Title: Anniversary

author: Cindy Ryan

notes; Not connected to any other fics

LAPD Officer Lucy Chen woke to a man's lips feathering her right side. She started to smile and then realized what Tim's lips were hovering over. The day of death tattoo that she'd never removed. Lucy had taken his advice for the better this time and worn it as a badge of honor. Some days though it was still a shock to her system. Lucy knew why Tim was kissing her there. Today was a year since he'd pulled her from the ground; from her grave. Lucy shivered and Tim as always was atune to her mood.

"You alright, boot?"Tim asked in a voice rough from sleep.

She hadn't been his boot for four months. When the word had turned into a pet name Lucy didn't know but she wouldn't change it for anything. Lucy knew she'd been silent a little too long because the bed shifted as Tim moved up. She felt him brush her hair away from her neck and for some reason Lucy still didn't turn. Caught up as she was in the memory of that day. Unbiddingly the tears came and Lucy cursed herself. She'd had so much therapy that she thought she'd recovered. Thought she was past it.

"Lucy?"Tim inquired softly.

In answer Lucy buried herself against Tim's naked chest. Instantly he folded her against him in an embrace.

"I've got you, it's okay. Don't cry."Tim soothed. "I've got you."

Lucy's tears soaked Tim's skin and she inhaled the familiar scent of him. They'd been romantically involved since the day she graduated to no one's surprise. He and Rachel had been drifting since her father's visit despite their efforts to make it work. Two months prior to Lucy's graduation they'd broken up. Rachel had still been at the ceremony and Lucy had been grateful even if their friendship wasn't quite what it used to be.

"Babe,"Tim prompted gently. "Talk to me."

With an effort Lucy pulled herself together and pushed herself away slightly from Tim. She reached up and ran her right hand lightly along the new stubble on his face. Tim caught her hand in his and squeezed it lightly.

"I'm sorry, thought I was past it."Lucy apologized. "Then I'll get hit with a memory and I'm right back there."

"It's the anniversary."Tim theorized gently. "Bound to bring it back."

Lucy sighed and collapsed back against his chest as his arms went around her once more.

"Thought I was stronger."Lucy whispered.

"You're the strongest person I know, babe."Tim stated firmly."I'm grateful every day that you held on until we got there even then it was damn close."

Lucy shivered again nestling closer. She'd watched Tim's body cam from that day. Lucy had seen him do CPR on her. Had heard the dead quiet of her friends and colleagues as Tim had worked to save her.

"I love you."Lucy said softly

"I love you too."Tim responded huskily.

Tim pulled back and tilted her head back with his right hand. His lips captured hers in a kiss with such passion that they didn't leave the bed for another hour. Fortunately they were both working second shift that day.

Tim had taken a Sargent's position at a station near Malibu. Lucy was still at Mid-Wilshire riding with her former roommate Jackson West. She and Tim had moved into a townhouse three months before. Today Jackson had given her a relieved look when she'd got to roll call with a minute to spare.

"Traffic."Lucy muttered as she slid into her seat.

"Uh huh."Jackson replied with a knowing grin.

Lucy elbowed her friend and they focused on Grey's briefing. Then it was out to the shop and on patrol. Lucy was grateful that Jackson hadn't mentioned what day it was. Though she did catch him throwing her a concerned look every now and again. Thankfully the morning was full of calls that kept them busy. Nothing too stressful, but enough to keep them occupied. At lunch Lucy received a call from Tim. She stepped away from the table at the food trucks to talk. Needing to see Tim she switched their call to Facetime. He was in his office. Lucy had known Tim wasn't happy being behind a desk fifty percent of the time but she knew he was happy with the promotion.

"Calls have been steady."Lucy continued. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Good."Tim said with a smile. "Let me know when you get close to taking a dinner break and I'll meet you."

"Will do; looking forward to it."Lucy replied with a smile.

"Me too."Tim said returning her smile. "I've been buried in paperwork all morning."

"Keeps you out of trouble."Lucy teased.

Tim laughed. Lucy saw Jackson stand and respond to his radio. He waved to her in a beckoning motion.

"We just got a call; have to go."Lucy said in farewell. "Love you."

"Love you too, stay safe."Tim replied as he ended the call.

Around three Lucy responded to Dispatch that they'd assist. Harper and her rookie were in a foot pursuit of two car thieves. They'd both bailed from the stolen car and of course had taken off in opposite directions. They got within two blocks of where Harper's last call had been. Lucy spotted a man matching one of the descriptions booking it towards a dilapidated warehouse.

"There!"Lucy shouted as she pointed.

Jackson maneuvered the shop up over curbs and closer to intercepting the car thief. The man scaled a chain link fence and dropped to the other side.

"Let me out and circle around."Lucy suggested.

Jackson slowed to a stop just long enough for Lucy to exit the SUV. She heard the sound of tires on gravel as her partner accelerated. Lucy reached the fence and heaved herself up and over glad now for the morning runs she and Tim had started every day. When Lucy ducked into the small space where the door used to be it took her eyes a moment to adjust. Once she did she saw the thief at the middle point having been slowed by debris.

"LAPD!"Lucy shouted as she scrambled forward. "Stop!"

"Not going back to jail!"The thief shouted as he ran up and over a pile of wood and dirt.

Lucy had just reached the area ahead of that mound. Her right foot hit soft dirt and she felt the all too familiar sound of an earthquake. Lucy's police radio crackled to life. She heard Harper and Jackson's voices but she couldn't make out the words. It was a strong quake. The dirt shifted under her foot and Lucy fell. Just as she started to stand the building fell in on itself. Lucy heard the car thief ahead of her yell and then she was falling. The dirt mound collapsing inward as wood and roof shingles fell in a horrifically loud noise.