AN: I know this wasn't one of the most popular theories to explain that promo, and I'm positive this won't happen, but I still thought it might be fun to play with just a tiny bit... super short and sweet, but hope y'all enjoy!

April Fools

Tim's waiting for her by her car, arms crossed and leaning back against the door, like he has nowhere else to be and not a care in the world. Lucy, of course, knows for a fact that neither of those things are true, but even after 13 months, she finds herself impressed with how easily he pulls it off.

She feels her cheeks heating, knowing she owes him an explanation for their unfinished conversation in the shop earlier. The one that included an unexpected confession - one that was supposed to be a short-lived joke that would have allowed her one final moment of flustering Tim Bradford. God, she did love pulling one over on him, rare as it was. But this was not it. What was supposed to have been an immediate 'gotcha' had become completely derailed when the Amber alert came in.

She is going to throttle Jackson for talking her into believing this would be the perfect last shift prank to rattle Tim Bradford. It had seemed so perfect in theory - one last 'thank you, but also fuck you for torturing me for 13 months' to the TO that had stuck by her and taught her more than she could ever repay, but also got far too much enjoyment out of his never-ending Tim tests.

She had definitely rattled him all right. And she'd be lying if she didn't admit she had definitely felt a bit gleeful at how flustered he'd gotten before the interruption. Leaving Tim Bradford speechless was a feat to be sure. But from there, things went downhill. Even after the chaos over the kidnapping had died down he had just been so… quiet. In itself, a quiet Tim Bradford wasn't exactly strange. But a quiet Tim Bradford after she had confessed her undying love for him? Well, maybe not that dramatic, but close enough. And that, in turn, had rattled Lucy - sure she had expected he would be a bit flustered, but then she had expected he would immediately (albeit awkwardly) find some way to let her down and set her straight. That was supposed to have been the fun part - seeing him attempt to navigate a hugely embarrassing situation. In her mind this had played out with him reading her the riot act. Maybe he would quote the part of her Rook Book that forbade romantic relationships between Rookie and TO, superior and subordinate, without disclosing to the entire population of California and getting approval from every level of the brass from Grey up to.. .well, who knows… probably the Governor. At the very least, she had expected a patronizing explanation on how the care he'd shown toward her as a TO shouldn't be confused for anything more.

But nope… he just left it there. Hanging over them. And then she had struggled, unsettled by his silence and unsure how to come back from the poorly timed failure of a joke without filling their shop with even more awkwardness (as if that was even possible). Why on earth had she thought this would be funny? The power associated with getting one over on Tim Bradford had gone to her head. And now she was paying the price.

And so here they were. And she most definitely owes him an explanation. She forces an uncomfortable smile, realizing that he's not going to offer the opening line. Just pull off the bandaid, she thinks, this has dragged out long enough.

"Look - Tim, about earlier..." Why is he so damn hard to read? Lucy finds herself thinking, swallowing before continuing. "It was dumb - it was supposed to be a little prank, but then I never had a chance to deliver the punch line and now it's not nearly as funny as it seemed like it might be in theory."

Tim is nodding slowly, expression still unreadable. "So, then... you don't have feelings for me?"

Lucy laughs uncomfortably, suddenly realizing she had not expected to be confronted with such a direct question, "Uh no - no. Of course not." She laughs uncomfortably again, "You're my TO. That would be totally inappropriate." As soon as the words are out of her mouth she realizes that they feel and even sound a bit... off. She's not sure if even she believes what has just come out of her mouth.

This is Tim. Tim. Her TO. Her TO! The man who had a fake IED constructed to blow up in her face. But also… the man who pulled her out of a barrel and literally breathed life back into her. The man who made her walk for miles outside of the shop before pitting her against a violent drug dealer as a 'punishment'. But also… the man who was able to help her see her involuntary tattoo as something more than just a reminder of the worst day of her life. The man who drove her crazy with his expert-level emotional detachment. But also… the man who opened up to her in the most unexpected and heartfelt ways that often left her reeling.

The way he's still watching her is disconcerting. He's just looking at her in that Tim Bradford way of his, slightly smirking, almost as if he knows something she doesn't. Like he can see right through her and read the conflicting thoughts flooding her mind. Do I … do I actually have feelings for him? What the hell? What the hell has she gotten herself into?

Finally, he shrugs and pushes off of the car, taking her by complete surprise when he gently brushes a strand of hair back from her face. She's shocked at how the movement, the unexpected contact from him causes her pulse to skyrocket.

"Fair enough. I guess we're done here then." He turns to walk away, before turning to look back at her briefly, "But Lucy, just to be clear," he glances at his watch before glancing back to her, "As of an hour ago, I'm no longer your TO."

Lucy lets out the breath she didn't even realize she's been holding, What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is he saying... no... not a chance right? But as he's walking away, she can't help but wonder what her relationship with Tim will look like now that he's no longer her TO... and maybe she's also wondering just who exactly ended up the fool in this little joke of hers...