Chapter 14: Relic

The one where Lucy is finally forced to get a new car.


Lucy couldn't believe her luck. Perhaps it was Karma because she had considered March her lucky month. Perhaps it was the fact that she had praised her car to much, but the truth was that Janice had never truly failed her. Yes, she had broken down a couple of times, but Lucy had always managed to get her to run again. Apparently not anymore.

"Are you sure there's no fixing?" Lucy askes the man that was looking at her car. "She's broken down a lot before, but it was always something fixable.

"Sorry. Nothing I can do." He admitted removing his oil covered gloves. "I'm not sure they even make the pieces needed. And that would be a fortune, you are better of getting a new car."

"This is a classic."

"you do what you want. But even if they fix it with an old car like this, it is most likely that it will break again soon." The guy explained and Lucy simply sighed, rubbing her head. "If you want, we can toe it and send it for dismantle."

"I don't…" Lucy got interrupted mid-sentence by a familiar voice.

"Lucy." Lucy turned around at Tim's voice and groaned, just what she needed. Tim Bradford master of Irony, always ready to rub salt in the wound. For months he had been telling her to get a new car, constantly reminding her that hers was old and unsafe. She did not need him to make her feel even worst.

"Tim." she greeted.

"What's going on?" Tim asked as he walked over to her. "This thing let you down once again?" He asked rhetorically with a smirk and not in the last months felt Lucy the need to punch him so much.

"Nop."

"Yes sir, like I was telling your girlfriend there's no salvaging her car."

"Oh, he's not my boyfriend." She almost screamed, why did people always assume they were dating? Like NO.

"She should have gotten rid of that monstrosity long ago." He said simply and Lucy looked at him clearly hurt.

"You are an awful person." She pointed at him.

"I'm honest and pointing is rude."

"You like to see me suffer." She corrected

"If I liked to see you suffer, I wouldn't have stopped and would have left you walk all the way to the station." He defended with a smirk, he had to admit she was so fun to annoy that he couldn't avoid it. It was 50% of his comic relief.

"I rather walk than listen to your judgmental bullshit."

"I'll give you my judgmental bullshit on the shop so you better of ridding to work than waling." He smirked, could she ever escape him?

"So, Miss chen do you want me to toe it and send it to a recycling centre?" The mechanic asked.

"Yes…" Tim started to say but Lucy stopped him.

"Can you stop answering for me?" she swatted him on the arm with her insurance papers.

"you need a new car Chen." Tim affirmed. "There's no fixing that thing. And it's better they take it or you having to pay for it to be kept somewhere else."

"I've had it for so long." She whined.

"You women are unbelievable. How can you be so attached to something that is nothing other than junk?"

"Maybe because I'm already deep into College debts and I don't wont another one and neither do I want to have a complete shit of a credit score at 28." Lucy argued, running her hair through her messy hair.

"I feel you." The stopped arguing to look at the guy. "I am also deep into college debt and look at me, ended up working at my dad's shop."

"Grown up life isn't all ups."

"Well mine has had a constant of lows lately." Lucy remembered him but Tim didn't lose his unnerving smile.

"You didn't fail your training…yet." He joked.

"You are really not helping."

"Toe it." Tim said to the guy, he looked at Lucy who gave a sad nod. "Don't look so much like your puppy died Boot. I know someone who can help."

"You know someone who gives out Cars? Don't tell me you are friends with Oprah?"

"I don't appreciate the irony." Tim answered drily. "But one of my colleagues from high school owns a used but well-loved car dealership in Glendale."

"Will you brag about it, if I take you up on that offer!?" Lucy asked as the mechanic handed her a chart board to sign.

"I don't brag." Tim crossed his arms and smirked smugly. "Besides someone needs to supervise your decision-making process or otherwise you'll end up with some girly useless car."

"You're not going with me. No way." Lucy shook her head. "I chose my car on my own terms."

"he's my contact and I haven't told you the name of the dealership" He explained and crossed his arm in his very smug expression, asserting her need for him to tag along.

