Many thanks to LDT5413 for being a wonderful beta

Title: Partners
author: Cindy Ryan
notes: since we don't know much about Tim's family I invented a bit of background/family for this section.

Forty-eight hours after Lucy was rushed to the CDC center Tim stood next to her bed. It was just before seven in the morning and bright sunlight streamed in through the window. The docs had given Tim the vaccine once they'd gotten to the medical facility. He'd been released the next day. Dr. Morgan had given him regular updates on his rookie. Which Tim had appreciated. However, he'd needed to see Lucy for himself. Today was really the first time he'd seen her since the frantic rush from Langston's house.

No, that wasn't true Tim corrected himself. He'd seen her for a few minutes very late on the day before. She hadn't been awake. Lucy had only woken briefly once since they'd gotten to the CDC. Dr. Morgan had assured Tim that it was a good sign. Her body needed the rest in order to heal. Now Tim could see that was true, Lucy had a lot more color than she'd had the last time he'd seen her. She'd been pale as a ghost when they'd lifted her out of the CDC vehicle on arrival.

"Glad you're still with us, boot."Tim said quietly.

The past two days had been a whirl of debriefs, reports and more reports. Grey had given Tim the rest of the week off but Tim had picked up a shift today. He needed to work; needed to be back out there. Tim had told his C.O that work was the best therapy and he knew Grey understood.

Looking back at his partner Tim knew he had a lot to think about. Everything he'd felt towards Lucy when they were in quarantine was still there. He knew a shrink would probably put a PTSD term to it. However, Tim knew that was only part of it. The intensity of the situation had brought those feelings to the forefront. Now Tim had to decipher what they were and what if anything he wanted to do about them. For now he was just grateful that Lucy was going to make a full recovery.

Tim tugged the blanket up further around Lucy's shoulders. He brushed a stray brown hair away from her right cheek. He allowed himself to linger the caress a few seconds longer than necessary. Then he turned and left.


After his shift Tim needed a beer. He grudgingly admitted at least to himself that Grey might have been right. He should have taken more time off. The lack of sleep combined with the adrenaline withdraw was an ugly combination. Tim had been through it before and knew better. Yet, here he was. Stifling a yawn he pushed through the doors of a beach side bar owned by his cousin, David. David was ten years Tim's senior but despite the age difference the two had always been close.

Scanning the crowd Tim spotted his cousin behind the bar. Dave's blond head and six foot plus frame towering above. In college Dave had played baseball and had hopes for the pros but a knee injury had ended those dreams. He coached a youth softball league on the weekends and Tim helped when he had time. Dave saw Tim and waved and Tim moved through the dinner time crowd to the traditional wood bar.

"Good to see you."Dave greeted with a smile.

"You too, sorry I've been scarce."Tim apologized as he sat down.

"No worries, I remember how the crazy the life of a cop is."Dave responded as he leaned against the bar.

Dave's father, Tim's uncle had been a life long San Diego police officer. He made it to the rank of detective before he was killed in the line of duty five years shy of retirement. Uncle Mark's death had hit the whole family hard.

"No offense, cuz, but you look like you got hit by a truck."Dave said as he poured a mug full of beer and slid it to Tim who nodded gratefully. "What's going on?"

"Got time for dinner?"Tim asked. "I'll fill you in."

Dave got a bartender to cover and put the towel he'd had on his right shoulder down on the shelf behidn the bar and walked out into the main area.

"My office will be the quietest this time of day."Dave suggested. "What do you want to eat?"

Tim told him. As they passed the kitchen Dave poked his head in and placed their orders then they moved on to a small hallway tucked behind the kitchen. The owner's office was the second door down on the right. Dave opened the door and stepped in; Tim followed beer in hand. Once inside Tim sank into the leather visitor's chair while his cousin went behind the desk and sat.

"I saw the news of the bioweapon attack; were you in that arrest?"Dave asked grimly.

"Was part of the search and things went south."Tim responded with a sigh.

"What happened?"Dave asked as he leaned forward.

Tim took a long sip of beer before setting the mug on the desk. He scrubbed a hand over his face then met his cousin's concerned and worried gaze. Tim knew Dave wouldn't feed the family gossip and besides that Tim had to talk to someone. So for the next hour Tim told Dave everything that had happened in the last few days.

Their food had arrived halfway through Tim's telling. He paused until the waiter left. Tim was grateful for the breather it gave him a chance to gather his thoughts before continuing. Dave was sitting stunned shaking his head in amazement at what he'd heard so far.

"That had to have been hell."Dave commented emphatically. "Glad your rookie's going to be okay. You have a picture of her?"

After taking another sip of beer Tim pulled out his phone and scrolled through the pictures. He didn't have many of this year's rookies but he found one he liked and enlarged it. In the picture Lucy was sitting with Nolan and West at the outdoor tables by the food trucks they frequented. It was night and everyone was in civilian clothes. Lucy had her hair down and was wearing jeans and a light calendar blouse. It was a candid shot, none of the rookies knowing he'd taken the picture. Tim handed the phone to Dave. His cousin whistled in appreciation.

"She's a knockout."Dave commented.

"Yeah."Tim agreed. "She's smart and has a good heart too."

Dave did a double take at his cousin as he handed the phone back.

"What?"Tim prompted.

"I've never heard you speak of a trainee like that."Dave pointed out.

"I'm..."Tim began than shook his head in frustration. "I've no idea what to do."

"You've fallen for her."Dave surmised as he ate a french fry.

"When you watch a person get to the brink of death it makes a lot of things clear."Tim pointed out grimly as he pushed his half eaten dinner away. "If West hadn't gotten the antidote there in time we would've lost her."

"Antidote in the nick of time?"Dave asked.

Tim sighed realizing he hadn't gotten to that part yet.

"I'm not telling this well just like how screwed up my head is."Tim said as he stood and began to pace.

"You almost had to bury your partner."Dave said quietly. "Cut yourself some slack."

Tim cringed slightly at the comment, but it was true. He paused and leaned his hands on the back of the chair.

"You know from your old man what partners are like for us. What they're supposed to be like."Tim began.

"Lifeline."Dave replied simply.

Tim nodded then scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"I've never had one like Lucy...before this we were becoming friends."Tim admitted quietly.

"That speaks volumes in itself."Dave stated. "You never told me the whole thing with Isabel, but I know the end was ugly since you pushed everyone away."

Tim looked down at the chair

Dave stood and walked around his desk.

"I don't need to hear the rest to know what you've been through what you both went through is intense."Dave stated quietly. "That's probably an understatement. You said you realized what she meant to you in what you thought were her last hours. Now you just have to figure out if you where you want her in your life."

"Yeah, easy as that."Tim said bitterly. "I don't even know if anything changed for her."

"Well you have your first step then."Dave responded with a smile. "Talk to Lucy."

"Just thought I'd have things figured out before I did that."Tim stated quietly. "She's been through enough I don't want to dump this on her."

"You think you're adding stress but it might be the best medicine."Dave encouraged.

"When did you become a pollyanna?"Tim asked as he pushed back from the chair.

"Do a few shifts as a bartender."Dave replied. "Makes you realize you don't have it as bad as you think."

Tim laughed

"Let's finish eating."Dave suggested. "Talk some more maybe we'll have a few things settled before you talk to your partner."

"Okay."Tim agreed as he sat back down.

When Tim left two hours later his head and heart weren't any clearer on what to do. However, he was grateful for family. Dave had taken time out of his busy day to listen and Tim appreciated that more than his cousin would ever know.