“You can go back out to the desk, I’ll page you when I need you to run this down to the labs.” You then say, glancing over your shoulder to smile at Gino who nods and exits the room.

“He’s new, isn’t he? He didn’t know the rules about what to do when an armed officer needs to see a doctor.” Tim says, sidling up alongside you as you pull on gloves, sitting on a stool in front of Lucy and rolling your eyes.

“Yes, he’s new. I take it you were the one who made sure he knew the protocol?” You say glancing over your shoulder at Tim before focusing back on the needle as you prep it.

“I think he would’ve found a room for me if Gino hadn’t corrected himself,” Lucy says with a soft laugh.

“That doesn’t surprise me. Tim’s always been one to find his own solutions to things.” You say, smiling fondly at the many memories you have of Tim fixing situations himself when he wasn’t satisfied with the options he had.

“You must have some great stories about Tim,” Lucy asks, making your eyebrow rise as you catch on to what she was hinting at.

“What kind of story would you like? I’ve got some good ones from when we first started dating.” You say, making sure the needle is in Lucy’s arm and drawing blood.

“Hey, no.” Tim attempts to cut in and you just hold a hand up, silencing him quickly which makes Lucy giggle at how quickly her training officer was silenced. At first, Tim pulled a slight face behind your back when you held your hand up, but when you looked over your shoulder and blew him a little kiss, Lucy saw how quickly Tim melted at the gesture. Even if he was trying to be his normal, tough self, she could see how he had a huge soft spot for you.

“Tim, could you go and get Gino for me? I’m almost done. Ooh and could you grab me a snack from the vending machine?” You say sweetly, smiling over your shoulder at Tim before you pop one of the last vials of blood into the holder.

“You better not start gossiping the moment I leave.” He says lightly in response, a small smile on his face as he crosses over to you to give you a quick kiss on the top of your head before exiting the room.

“I’ve never seen him act like that before,” Lucy says as you finish putting things away before focusing on cleaning Lucy’s arm and giving her a cotton ball to put on the puncture wound to stop any extra bleeding.

“Seen him act like what? A big softie?” You ask jokingly, smiling at Lucy.

“Well I mean he was nicer than he usually is when the needle first pricked me but he’s like a whole different person with you. He actually listens to you for starters.” Lucy says, explaining herself while she thinks of the man who had put her through so many Tim Tests.

“This conversation doesn’t leave this room, okay? He’s a tough nut to crack but he’s strict because he knows you can handle yourself. He wants you to be the best police officer you can be. I’m not involved in the work aspect of Tim’s life. He likes to keep it that way and I just guess he feels he doesn’t have to put up a front when he’s with me.” You explain with a small shrug. You remembered what Tim had been like when you first met. He was closed off and it took you a while to even talk to him enough to form a friendship, and then it took another year and a half before you both had the courage to act on your romantic feelings for each other. Before Lucy could reply, Gino entered the room again to take the bloodwork to the labs to be run through tests to see if the needle infected Lucy with anything. After Gino left and there was still no sign of Tim, you continued to chat with Lucy.

“It’s nice to see him so relaxed with you. It’s like he’s a whole different person with you.” Lucy says, smiling softly.

“That’s the Tim I’m used to. I’m sure with time he’ll learn to be a little less military towards you.” You say softly, smiling at Lucy who nods lightly.

“I hope so. There’s only so many Tim Tests I can handle.” Lucy says with a gentle laugh.

“Oh, he’s told me all about them. I don’t think I would be able to handle them.” You say with a chuckle, and before either of you can say something else, the door opens and Tim enters the room.

“You took your time.” You tease lightly, swivelling around on the stool to face him.

“The nearest vending machine didn’t have your favourite so I just kept looking until I found one that did,” Tim explains, holding your favourite snack out towards you while you smile softly, taking it and standing.

“You didn’t need to do that. I would’ve been fine with anything.” You say softly, smiling up at Tim who smiles back.

“I wanted to,” Tim says, his voice matching yours in softness as he pulls you closer for a kiss.

“Aw, you two are so cute!” Lucy gushes as you pull away from the kiss, giggling lightly as Tim looks over at Lucy.

“Chen, this doesn’t leave this room,” Tim warns, pointing a finger at her as she frowns, caught out in her plans to tell Jackson and Nolan.

“Okay fine. But I need to go to the restroom.” Lucy says, standing and crossing to the door. You bid her a quiet goodbye before turning to Tim.

“I should probably go back on my rounds. You and Lucy are welcome to keep using this room until I get her results from the lab. I’ll come back when I have the results, promise.” You say to Tim, taking his hand and squeezing it softly while your other hand tucks the snack Tim had bought you into your pocket.

