Chapter 10: Double Trouble
The one where Lucy finds out more about Tim's family
Lucy only had to take a good look a Tim to know something was wrong. And if there were any doubts, the first time he opened his mouth proved it. As soon as Tim had sat down in Row call, jaw clenched and fist tight, Lucy knew. She shared a look with Lopez, who simply shrugged her shoulders.
When she sat down by Tim's side in the shop, in complete silence, she wondered if she had done something wrong. She prepared herself to speak when Tim simply tossed his phone into the console and sighed.
"I'm okay."
"Clearly." Lucy stated looking sideways at Tim as he pulled the car out from his parking place.
Riding with Tim that day felt extremely weird for Lucy. Her T.O. was a man of few words but he had become more and more open with her. Even though Tim had become more talkative, he still avoided talking about his feeling or his problems. That worried Lucy more than anything, because she knew that Tim's tendency to bottle up his feeling, usually turned him into a reckless mess. All throughout their shift, Tim had divided his attention between the calls and his phone. Every time he looked at it, his frown would deepen, and he would text furiously.
When Lucy and Tim made their way to the lockers after the shift, she managed to sneak a peek at his phone and see that Tim has texted several times someone named Brooklyn that had continuously ignored him. Now it made sense why Tim was so upset. Whoever this Brooklyn was, had managed to ignore him for at least 12 hours and Tim didn't like to be ignored. Oh no, he did not.
"See you tomorrow." Lucy stopped by the entrance from her locker room and called out to her T.O., trying to catch is attention.
"Yeah." He nodded taking his eyes slightly of the phone and giving her a small nod before turning and leaving. Whoever this person was, had managed to mess with Tim's head and Lucy felt a little jealous, just a little.
"Hey Lopez." Called Lucy as she saw the older officer packing up her things. "Can I ask you a question?" Lucy asked, now in a lower tone, as she came closer to Angela.
"Sure."
"It's about Tim." Explained Lucy and Angela rolled her eyes in mock surprise. "Have you noticed that he was a little out of it today?"
"You mean, he was full on Godzilla-Bradford?" Lucy nodded. "What's wrong with him?"
"That's what I want to know." Confessed Lucy. "Do you know someone named Brooklyn?" Lucy was watching Angela's face closely, or otherwise she would have missed the officer's eyebrows rising. "You do know, who is she?"
"I can't tell you."
"Clearly, whatever it is, is bothering Tim." Lucy explained, gaining the attention of Angela. "He spent all today, treating his phone like a tissue."
"He'll kill me."
"I'm pretty sure, he wouldn't" Lucy assured her. "Come on, I won't tell him."
"No."
"I was buried alive." Lucy said, pulling her own personal golden ticket.
"You need to stop using that as an argument." Lucy nodded but she could tell she had own Angela over. "Brooklyn is Tim's younger sister."
"Sister?"
"Yeah, she's a senior in high school." Explained Angela.
"I thought he didn't get along with his parents."
"He doesn't but he keeps out an eye for her. They are close" Angela added. "It's probably eating at him not to know from her. You need to get through to him."
"And how do I do that?"
"No idea but you are one of the few people I ever saw get through that thick head of his." Angela patted Lucy's shoulder. "You got out of thar barrel; you can figure something out."
Lucy rested her head against her locker, as she tried to think what she could do to help her T.O., what she did know was that it had to be pretty strong to get him to comply.
Tim woke up the next day, in the same exact mood as yesterday. As he checked his phone, before and after showering and before and after breakfast, and verified there were no response to his texts, his mood worsened. There was something wrong with his sister, but she was a true Bradford, thick headed and nothing he said could get her to talk. Maybe when she is ready, till then Tim will simply continue to worry.
He patted Cujo on the head and grabbed his keys, ready to leave for a new day at work. As he locked his door and turned to head to his car, he was shocked to see Lucy standing there, she wore a full smile and a pair of black sunglasses.
"What are you doing here Boot?" He asked looking around for her car. "You are going to be late, cause I'm not giving you a ride."
"How generous… But I'm not going in today." He raised an eyebrow at her, she hadn't said anything about getting a sick day. "And neither are you."
"Uhm... und why exactly am I not going into work today?"
"well I called in sick with the flu..." Tim rose an eyebrow at Lucy, looking her up and down, she was clearly not sick. "And suggested that you seamed to have catch the same thing, and that you being Mr. Strong-Bradford would never admit it, so administration decided it's best we both stay home."
"What?" Tim asked with a stern look on his face. "You have 5 seconds to explain yourself before I call to get you fired."
