Chapter Text
Some things go to plan. Other things don’t. In recent weeks nothing went as planned, and now Lucy was standing in the middle of the bustling bullpen of Mid Wilshire, wondering how everything had gone so terribly wrong.
Four Weeks Ago…
The plan had been elaborate, surreal, and devastating, but the Feds thought it was the right approach to lure Rosalind Dyer out of hiding. The Detectives at Mid Wilshire had followed up on a lead after Rosalind’s escape, and they uncovered a plot to kidnap Lucy and finish what Caleb had started more than a year ago. All on the heels of a successful Undercover Operation that brought down a drug ring along with Roy Hajek and his associates. Their victory lap was short, Rosalind’s escape casting a long shadow.
Once the LAPD heard about the new plot, Sargent Grey put together several patrols to watch Lucy while the rest of Mid Wilshire and the Feds dug into every lead to find out where Rosalind was hiding, seeking any clue of when she might strike. During all the chaos, Lucy found herself with a houseguest, Tim. Even though things had been awkward between them since the undercover op, he insisted on staying with her and Tamara. Lucy didn’t have much choice once he made up his mind. Things had been awkward between them since they returned. They both seemed frayed, on edge and somewhat uneasy with one another. Being close, then having to pretend to be lovers had taken a toll on their friendship. A friendship they had worked hard to build over the last few years. Both stuck in their heads over things said and done while undercover. For now, they would put it on the shelf. They had Rosalind Dyer to track down.
So back to the plan.
A criminal psychologist with the Feds brought forward a strong case that if a copycat tried to fulfill Rosalind’s goals before she could execute them herself, it would throw her off balance, and she’d make a mistake. A mistake that might make her easier to find. So Grey and several Federal agents brought Lucy in to discuss their plan. The challenge is that there can be no loopholes or chance of revealing the truth. That meant within the next 48 hours, everyone Lucy Chen knew and loved would think that she was captured and later murdered by Rosalind Dyer.
When they first told Lucy of the plan, she was vehemently against it. She protested, she cried, and she broke down over it. She didn’t want to lie to her loved ones or put anyone through the grief of losing her. But the plan was solid, and with no further leads turning up, they had to try. With approximately 48 hours until her fake Day of Death, Lucy set out to keep it a secret and get a few things in order, just in case she was in hiding for a while.
It was a Tuesday. Tamara had a study group. Tim was still camping out on her couch, which meant it would be easy to find time with him. The idea that she couldn’t tell him what would happen devastated her. When she arrived home, she sat in her car, studying the illuminated windows of her apartment, fighting back a burse of tears. She knew deep down this was going to break Tim. But she also knew this would be for the greater good, and hopefully, he could forgive her on the other side.
As she stepped inside the apartment, she met with a delicious aroma wafting from the stove. It felt oddly natural and domestic to come home and find Tim standing in the kitchen, and a wooden spoon lifted to his lips as she entered. She shut down all her reservations about the Rosalind plan and closed the door behind her. “Well, hello,” she said as she walked into the kitchen. “What smells so good?’ Tim dipped the spoon back in the vibrant red sauce and brought it to her mouth, holding his hand under to avoid a spill. “My mother’s marinara. I thought after your administrative day you might want to carb load with me.” She smiled at him sweetly, “It’s delicious. I could get used to this Bradford. Be careful, or it will get out that you make a good housewife.” She snickered as he rolled his eyes at her.
They moved in comfortable silence as she set the counter for dinner, he plated everything, and she poured them glasses of red wine. She slid onto the bar stool beside him, rubbing his shoulder. “Thanks for dinner, Tim.” She found herself thinking briefly if this was one of his love languages. Cooking for those he cares about. It brought a small smile to her face. He caught sight of it before it faded, “What’s the smile about?” Lucy blushed as she fidgeted with her fork between her fingers, “Thinking about how nice this is.”