“Take care of yourself, won’t you?” Tim asks softly, trying to hide his worry. He knew some patients could get rough with doctors and he always worried about whether someone was going to hurt you.

“I’ll be okay. We have security and if I really need help, I do have my handsome, strong, police officer husband around.” You say softly, your smile widening slightly as Tim raises an eyebrow, hands drifting down to your waist.

“Handsome, huh?” Tim teases, moving to kiss you again as your hands move to his shoulders, one hand resting on his shoulder while your other moves around to the back of his neck, cupping it as you deepen the kiss before your brain kicks in and reminds you of what you’re supposed to be doing.

“As much as I’d love to stay here with you. I have to go. I love you.” You say after pulling away from the kiss. You wished you could stay with your husband but you knew you had a job to do.

“I love you too,” Tim says, giving you one last quick kiss before letting you leave the room so you could go on your rounds.

You visit the various patients that you need to check in on, checking their progress and giving out advice that they need to aid their recovery. You loved checking in with your patients. Sure, there were some who were permanently grumpy and barely acknowledged you or the work you and the nurses were doing for them, but the majority of your patients were sweet and made the job worth it. As you finish up with a patient who was in recovery from a surgery they had the day before, you exit into the hallway and see a few nurses gathered by a door as they cart a woman out on a gurney. You head towards the gathered group and just as you approach the room, Tim and Lucy step out of it.

“What happened? Are you both okay?” You ask worriedly, reaching to grab Tim’s shoulders, eyes scanning him worriedly, checking him over for any injuries.

“y/n, I’m fine. We’re both fine.” Tim says softly, reaching up to his shoulders to gently lift your hands off, holding them in his hands and squeezing softly.

“What happened?” You ask, eyes flicking between both Lucy and Tim waiting for an answer.

“I bumped into this woman in the restroom, she told me about her brother who had been involved in a car accident and after she left I noticed a bottle of bleach on the floor. She was going to inject her brother with it to kill him. She claimed he wouldn’t want to live like how he is now but I just couldn’t let her go through with it so I had no choice but to tase her.” Lucy explains, her voice was shaky as she recounts the events.

“Is everyone okay?” You ask, glancing behind Tim at the room.

“The patient is being checked over now but thanks to Officer Chen’s swift actions, the sister never pushed the plunger,” Tim says, smiling over at Lucy who smiles back weakly.

“I was just doing what needed to be done,” Lucy says with a shrug.

“Look, Grey’s called me back to the station,” Tim says, looking between you and Lucy.

“Do you need me to come with you?” Lucy asks, looking up at Tim who shakes his head.

“No, you stay here and wait for your results. I’ll come back when I’m done. If you need anything I’m sure y/n will help you.” Tim says as you nod.

“Of course. Lucy if you need anything at all while you’re waiting, just shoot me a text.” You say pulling your notebook out of your pocket and scribbling down your phone number to hand to Lucy who takes it with a nod.

“Thank you,” Lucy says gratefully, tucking the paper away in her pocket before you both look over at Tim.

“I’ve got to go. I love you.” Tim says, giving you a quick kiss and hug before turning to Lucy.

“Chen, take care of yourself.” He then says, patting her shoulder before excusing himself, heading down the hallway and disappearing around a corner.

“I said it to Tim earlier but you’re welcome to keep using the room Gino put you in until I have your results.” You say softly, reaching to rest a hand on Lucy’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before quietly excusing yourself so you could continue your rounds until the lab results came back.

As it pushes into the afternoon, you finish your rounds and take care of some appointments you had booked for the day and eventually you get paged by the lab and you head down, picking up Lucy’s blood test results and reading them over before heading back to the room Lucy had been using. However, when you entered the room it was empty, so you walked to the waiting room to see if she was there and you soon found her sitting alongside another police officer.

“Officer Chen.” You say softly, getting Lucy’s attention as she shoots out of the seat, the other officer following suit, resting a supportive hand on her shoulder.

“Yes?” Lucy says watching you as you smile softly.

“I have your results. Would you like to follow me to my-”

“No, sorry, can you just tell me now please?” Lucy asks, cutting in and watching carefully as you nod, eyes moving down to your clipboard to flip through the paperwork.

“So your initial tests came back negative for any viral infections like HIV or hepatitis. But your bloodwork indicated the presence of a staph infection.” You explain, seeing how Lucy relaxed at your first sentence before she grew worried again.

“What does that mean?” Lucy asks, her eyebrows furrowed as she worries about what it could mean for her future.

