Chapter 13: Make a wish

The one where Tim turns 42.


Tim never gave much importance to his birthday, it simply meant that he was a year older and that another one had passed. When he was younger, his parents didn't have the money to throw him a birthday party like the other kids, there were no inflatables, no candy machines or people dressed like pirates. Just a small chocolate cake and a single gift. He never minded that and even when he earned his own money and had people to call friends, he didn't see the point of throwing a party or worst to sing that freaking annoying happy birthday music.

This year, Tim had everything figure out. He would work his 8 hours and then stop by the convenience store and buy a pack of beers that he would sip readily in his porch with Cujo to keep him company. At least that had been the plan he had until row call was finished, but he hadn't anticipated Lucy Chen and her brilliant brain. As soon as Tim saw her face and the radiant smile she had plastered on, he knew she knew it was his birthday.

"Don't you even dare." He growled as he reached her, before she could even utter a word. He had managed to keep his birthday a secret for the 12 years he has worked in the precinct and he intended to keep it like that.

"Happy birthday Mr. Grumpy." Lucy said still with her beaming smile, she rose her arms as to give him a hug but decided against it and settled for an awkward pat on the arm.

"How the hell do you know that?"

"I checked your file when you began training me. You taught me to prepare ahead." Lucy answered with a smirk and Tim regretted, for a couple of seconds, being such a good T.O. "What are the big plans?"

"Nothing." Lucy began to protest but Tim cut her short. "I swear to god Chen if you as much as utter a word about this to West or God forbid Nolan I swear to god, you'll never see the inside of a patrol car again."

"How can you hate your birthday? Birthdays are great everyone pampers you; you can drink all you want, and no one gets to judge you." Lucy said as she picked up their war bags, but Tim never dropped his hardened facial expression. "Come on I rated my day a 10 because of this I even though I would get a chance to drive and all."

"Not a chance and you should know better than to expect a normal reaction from me." Reprehended Tim.

"At least I can pay for Lunch. Right?"

"Why would it be any other way around?" Tim asked like it was obvious.

"Because you haven't paid for like 3 weeks and your paycheque is bigger than mine."

"You are clearly forgetting who the authority figure is here." Tim said as he sat down on the drivers' side and Lucy simply shrugged her shoulders.

Lucy put the fat naked guy into holding cell 1 and tossed him a towel so that he could cover himself.

"This is just what I get?"

"Yes, maybe you should have considering that before you fired your illegal gun on a residential area." Lucy said with a look of disgust as she started closing the door. "And naked to make it worst." She closed the door and went to the filling counter that Tim was leaning against. "Can't believe you made me chance Mr. sweaty balls over there."

"Consider it my birthday gift." Tim smirked and turned his phone so that he could se the camera footage of when she tackled the guy. "I'm gonna ask for a tape of this moment."

"I'm glad my misery amuses you." She laughed humourlessly.

"It could have been worst."

"Could it officer Bradford?" Lucy asked rhetorically and Tim just laughed.

"He could be wearing a dipper or have shown more excitement."

"You disgust me."

"What it's possible" He smirked as his phone started to ring. He removed it from his back pocket and picked up without looking at the caller I.D. "Bradford."

"Happy birthday big brother." His younger sister screamed cheerfully on the phone.

"Thank you, Brook."

"How's the big day going?" Brooklyn asked with a laugh and before Tim could answer she interrupted him, like it was so typically hers. "Feeling the years yet?"

"Very funny and I'm working but I got my moment of entertainment." He said and Lucy simply looked up at him and rolled her eyes. "Where are you?" He asked suspiciously when he heard the loud chatting sounds and the fluent traffic that was not common around her high school where she should be.

"I'm at lunch."

"It's 11.45 A.m." He reprehended her; she was seriously forming a habit of lying.

"Please don't tell mom but we skipped classes to plan the senior's prank."

"Tsk tsk. What are you doing?"

"No idea, I just came because of the free food." Brooklyn admitted and Tim laughed, Typical.

"Take your hands off, Boot." Tim ordered Lucy as she pushed his phone away from his ear and stepped closer to him.

"Hey Brook." Lucy said cheerfully.

"Hey Luce. How's mister grumpy?"

"Age is a bitch." Tim slapped her softly in the arm and mouthed language which simply caused Lucy to laugh. "We need to book that shopping trip."

"Yes please. Easter break is next month, I could spend a few days with Tim."

"No, don't get me involved" He answered to the phone.

"Shush." The two girls said at the same time. "Well I got to go: My food just arrived."

"You two are buddies now!?" He muttered under his breathe.

"Oh, don't be jealous." She patted him softly on the face like he was a little puppy. "You are my favourite senior Bradford family member."

"I'm not a senior."

