Chapter 18

Three Weeks later

Lucy couldn't believe what she was doing. She knew this would ruin everything if things didn't go as planned. However, the payoff would be everything she had wanted for the last few years. From the time Tim had found her buried alive and breathed life back into her, Lucy knew they had a unique connection. For herself, she knew the connection had grown into something much more. Both had lived in denial for far too long. Angela and Nyla had convinced her of that fact. She had been planning how to let Tim know her true feelings for weeks. She wanted to wait until he made a decent recovery from his gunshot wound.

Punching in the code to Tim's alarm system, Lucy glanced around the kitchen nervously. She placed her finger to her lips, quieting Kojo from barking. The dog was still in his casts but moved around well with them. She was glad the dog understood her gesture. She handed him a new toy to keep him busy while she continued with her plans.

Tim sighed as he allowed his head to rest against the back of the couch. Being off work wasn't easy for him. He knew Lucy was back on patrol. Internal Affairs cleared her quickly. However, she still had to take the mandatory two weeks. Lucy had been coming every evening to cook something for Tim and let Kojo out. Sometimes, she would order pizza and they'd watch football or True Crime. They both agreed to mix it up so both got to enjoy the evening.

He couldn't help but miss her when she wasn't with him. Tim was glad he'd be on desk duty tomorrow. He'd miss her on patrol but at least he could see her sometime during the day. Whitney was also back as Kojo's dog walker. It was funny seeing Kojo riding in the wagon Lucy bought for walking Kojo. The dog was getting spoiled as usual.

Tim thought of all the things that had happened in the last few weeks. He had healed much faster than the doctors expected. He was released from the hospital ten days after the shooting with insistence that he rest and take it easy. Lucy was always on guard the first week to make sure he did that. She went back to work about a week ago. That also meant she was back to her apartment with Tamara. She had been sleeping on his couch only a week earlier. She wouldn't hear of him not sleeping in his own bed.

It was over. Rosalind was back in prison. She would be under deeper scrutiny than ever before. Nolan and Bailey were happily engaged and planned to elope. No more weddings to attend at least this year. Nyla and James welcomed a baby girl into this world. Angela, Wesley and little Jack were the happy family they always were. Sergeant Grey had been promoted to a lieutenant. Captain Romano had made it plain that he was soon to retire. Lieutenant Grey would take over duties similar to a Captain. In a few years, however, it was made perfectly clear that Grey would be fast tracked to captain if he passed all the exams. The McGradys were still in mourning. However, Mr. McGrady did call Tim to say they understood about Ashley's shooting and the apologies of Tim's shooting. It was difficult for both Tim and Mr. McGrady. However, it was a conversation that needed to be had.

Tim smiled slightly at his thoughts because the last one made him happy. Chris Sanford and Lucy Chen broke up for good. Chris was an okay guy but not for Lucy.

He opened one eye slightly when he felt a presence. Lucy stood before him staring down. She was wearing only his Ram's jersey. Tim opened both eyes to make sure he was seeing clearly.

"Do you just let yourself in now?" Tim asked, trying to register why Lucy was standing in front of him and in his Ram's jersey. He figured she came to check on him and found him asleep. However, he was confused of her appearance in the jersey.

"Mmmhmm." Lucy said as she slowly straddled Tim's lap. Her gesture caught him off guard as she seductively slid onto his lap.

"Officer Chen, what are you doing?" Tim swallowed anxiously before glancing at her lips. He licked his lips before darting his eyes to hers. His hands automatically went to her bare hips. He squeezed her soft, voluptuous thigh as he stared at her.

"I'm testing my boundaries." Using her best sultry tone, Lucy whispered as she bit her bottom lip.

"Lucy, you should have learned by now." He could see the nervousness etched on Lucy's face. She actually thought he'd reject her. He moved one hand from her hip.

Entwining his long fingers in her soft tendrils of hair, Tim pulled Lucy's face closer to his own. "With me, you have no boundaries."

Their lips crashed together in a heated kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance, but both were victorious. The exhilaration was more than expected in what both thought would be a simple kiss. There was nothing simple about it. All their wanton desires for one another accumulated in that kiss.