"You told me it is in Glendale and I have something, very useful in the 21st century called Google that is very useful to find things." She replied ironically.

"You're getting to snappy. Besides you need me to drive you there."

"I can get Jackson to take me."

"Please, he understands less about cars than Brook, you would be better off taking Nolan." Lucy raised her eyebrows and Tim frowned. "Don't even think about."

"You are worst than the tick… you don't let go."

"Before you say anything that can worsen your situation, remember I decide your fate." He remembered.

"You are a pain in my butt." She muttered under her breath.

"You two are really cute. Swear to god you bicker like my parents." The guy laughed and saluted them. "Hope you get a good car. Have a good day"

"You too" Lucy smiled at the guy and contained the urge to rub the redness out of her cheeks. "I don't want to hear another word about this till after shift."

"Ok, ma' lady." Tim smirked as he opened the driver's door of his truck. "I can always text you the cars I think are best."

"I hate you." Lucy muttered exasperatedly but she was only met with Tim's laugh.

"I'm not getting a jeep." Lucy said for the 100th time. If she didn't love her hair so much, she would have pulled it all off by now. She should have brought Nolan.

"It's a good option." Tim defended as he pulled the car into the dealership parking lot. "It is safe, and it can go over anything…"

"I live in the centre of LA." Lucy said, she was starting to go crazy with the car talk. "Why would I need to go over things?"

"In case you decide to do a cross country."

"I'm asking for a new T.O. first thing tomorrow morning." She grumbled.

"If you think I'm bad, I would love to see you paired with Smitty."

"Look what the cat dragged in. Tim Bradford in the flesh." Lucy and Tim turned to look at the dark-skinned tall man who had a bright, typical salesman smile. To white and too fake for her liking.

"What's up man? How's that weak knee?" Tim asked playfully.

"Can still score better than you." He said punching him lightly on the stomach, in a very high school buddies' kind of way. "And who is this fine-looking young lady? Your wife?"

"I'm a friend from Tim's." Lucy answered, extending her hand for a shake.

"Well in that case I'm single." As the guy began to lean down to kiss Lucy's hand. Tim pulled her back with a pull to her leather jacket.

"Mike and that's why you are 3 times divorced." Tim cut him short, but Mike never dropped his smile.

"Can't have everything." They guy laughed and Lucy had the perception that the guy was more trouble than he was worth. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Lucy needs a new car, hers was long overdue for a retirement."

"I have whatever you need." Mike opened his arms pointing around him.

"Let's hope nothing you shouldn't."

"You know I live a legitimate life nowadays." He winked at Lucy and she turned her attention at Tim. She couldn't believe the nerve of the guy.

"I'm sure you do." Tim answered dryly. "But I'm sure you don't any fiscal raid, so we deserve a nice discount."

"Everything for my oldest friend." He walked them over to a perky red headed girl who also offered them her fake white smile. "Danna here will show you all the cars you want." He lent down to whisper something to the saleswoman.

"I can't believe you brought me to a shady place." Lucy said turning towards Tim and slapping him in the arm.

"Jesus Woman." Tim sort of smiled, stepping away from her. "Mike just had a few problems with the finance department."

"A few? How much did he divert?"

"A million." Lucy sighed but Tim smirked. "Don't worry he served half his sentence and helped PD get a lot of bad guys through the contacts he had in jail and he owns me a few favours still."

"You fooled me so much." Lucy smirked.

"What?" He asked completely surprised.

"Here I was, thinking you were a straight up cop. And I'm meeting the "use your perks" Officer Bradford."

"We could go and look for a standard dealership and see how your credit score likes that." Lucy frowned and Tim gave a small victory smirk. "Thought so."

"Are you ready to start?" The red headed woman said and the two nodded, turning their attention to her. "Do you have any ideas about models?"

"I…" Lucy started but Tim quickly interrupted her.

"Yes, we can start by looking at SUV's like Jeep or models like the Mercedes G class." Tim informed the women, ignoring Lucy's glare.