"You won't do that." Lucy gulped when Tim simply continued to stare at her. "we are going to talk to your sister."
"My what?" He stepped up closer to Lucy, forcing her to stare up at him. "How do you know about my sister?"
"Look I noticed you were mad and then I saw your phone, so I talked to Angela…."
"Were you spying on me? I swear to god I'll sew Lopez's lips together…"
"Stop. I'm just trying to help." Lucy laid her hand on Tim's chest which forced him to shut up and turn all his attention to her. "You were out of yourself Tim, I thought you were gonna go around getting into fights with gang member and that kind of scares me."
"It's my personal life." He defended but earing her say she was sacred caused a bang in his heart.
"Well you helped me even when I didn't ask." She smiled softly at him. "I'm just trying to return the favour."
"I can handle myself."
"I know but that doesn't mean I won't try to help. After all we are a team." Lucy explained simply, turning her back to Tim and headed towards the passenger side of his truck. "Let's go."
"Go where?" Asked Tim confused, looking at Lucy.
"Corona, we are going to talk to your sister." Explained Lucy like it was obvious.
"No."
"Yes."
"You don't know my sister, she is stubborn."
"I know you; she can't be worst." Tim glared at her. "What? it's true."
"I can go alone."
"Like I'm gonna trust you." Tim looked at Lucy, shocked. "Don't look at me like that. I know you Tim Bradford."
"Chen…."
"The faster you agree with me… the faster this is over." Interrupted Lucy, looking at him with her puppy eyes that made Tim sigh and give up.
"Okay." Lucy jumped gleefully as Tim unlooked the car. "But no touching the radio…"
"Oh come…." Tried Lucy to protest.
"And no talking…" He warned but Lucy simply shrugged happily because there was no way he would enforce that.
"Never pictured you as a small-town boy." Lucy joked with Tim when they turned on the road to the school.
"This isn't small." Defended Tim, of course that compared to LA the city didn't even have a third its population. "So, what's your plan?"
"We'll talk to her." Lucy unbuckled her seatbelt as Tim parked across the road from the Secondary school, lunch break was about to begin.
"Sounds simple enough." Muttered Tim as he excited the car after her.
"How old is your sister?"
"Brook is 18." Lucy nodded; Tim did have the classic big brother look. "I was 24 when she was born."
"That must have been a shock."
"Yeah, I thought it would have happened sooner, but I was expecting it." Admitted Tim as they leaned against his car, waiting for the kids to exit for their lunch break. "My parents had me at 17, so when my mother got pregnant it didn't really surprise me."
"You were already in Afghanistan when she was born." Tim nodded smiling softly at Lucy. "You look very fond of her."
"I may not get along with my father, but Brook is special." Tim explained. "Stubborn and a natural troublemaker but really talented and sweet for a Bradford."
"Must be nice to have such a protective big brother." Lucy said pulling her jacket closer around her.
"I'm the lucky one, when she is not in one of her moods, she does ground me a bit." Admitted looking at Lucy who was shivering slightly. "You should have brought a warmer jacket. "
"I didn't expect it to be in the low fifties."
"I have a spare fleece jacket in my trunk if you want it." Lucy nodded and ran to get the jacket from the back. When she returned, Tim couldn't help but think that she looked incredible in his oversized blue North face fleece jacket.
"Oh, they are out." Lucy said excitably pointing at the school yard, allowing herself to blush when Tim gazed moved from her to the school. "Does she look like you?"
"Not one bit." Admitted Tim scanning the crowd for his sister. "There she is." Lucy turned to look at the girl that Tim was discreetly pointing at. She finally traced the girl he was pointing at, in the middle of a group of 17-18-year-old boys and girls and laughed. She was not at all like Tim. The girl he was pointing at had deep red (dyed) hair and was wearing wide leg culotte, a printed black and white shirt with a big black teddy bear like jacket. "What?"
"Yup, nothing like you." Lucy stepped forward, heading towards the girl but Tim yanked her back, almost into his chest. "Let's go."
"We should wait, I don't want to embarrass her."
"Puff, you don't want to be embarrassed. Old man." Lucy knocked on his shoulder and laughed. "Text her."
Tim grumbled incomprehensibly but still pulled out his phone and texted his sister, who after a few seconds pulled out her phone from her backpack and looked around confused, until she saw the duo. Her eyebrows furrowed and Lucy noticed that besides having the same eyes as Tim she also had the same facial expressions. The girl nodded at her friends and crossed the road up to them.