“It just means we need to get you started on some intravenous antibiotics right away. Some strains of staph infection are drug-resistant so we’ll monitor the wound for any abscesses or cellulitis.” You explain to Lucy, watching as she releases a big breath before turning to the police officer standing behind her.

“Go. I’ll call Tim. He’ll be here for you by the time you’re out.” He says softly before Lucy pulls him into a hug, thanking him quietly before she releases him and turns to you with a small smile and nod.

“If you just follow me.” You say, gesturing with your head for Lucy to follow you to your office which she does and while you settle in your office chair, Lucy eases herself down on the chair opposite your desk. You copy the bloodwork data onto Lucy’s file and print out a prescription, informing her of how to best care for her wound, when to take her medication and where she can pick it up from. After talking her through everything and checking Lucy’s wound over just to be sure it was okay for now, you stood in front of her with a small smile.

“I’ll walk you out, I’m sure Tim’s here now.” You say softly, leading Lucy back to the waiting room where Tim was waiting, rising from the seat he was sitting in when he noticed the two of you approaching.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Tim asks, looking down at Lucy who nods, finally able to relax for the first time since the incident.

“Everything’s good,” Lucy replies, smiling at Tim who nods lightly, a small smile of his own on his face.

“If you have any concerns about anything Lucy, you’re free to give me a call whenever.” You say, making sure Lucy knew that you’d help her no matter the time.

“Thank you for everything, Doctor Bradford.” Lucy thanks you gratefully.

“Please, call me y/n.” You say with a small laugh, not missing how the police officer stood behind Tim gasped lightly with widened eyes as he realised what Lucy said.

“Sorry, did you say-?”

“Yes, she said Bradford. Tim is my husband.” You say, moving to stand next to Tim, taking his hand in yours as you smile up at your husband.

“If I find out you and Officer Chen have been spreading this around later Officer West, I will put you both through the most intense Tim Tests I can think of and it’ll have you questioning whether you want to even continue in the LAPD,” Tim warns lowly.

“Jackson and I would never do that,” Lucy says quickly, standing up for her friend as you sigh lightly.

“Tim, surely you’re tired of dancing around everyone. I don’t mind if people know about me. In fact, I’d like to get to know your colleagues. They’re part of your life too.” You say softly, turning to face Tim as he mirrors your actions.

“Are you sure?” Tim asks quietly, watching you nod.

“I’m sure, Tim. I’d love to get to know the people you work with. I’m your wife and I would like to be more than just a secret.” You admit, watching as Tim’s eyes drop to the floor briefly before looking back up at you. You understood why he had been so hesitant to tell people about you, he was worried that he’d somehow get involved in a case involving a dangerous person which could put you at risk. But you were capable of making your own choices, and you knew that even if you were at risk, knowing Tim’s work friends would make you feel safer.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to keep you safe.” Tim mutters softly, taking your hands in his.

“Don’t apologise. I know you wanted to keep me safe and I appreciate that. But you can’t hide me forever.” You say, squeezing hands softly and reaching up to press a kiss on his lips.

“Okay, I’ll stop trying to hide you,” Tim replies after you pull away from the kiss, his smile soft as you glance over to Jackson and Lucy.

“I think you two are safe.” You say with a laugh watching as they exchange a quick fist bump.

“I won’t give you any Tim Tests yet,” Tim says, releasing your hands and turning to face the two.

“You won’t give them any unless it’s part of training.” You say, nudging Tim in his side as he lets out a small grunt of pain at the jab.

“Does that mean we can tell Nolan?” Lucy asks, testing the waters and watching Tim’s reaction carefully. When you hear Tim let out a small huff of a sigh, you speak up.

“You can tell Nolan but only Nolan. Let Tim do the rest.” You say. You didn’t know who Nolan was but you could only guess he was the third rookie that had joined the LAPD alongside Jackson and Lucy.

“What she said. Anyone else knows before I tell them, you know what the punishment will be.” Tim says, raising an eyebrow as both Jackson and Lucy nod hurriedly, aware of what Tim Tests he could potentially put them through.

“I should probably get back to work.” You mutter, noticing the time on the clock behind the nurse’s desk.

“Yeah, I’ve got to take Lucy back to the station,” Tim says with a nod, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head.

“I’ll see you when I get home.” You whisper softly smiling up at your husband before watching him leave with Lucy following close behind while Jackson stays put.

“I know you have to get back to work but it’s honestly incredible how different Tim is with you,” Jackson speaks up quickly, catching your attention as you laugh softly.

“Funnily enough Lucy said a similar thing.” You say with a soft laugh as you shrug, making Jackson let out a gentle laugh of his own.

