Title: Happily Ever After

author: Cindy Ryan

notes and summary: See part one

Lucy awoke later that morning feeling not rested at all. Despite the sleep she'd gotten during the previous day she'd tossed and turned after their midnight dinner. Now Lucy had less than an hour to get ready before Grey was due to video chat with them.

As she showered and dressed the stresses that had plagued her sleep came back. Lucy and Tim were just about to start their lives together. They had both escaped two dangerous situations that could've been much much worse. Lucy knew Acker wasn't going to make this easy. He saw that his life was 'ruined' because she had arrested him. Because she hadn't let him treat his dog so poorly. Missy was the true hero of that day. She'd led Lucy to the body of Acker's neighbor. Lucy wasn't sure if she would have spotted the blood if the dog hadn't been so insistent about the garage.

A shiver ran through Lucy as she remembered the scene that day. Discovering the woman's body; hearing Acker's feeble protests and explanations. Lucy leaned back against the bathroom wall and stared in the mirror. She was dressed in only jean shorts and a blue t-shirt. Her hair was wet. Her face was pale making the cuts and bruises stark.

Lucy knew what Acker was capable of. She knew Tim did too. Everyone did, plus with the added complication and danger of the copy cats there was no end to this. Not a short one. Tim didn't deserve to have his life interrupted just because he loved her.

"Babe, you ready?"Tim called from the hall. "Grey texted said he'd call soon."

"Just have to dry my hair."Lucy replied back.

"Okay."Tim acknowledged.

Lucy heard his footsteps disappear down the hall. She picked up the hair dryer and turned it on. While drying and combing Lucy came up with a plan that she wanted to talk to Sgt. Grey about. Lucy knew it'd be a fight and no one would be happy with it. However, Lucy knew it was the only solution that would give a quick end to this nightmare with nobody getting hurt. Lucy couldn't bear it if Tim was hurt or injured again trying to protect her. This plan had to work; it just had too.


Forty minutes later Tim and Lucy sat in the living room of the safehouse. The laptop on the coffee table had the secure video call from Grey. Their commanding officer's image took up half the screen. Currently he was frowning and Tim knew he was too. They'd been brainstorming and discussing for ten minutes before Lucy had interjected with an idea. One Tim was sure he hadn't heard correctly.

"I know I didn't hear that right."Tim began as he turned to face his fiancee.

"You did."Lucy replied as she looked from Grey to Tim and back again. "I want to set a trap for Acker; draw him out."

"No, there's too many things that could go to hell."Tim responded fiercely with a shake of his head.

"You know I'm right, Tim."Lucy protested. "Using me as bait is the only way to end this."