"Really? Cause I have started to see a little bit of accumulated fat." She said and Tim looked down at his abdomen. "You should consider cutting down on the donuts."

"I'm not fat." He defended offendedly.

"Of course, not sweety." Lucy said almost in pity, but Tim could see the mirth in her eyes. "Cale salad for lunch?"

"After this, I'm feeling up for that really nice pizza on 7th." Lucy laughed but followed him anyways. She knew what Pizzeria he was talking about, Armstrong had taken them there after he returned as a thank you and the bill at the end of dinner had made the two partners eyes widen but Tim was worth it even if she planned to complain all the way there. It was kinda of their thing and they were both suckers for traditions.

Tim was ready to head home and drink a cold beer and simply relax, he had had a good day. Lucy was getting even better, and she handle misdemeanours practically on her own. As he headed towards the back excite of the station, he ran into a frustrated and exasperated Lucy.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked wordily.

"One of my pipes broke and my downstairs neighbour says that water has infiltrated down to her apartment." Lucy said worriedly looking down at her phone. "Where am I gonna get a plumber at 7 p.m. on a Sunday? I so screwed."

"Can't West help you?" Tim asked. Certainty Boy-scout-West could lend an helping hand. "He must be good for something else than helping with rent."

"Not helping." Lucy started with an eye roll. "Besides Jackson is out with Sterling. He's only in LA for today and I would hate to ruin their date."

"I guess I could give you a helping hand." Lucy looked up at him surprised and he rolled his eyes. "What? I can be nice, and I keep my toolbox on my car."

"I would hate to ruin your birthday."

"I can fix the pipe really quick and go back to my plans." He shrugged, putting his hands on his pockets. "You'll have to talk to your insurance company tom…"

"Thank you so much." She rushed forward and gave him a quick, tight hug and flashed him such a bright smile that if he had any doubt about helping, they were dissolved. "Let's go. The quicker we go, the quicker you get back to your beer."

"OK." He says pointing for her to lead the way and only then did he notice what she was wearing. Lucy had a flowy of the shoulder ruffled red dress and low healed beige sandals. "Were you going somewhere?"

"Yes." She added with a sad soft smile. "Dinner date with some friends from collage but I already called to reschedule."

"I can look at your house and look up after I'm done…"

"Oh nonsense." Lucy waved him off. "I appreciate it, but I want to talk to my neighbours and make sure that there aren't a lot of damage." Tim nodded and headed to his car. "You got my address."

"Yeah, I'll meet you there." Tim nodded at her. The ride to Lucy's apartment took 15 minutes and Tim fought the urge to overtake Lucy and her rusty car, riding in a complete state of frustration all the way behind her. That car was in serious need of retiring. He parked in front of her building, noticing that there were barely any cars on the street.

"God, I don't even want to see the state of the apartment." Lucy sighed as she started opening the door to the apartment. "I keep imagining it a little like a scene from Titanic where all the furniture is floating."

"All your pipes would have had to burst for that to happen Boot." Tim tried to tranquilize him, but he couldn't avoid a small grin. He was so distracted; he didn't even pay attention to the sight in front of him when Lucy turned on her lights.

"Surprise." Tim almost jumped and his first instinct was to reach for his off-duty gun, but he relaxed when he heard Lucy's laugh and he registered the people in front of him. In Lucy apartment stood Angela and Wesley, Nolan and Grace, Armstrong, Sterling and West and Nyla and Brooklyn. He looked gobsmacked at Lucy that simply offered him her cheeky smile. That sneaky…

"There is no water leakage is there?"

"Nop. I'm getting good at this sneaky business, aren't I?" She gave him a push inside the house, and he allowed everyone else to congratulate him.

"To good." He muttered as he accepted Angela's hug and a handshake form Wesley. "Were you all in on this?"

"Well of course dear brother." Brooklyn stepped forward and Tim never thought anyone could look soo out of place in a room full of cops, well except for sterling. "We couldn't allow you to continue to ignore your birthday. Only god knows how many more you have left."

"Ahh, funny." He gave her a strong hug and eve though he wouldn't admit it to her, he did appreciate her presence. It was good to have family around. "We need to cut these lying shenanigans."

"Oh, but I thought if they were for a good cause, there was no wrongdoing."

"I'm never teaching you anything again." He said pulling her away and as he looked around, he noticed the big dinning table on Lucy's living room. "When did you plan this?"

"Last Wednesday when you had your meeting with Grey." Explained Angela. "It was a group effort. Nolan and Armstrong handled the table, Nyla and Jackson the drinks, I made the food and Brooklyn organized the present. We all figure Lucy could present the bigger distraction."

"Yup, I was chosen as bait." Admitted Lucy with a certain level of proudness.

"This is really all too much…"

"Cut the crap Bradford and let's eat cause I'm starving." Nyla interrupted as she crossed her arms and distracted everyone's attention from his face, that he was certain wasn't as blank as he wished.