“I won’t keep you. I should probably find my TO.” Jackson says, nodding with a soft smile as you smile back.

“If your TO is Angela, tell her I say ‘hi’ will you?” You say, beginning to back away and shooting Jackson a quick wink when his jaw drops before turning around and making your way back to your office to continue with the rest of your shift.

By the time your shift came to an end, you were just about ready to drop. It had been a long day and when you got home you were greeted by Tim who pulled you into his arms almost the moment you walked through the door.

“Tim. I love you but I need a shower.” You giggle as you feel Tim press a kiss to the top of your head.

“I’ll get dinner sorted then.” He replies softly, releasing you from the embrace and letting you go off and shower and change into something comfier. By the time you had finished showering and changing, you could smell the dinner Tim was preparing.

“It smells good.” You say as you enter the kitchen, sidling up alongside Tim and winding your arms around his middle as he turns the stove off.

“I could’ve had a career as a chef.” Tim jokes lightly, welcoming your embrace. When you release Tim from your embrace so he can finish up the food, you begin to grab some plates and cutlery for when Tim is ready to plate up the food. Once the food is plated up, you sit at the table and eat your dinner, conversing the whole time. When you finish your meal, you both tidy away everything before retiring to the sofa, cuddling into each other while Tim finds a tv show to put on in the background.

“Are you really okay with telling people about us? I feel like I put you on the spot.” You mumble, resting your head on Tim’s chest and looking up at him.

“I’m more than okay with telling people about us. You’re right. You deserve to know my colleagues, and I don’t know how much longer I can go hiding you. You deserve to be shown off.” Tim replies, squeezing you tighter as a smile crosses your face.

A week later, you pulled up outside the Mid-Wilshire police station, parked your car, and stepped out. You headed into the building with a smile as you met Tim in the reception area.

“Hey.” He greets you with a smile, capturing your lips in his for a soft kiss as he pulls you into his arms.

“That’s a nice welcome.” You say with a smile as you pull away from the kiss.

“Only the best for you,” Tim mutters softly.

“You big softie.” You say with a laugh as Tim rolls his eyes.

“y/n!” You hear Lucy’s excited voice say as she rushes over to you, hugging you close as you reciprocate the embrace, smiling widely.

“Hey, Lucy. How have you been?” You ask. Since Tim had started telling people about you, you’d met various people from Mid-Wilshire station as you swung by the station every so often but Lucy had been the one you’d formed the closest friendship with.

“I’ve been doing well! But between you and me I think you need to stop by more. Tim’s always happier after you visit.” Lucy says, muttering her words lowly so Tim doesn’t hear her as you laugh lightly.

“Well, hopefully, these make everyone a little happier.” You say with a smile, holding up the bag of various cakes you had gotten from a bakery you and Tim frequented.

“Oh yes! I knew there was a reason you were my favourite Bradford!” You hear Jackson exclaim as he approaches you, making you laugh as you hand the bag to Nolan who also joins the group as you glance over at Tim who rolls his eyes and shrugs at Jackson’s comment.

“Everyone’s going to love that you’ve done this. You and Tim have been talking this bakery up for a week now.” Nolan says, opening the bag enough to peek in at the goodies inside.

“I just got things I thought everyone would like.” You say, watching as the three rookies take it in turns peeking inside the bag and trying to figure out what each thing is. As you watch them discussing their theories quietly, Tim walks up alongside you, wrapping an arm around your middle and tugging you into his side.

“I can’t believe I have to share you with all these guys now,” Tim mutters, and this time it is your turn to jokingly roll your eyes.

“Well, just remember, I married you. So you don’t need to worry about someone ‘stealing’ me away.” You joke, leaning into Tim’s side.

“It’s relieving to hear that.” Tim jokes in return, chuckling lightly.

“I hate to do this so soon after arriving but I need to head back to the hospital. I don’t want to see any of you guys in there as patients. Got it?” You say, pointing at Tim and the three rookies who all nod hurriedly before you turn to face Tim.

“Stay safe out there.” You whisper before giving him a soft kiss.

“Always,” Tim replies after you pull away, letting you say your goodbyes to the rookies before walking you out to your car and giving you one last kiss before watching as you get in your car and drive away to head back to work.

Since you had made friends with the people he worked with, Tim found himself more willing to be friendly with those around him at work. Most of the time he was still the tough training officer that everyone was used to, but you had taught him not to burn all his bridges too soon, and that it was okay to have friends at work.

And with you making the effort to know those he worked with, Tim was sure he fell in love with you all over again.

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