"Hey." She smiled at Lucy but then turned her gaze towards Tim. "What do you want?"
"Is that the way you talk to your elders?"
"I'm sorry." The girl said but she didn't sound one bit apologetic. "What do you wish, Officer Bradford?" Lucy laughed and the younger girl turned towards her with a soft smile. "I'm Brook."
"I'm Lucy, Tim's rookie. Pleasure to meet you" Lucy said nicely with a soft smile, it felt a little weird seeing someone with Tim's DNA smile so freely.
"You too. I've heard so much about you." Brooklyn said honestly.
"Oh, you have?" Lucy asked crossing her arms and looking up at Tim, who rubbed his neck. "Hopefully all good."
"Well you Know him." Brooklyn joked and turned to look at her brother. "I told you I was fine, no need to check on me."
"That's bullshit." Tim stated and pointed at Lucy. "I was gonna let you sulk in peace, but she is a big advocate for talking about your feelings… You should know, now that you are buddies."
"Don't mind it. He's jealous." The two young women said at the same time, which caused them to laugh and Tim to roll his eyes. "I can't really talk; I have to grab something to eat and then I have Political sciences."
"You still hang out with those stoners?" Tim grabbed his side when Lucy's elbow connected with his stomach. "what look at them!" He defended but Lucy simply rolled her eyes. Yeah, sure Brooklyn's friends did look like they were more on the alternative style but that didn't mean they were stoners.
"Buh Buh, you are just jealous that they may be stoners but still people like us much more than your darling jocks." Brooklyn stated. "Did you know that Tim and his football buddies were always breaking school rules but because they were so dashing and "the school pride", they were always forgiven?"
"Officer Bradford, wasn't a rule fallower? I'm shocked?" Lucy mocked her T.O. who simply rolled his eyes. "Always on his high horse, if only people knew." She teased.
"I'm really good at making flyers and I can always get Miss. Anderson to give me his file…" Brooklyn started planning with Lucy, but Tim quickly interrupted her.
"Real nice girls." Tim said sarcastically. "You" He said pointing to Brooklyn "I can get you grounded for the rest of your life with just one call to mum and you" he said turning towards Lucy "remember your career depends on me." Brooklyn pouted as Lucy simply rolled her eyes.
"He's all bark." She said simply turning towards the younger girl. "Come on let's go grab lunch." The younger girl began to shake her head, but Lucy interrupted her. "Tim told me about Dawson's Dinner and ever since I have been craving his famous Monster burger.
"Beats cafeteria Lunch." Tim simply stated when his sister looked at him.
"and I guess Mr. Atwater can have a heart attack tomorrow." The two adults looked at each other and the teenager simply shrugged. "He's very found of my political views. Can I drive?"
"Hell no, father taught you how to drive." Said Tim in his honest and at the same time brutal manner.
"Well then don't expect me to share my feelings." Brooklyn added with her arms crossed and Lucy simply looked at the two from her side of the car.
"Like wise."
"You two are really the same person." The two brothers shared a smile and Lucy fake trembled. "It's a little scary."
"Oh, he's so cute." Brooklyn gushed as Lucy showed her photos of Cujo on his phone. So far all they had been able to talk was about work, Cujo and the food. He knew his sister the conniving sucker was pulling out all the shows to distract Lucy from what had brought them here and so far, it was working.
"He has his moments." Tim simply stated as he ate a French fry. "He is a bit of a chewer and someone is constantly spoiling him." He looked at Lucy who simply shrugged shily.
"He's cute and you are too anal about his upbringing, the poor boy needs a good aunt." Defended Lucy.
"With him, he needs more like 7." Muttered Brooklyn, breaking the gaze the two where sharing. "So was the burger worth it or not?"
"Yes but I'm happy I wore elasticated pants." Lucy laughed and Tim simply rolled his eyes, she hadn't even been able to finish her burger. "So, Brooklyn how's school?"
"Uhm good." Brooklyn answered playing with her food and Tim sat up straight when he noticed his sister discomfort.
"And what are your favourite classes?" Lucy asked, also noticing the girl discomfort and pushing forward.
"I like history and art a lot."
"Brook is a really good seamstress. She makes a lot of her clothes." Tim explained to Lucy, almost like a proud parent
"Really? That's so cool. I can't even sew a button." Lucy joked and Brooklyn laughed softly. "So you are going to college next school year?"
"That's the plan." Tim leaned forward when his sister didn't add any other information. She was hiding something; he knew that not because he was an expert officer but because he knew his sister.
"And do you know where you are going already?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, got a full scholarship to UW for Political science."