"The present first come on." Armstrong said. "Don't leave the guy waiting." Brooklyn stepped forward and handed him a small silver box.

"There was really not necessary…"

"I can always keep it if you don't want it." Nolan shut up when Clare elbowed him in the ribs making the older man bend over and the group laugh. Tim opened the box carefully and smiled when he saw the NBA season tickets.

"This is… thank you." He stopped himself before he could say to much again and simply offered them his best, I'm grateful expression.

"Let's eat then." Nyla said clapping her hands together, she really was hungry.

"We should take a picture." Suggested Lucy as she was met with nods of approval from almost everyone.

"No, I don't think…" Tim started to say but Lucy and Brooklyn threw him a glare and he stopped talking.

"I'll take the picture." Sterling offered and pushed the remainder of the group together.

"You can appear Sterling." Lucy said sweetly at the super star.

"Oh no, you guys are family. This should be your moment." Tim had a newfound respect for the guy as he said that. They really were family; they had managed to make their way into his heart no matter how many times he had pushed them away. Tim settled in the middle of the group with Brooklyn on one side and Lucy on the other. The younger officer looked up at him and smiled cheekily.

"In how much trouble am I?" She asked playfully, they looked at sterling's phone as he snapped the picture.

"Well you would be in a lot more trouble if you had made the food Boot. So, I think I can forgive you." Lucy laughed while sterling gave the approval of the picture and Tim looked away before their eyes could meet or he was sure she would know his feelings and intentions straight away.

"Let's eat everyone." Angela ordered pointing towards the table and at the dishes of Lasagne she had made.

Now, after dinner, as Tim sat on Lucy's fire escape sipping on his beer and looking at Wesley and Angela trying to guess whatever charade Nolan was trying to perform, he was thankful he had allowed this people to infiltrate his blood stream. He hadn't realized how much he needed a family since he had lost Isabel to addiction.

"Hey partner, we are going to lose if you don't come back inside." Lucy said as she crossed the window and sat on the fire escape facing him. "Your sister is terrible at it."

"I know but I always felt really sorry for her, so I let her win." He admitted.

"Don't think that will be a problem. Everyone seems pretty taken with her." Tim nodded; she did have a way to wrap everyone around his finger. "I think it's the Bradford way."

"The Bradford way?"

"Yes, you know the deep blue eyes that give you the mental twist of the hand." Lucy laughed as she drank more Rosé. She was a little tipsy. "she forces them with doe eyes and you with fear."

"Big bad Tim Bradford." He teased ironically.

"Well I fear to tell you, but we see past the act." Tim laughed and nodded, falling into comfortable silence.

"Thanks." He thanked her softly, turning his gaze towards her.

"For what? Doing my job as a friend?" She teased him. "Oh I almost forgot, I got this for you." Lucy admitted, handing him a oddly shaped gift, wrapped poorly in Christmas wrapping paper.

"You guys already gave me a gift."

"This one is from me." She admitted shyly. "I saw it and thought of you."

Tim unwrapped the hard present and was shocked to see a Helix shaped paperweight. He looked at her confused as he held the weird shaped object. "the helix is the sign of resilience, growth and evolution and I thought every Sargent needs something to put on his table, besides you need to remember your favourite rookie wherever you go."

"Oh, you're my favourite Rookie now?" He asked smugly.

"I think that's a safe bet." Lucy laughed, knocking his shoulder with hers and Tim smiled as he felt the soft aroma of Jasmine, he associated with her and with home, that was basically what Lucy meant for him.

"When I get my desk, I be sure to put it there. Perhaps with the picture we took tonight but don't tell Nolan or West or they'll think themselves to special." He added quickly so she wouldn't notice the emotion behind his words.

"You are a big softie Tim Bradford." Lucy laughed softly, planting a soft and brief kiss on his cheek. Hadn't he been outside and the cold air not hitting his face, he would have blushed. "Come on, we can't let those fools beat us at charades."

"I'm a master of charades."

"I think I won this time." She winked at him as she left him in the fire escape. Brooklyn wasn't the only person Tim would always let win. He was sure that as long as Lucy looked at him with those hopeful caramel coloured eyes he would never be able to say no, especially now that he had a little sneak peak at what her lips felt like.


Chapter 13 guys. What do you think? I must admit that your comments have made me a very happy gal.

Chapter 14 will be out on Wednesday but I'm not sure what he will be about. I know that this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I liked yesterdays episode. Yeah, we didn't get a lot of Chenford but Angela's and Grey's scenes were really strong and I even liked Rachel's story line, even if I found it unnecessary 😉

I'm on day 8 of quarantine and already a little nuts but we got to do what we got to do.

-Stay safe, XO.