They ate silently for a few moments. Lucy opted to fill the silence, which is what she often felt the compulsion to do, “So, I’ve noticed since we got back, you, uh, haven’t been out with Ashley. Is everything alright?” He twirled pasta on his fork, and she saw him composing his thoughts. “We broke up.” Lucy was sipping her wine when he responded. She swallowed quickly. “Really? What happened?” Tim shifted uncomfortably on the stool, not meeting Lucy’s gaze. “Before we went undercover, it got awkward after she told me she never wanted to be married or have a family. You know me, Lucy, I’m not compromising on my values, no matter how hot the lifeguard.” Lucy didn’t miss the sad chuckle that rose from his chest. She reached over and put her hand on his leg. “I’m sorry, Tim. I know what it’s like when you know, you know.” She took another bite of dinner and then topped off their wine glasses. Raising her glass, she nodded for him to do the same. “Here is to the next ones being the forever ones.” They both laughed as their glasses chimed together. Tim tapped his glass to hers again after she took a sip, “Here is to great food, great company and even if I won’t admit it outside of this apartment, great conversation.” His smile was sweet, and she had enjoyed seeing it so much more as of late.
The rest of the evening was mundane until it wasn’t. At some point during dinner, Lucy decided she would finish that bottle of wine, and he was going to help her. After a few episodes of reality television, Lucy found herself leaning into Tim on the couch. It felt so natural. When the television went dark, she became lost in her indecision. She knew what the days ahead would be like for him, and in that devastation, all she wanted was right now with him. Untouched by what he might see later as a betrayal. She decided it was now or never.
Turning to face him, liquid courage burning her belly, she pressed her knee into the outside of his thigh. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and spun her moonstone ring on her finger. A nervous blush rose in her cheeks before she parted her lips to speak. “Tim, I’ve…I’ve been meaning to ask you about….” She nervously paused as he raised his eyebrows, listening intently, “You’ve been meaning to ask, what?” She shifted a bit, “well, I,” she pressed her eyes closed tightly, bracing for impact as the words flew past her lips, “It was challenging to figure out the lines between reality and undercover when we were together. It’s messing with my head.” She let out a breath. Tim’s demeanour didn’t change, which surprised her. He looked calm. He looked curious.
He put his hand on her leg. “Our time undercover was, illuminating.” he smiled tightly. “ I was so worried about letting the cover slip. I just had to let myself be in it. I’m sorry if that made things awkward or complicated. I had to believe the lie we were selling.” Lucy leaned her head to the side, “The lie?” Suddenly her eyes were on him, and they were piercing. He moved anxiously, took her fidgeting hand, and started spinning her ring himself. Her heart was racing in her chest at the contact, and she wondered if he could hear it. He bit the inside of his lip, and his leg bounced while composing his thoughts. “Lucy, I had to convince myself that we were madly in love with each other, that we’d had all the experiences we made up. I knew they’d see through me if I didn’t go all in. You…you made it so easy.” Lucy smiled a playful tone in her voice punctuated with a laugh, “What do you mean Bradford, you aren’t madly in love with me? Could have fooled me.” A deep blush climbed Tim’s neck to the tips of his ears. He didn’t laugh and didn’t look away. The seriousness of Tim’s unexpected confession was instantly apparent on his face. Lucy’s laughter caught in her throat,” Oh.” As the realization hit her, she moved to climb into his lap, and he made no effort to stop her.
Their faces were mere inches apart as their eyes studied one another. Lucy traced her finger along his hairline and rested her hand on the back of his neck, mindlessly tracing tiny circles. Tim closed his eyes and took in a deep breath enjoying the contact. Before he could open them, she slammed her lips into his. Her kiss was hungry, frantic and unlike any of the others. His lips were warm, and she wondered if he felt her tremble as she devoured his mouth. She savoured every second of it. As quickly as her desire swelled, it faded as the weight of the days ahead pushed to the front of her mind. She pressed a hand to his cheek as their lips parted. “Mhmm, this is nice too.” A tiny smile crept across her lips. “But now, we need to call it a night. We have another busy day tomorrow.” She stood, reaching for his hand. “Can you be trusted to just cuddle with me tonight, Tim Bradford, or do you need to be sequestered to the couch?”
He immediately sensed a shift in her. She was an open book, and she knew that if she went to bed with him tonight, he’d immediately know something was wrong. Strokes of fear and desperation would mingle through her desire. She needed to get her head in the game. There would be time for endless lovemaking once they captured Rosalind. Tonight, taking it slow and being snuggled next to each other would have to be enough.
“Of course, Lucy. I want you, but I want to do this right more” he leaned in, pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, and then traced a line of small kisses down her neck to her collarbone. She shivered under his touch and gathered all the willpower she had left to stand and put space between them. After a few calming breaths, she cleaned up from their dinner in silence. Once again, they moved silently in sync until it was time to make their way to bed.