"That's really good, congratulations."
"You don't like political sciences." Tim cut Lucy short and forced his sister to look at him. "What's wrong? When I saw you during Christmas you were all excited because your teacher told you there were excellent odds you get accepted at CalArts."
"I didn't get in."
"You are lying to me." Tim said sternly.
"I should go." Lucy said, starting to stand up but Tim simply pulled her down and forced her to stay there. His hand on her arm, like he needed her there for him.
"No." He simply said, and she nodded.
"I didn't get the full scholarship for the fashion design program."
"So, you can still go to the program." Tim interjected but his sister simply shook his head. "Ever since you were 6 and you saw the Snow White you wanted to make clothes and every book you read you designed the entire outfits for the characters..."
"Dad says I can't go, he won't help me if I go to San Francisco."
"Fuck dad."
"I'm not you Tim." Brooklyn almost shouted, leaning back onto the dinner couch. "I can simply pack all my bags, move cities and simply leave mom behind."
"Mom loves you Brook." Tim grabbed onto her hand, when she tried to lean further away from him. "No listen to me, mom helped me find my way even when I didn't know what to do and since the day you were born, she has asked me to look out for you. If CalArts is what you want, then there's where you are studying."
"I can ask for loans Tim, Mum and Dad are so deep in theirs no one will ever give me credit, especially for an arts program…"
"You don't need the loan." Brooklyn rubbed her forehead and Tim simply squeezed Lucy's arm, like he was drawing her energy. "I have some savings…"
"No that's your money."
"No, I saved that money for you because I always knew dad would fuck up your life like he did mine and no way I was letting that happen." Brooklyn whipped a tear away and Lucy saw Tim in a different Light. A light she had seen once with Enzo: how good Tim was as a father and how lucky his family would be some day. "so, you either you use the money now or when I die, it's in your name anyway…it's your choice."
"I…"
"I know is not any of my business but if Tim says you are good, then you're good and better you are happy doing what you love then moving all the way to Seattle and be miserable."
"I'll give you all the money back." Brooklyn said as she leaned over the table to hug her brother.
"Just get me a good nursing home when I'm home."
"Like I would put people through all the pain and misery old you would cause." Lucy laughed at Brooklyn's ironic joke and Tim simply smiled, getting up to go pay.
"I'm gonna go pay, unless you want to miss your drawing class."
"No, I don't." She smiled at her brother as she left and then turned her (Typical Bradford) smile towards Lucy. "Thanks for getting up together."
"Oh no need." Lucy said embarrassingly. "Figured that if one Bradford was stubborn, two must be even more trouble."
"Good thing we are so far apart in age then." Lucy laughed and took a sip of her banana milkshake. "You two are really good together."
"Yeah, we work well." Lucy said, shy now that the attention was on her
"I didn't mean work wise."
"Oh, we are just friends…well most often we're colleagues and sometimes friends."
"Sure, keep telling herself that." Brooklyn laughed as Lucy blushed. "Well if it's any consolation, I like you a lot more than Isabel."
"Tim loves…loved her."
"And that's why I pretended to like her." Stated Brooklyn like it was obvious and the way she said it made Lucy see Tim seating in front of her. "I guess I always knew she was gonna break his heart."
"He's getting better."
"Well, why wouldn't he? He has you." The younger girl laughed loudly at Lucy's expression and grabbed her drink, stepping out of the cubicle. "I can tell you'll never break his heart, or you wouldn't have risked losing your job to get him here."
"He has helped me a lot." Admitted Lucy.
"And that's how I know he won't break yours also." She stepped outside, running past Tim and squeezing him against the door. He simply laughed and threw her the car keys.
"So, I'm not getting fired tomorrow?" Lucy asked as she squeezed past Tim and they walked side by side to the car.
"If you don't have any more surprises planned …I think you are safe." Tim offered Lucy the smile he saved only for her and the younger officer Knew that what the female version of Tim had said was true: She had given him her hear because she knew he would always take care of it, whether she was his Boot or just Lucy.
Chapter 10 is out guys. Hope you enjoyed it. I know it is a little unlikely that this is Tim's family story, but I always thought he would be a good big brother.
It seems likely that my country will enact mandatory quarantine from tomorrow on, so let's hope everything goes well. Stay home because if we all pull our weight, this will pass! I'll keep posting like normal and if for any reason I can't post for a while, I'll let you guys know and as soon as possible resume posting.
Chapter 11: Cheers to us! It's a valentine special 😉
Stay safe.
-Xo!