"Alright, I have some good options over there." The woman led them towards the further left side of the lot. Tim followed happily but Lucy simply dragged her feet after them. After nearly an hour of looking at SUV's, Lucy was ready to give up the search. Naturally, Tim loved every model she showed them when Lucy simply rolled her eyes and cut the conversation short when Tim had gotten a proper look at the car. Now as they stood in front of the last available SUV model, Tim and Lucy participated in a stare competition.

"How can you possible not like any model?" Tim asked, completely shocked.

"I don't like them. Period. Besides I don't like big cars. You would know that if you bothered listening to me."

"Please, SUV are considered some of the safest, most practical and reliable cars out there. You apparently just want a death trap."

"I don't want a death trap. I want a Lucy car not a Tim car." Lucy explained, did she need to make a drawing.

"Car's don't have genres." He defended to no vail.

"I swear to god a meteor wouldn't cause a dent in your skull." Lucy puffed and looked away and that's when she saw it. "Is that car for sale?" She asked pointing to her left and the saleswoman turned to look at it and gave a smile.

"Yes, just arrived yesterday. Isn't its s beauty?" Tim groaned and followed the two women down to where the yellow monstrosity was parked. "2018 Volkswagen Beetle, a revamp on a classic."

"It's perfect." Lucy said as she runner her fingers through the immaculate painting.

"It's brand new, the formed user barely used it." The woman smiled, finally it seemed she was making advances on the sale.

"How much is it?" Lucy asked ignoring Tim.

"Because it is used but almost brand new, few miles, never needed any repairs 17 thousand."

"That's a good price." Lucy smiled brightly as she turned to look a Tim who had a frown on his face.

"It's a waste of money." He chastised.

"My money." She defended.

"The banks money." He remembers her, but she simply rolled her eyes. "It's not practical, no back doors, super small luggage, small, repairs are more expansive than normal and has this go awful colour."

"You don't have to look at it."

"Unfortunately, I do." He remembered her. "Besides like you said you are nearing 30 it's not a practical car on the long run."

"Ok. So, what car do you drive?" The saleswoman stepped between the two to prevent them to continue their argument and regain some control over the consultation.

"I drive a 5-seater pick up."

"Oh that's great problem solver." She said happily. "You can have the small city car and your pickup is perfect for when you two have a family and so that you can make longer drives."

"Yes but…" Tim started to say but stopped when he registered what she had said. "Wait, what? We are not together, we just worked together." Lucy nodded as to subscribe to what he was saying.

"Ohh..." The lady said, now more confused then ever. "Then why does he even get a say in it?"

"you're right, I don't need to listen to him." Lucy agreed, smiling at the other woman.

"You should."

"Perhaps but I won't." Lucy answered smugly.

"Dear god. "Tim rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Do you at least have this model in any other colour?"

"No, it's the only one." She admitted sadly.

"Alright but she's getting at least 25 percent off." Tim bargained and even though Lucy didn't need his consent she laughed. She had won an argument with the great Tim Bradford, control freak extraordinaire.

"I can work that." The woman smiled and lead them towards the office area. Tim and Lucy fell into a slower pace and he looked down at his Boot.

"You are gonna regret it Boot." He warned.

"Maybe." She smiled at him, with her very own contagious smile. "But you'll be there to say: I told you so."

"Damn right you are." And right they were because when years later, Lucy's car was no longer sustainable for her family, Tim was there to remind her of this day and take her to the dealership. The only difference that time was that it wasn't just Lucy's car.


Hey guys, here it is Chapter 14, just a fluffy one. It's a little latter than I normally post but today I had classes all day.

Are you like me and simply love making romantic parings like, Lucy and Tim, Brett and Casey (Chicago Fire) and Claire and Melendez (The good doctor)? I live for their slow burn relationship and I think its part of why I love it so much. It feels real to see them fall in love and it shows they are end game (Sorry for the rant). Next chapter on Friday.

-Stay safe, XO.

P.S.: have you guys listened to Melissa's songs? They are really good.