Lucy pulled back as she stared at Tim. Her eyes darkened as did his. Lucy slowly allowed her fingers to clasp onto the bottom of Tim's white t-shirt. She pulled the t-shirt off of Tim's body in a slow torturous manner. Then she scraped her fingers over his chest before allowing her lips to find his again.

Tim picked Lucy up as he stood. Lucy panicked slightly due to Tim's medical condition.

Lucy whispered in Tim's ear. "Be careful, Baby."

"I got you." Tim's voice came out husky as he let her know he was fine. "I've always got you."

His whisper caused her to quiver at the deep sultry sound. Tim inhaled sharply at the feel of Lucy's body in his arms. Again, they allowed their mouths to find one another's.

His strength was obvious as he easily carried her towards his bedroom. Lucy's legs wrapped tightly around Tim's waist. Neither broke the sensual kiss they had begun after their words.

He placed Lucy on the bed as he slowly broke the kiss. Pulling the jersey from Lucy's body, Tim discarded it beside the bed. He took in the visual of her. She was breathtaking. Tim reached down to trace the tattoo on Lucy's side. He stared at her as he did. Tim wasn't surprised Lucy kept the tattoo. After all, it was a testimony of her strength and courage. Now, Lucy looked at the tattoo as the day Tim breathed life back into her.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. Not because the attention was unwanted but because Tim's own eyes showed the pain he had for that moment in time. Lucy took her fingers across the scar on Tim's chest where he was shot by Ashley. Her fingers mimicked the movement of his fingers on her tattoo. They both had scars but as Tim had stated, those scars were testimonies of surviving.

They both wanted the next step taken. There was no going slow from this point on. They had been going slow for too long as it was.

As their bodies became entangled in the sheets, both Tim and Lucy melted deeper into one another. They were getting everything they had longed for yet were unable to get enough of one another. They spent most of the night allowing each other to get know the other's body. Every second of every minute was enjoyed in their new reality. Exhaustion took over after making love, which felt like a connection of souls.

The next morning, Lucy's head rested on Tim's bare abs. This time there was no awkwardness. She playfully ran her fingers over the contours of his stomach. Tim brushed back her hair slowly.

In a deep tone, Tim stated. "Good morning, Sunshine."

Lucy peered up at Tim. She cheerfully answered. "Good morning, Grumpy."

Tim laughed as he grabbed Lucy and pulled her body up his. "I want you to know something."

Lucy nodded for Tim to go on.

"I love you. If it is too soon to say, I'm sorry. But I need you to know. You don't have to answer back…"

Before Tim could go on, Lucy's mouth crashed against his. After a long kiss, Lucy pulled back. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. "I love you too."

Long kisses followed before the obvious questions asked by Lucy. " Where do we go from here? What about work?"

"I don't want us to be a secret but we may have to for a while. I'm going to have Wesley check into some legal issues with us staying together on patrol. " Tim hated stating the facts. It was something they needed to address sooner than later. He didn't want to quit patrolling with Lucy. They were great partners on the job as well as in their private lives. "Ultimately, it is up to the watch commander. The LAPD doesn't have a rule against relationships but they don't want it to interfere with the chain of command situations. However, I'm not sure the specifics on remaining on patrol together."

"You've checked into this." Lucy teased.

She could swear that Tim blushed slightly as he answered. "Maybe. I'm not sure about what constitutes as breaking the rules as far as our relationship since I'm a sergeant."

"That's okay. Some rules are worth breaking if it comes to that." Lucy chuckled as she begrudgingly pulled herself away from Tim. "This is worth fighting for."

"I agree." Tim watched as Lucy got up from the bed.

Before she could get the discarded jersey over her head. Tim had bounced out of bed and grabbed her up in his arms. Lucy squealed as he carried her towards the bathroom. Before she knew it, Tim and she were under the spray of water from a warm shower.

As water careened down their bodies, Lucy slowly ran her hand down Tim's back. "What are you doing, Sergeant Bradford?"

"Testing my boundaries." Tim joked as he pulled Lucy's body tight against his own. "I think we're both going to be late for work."

Epilogue

"Sing to me." Rosalind ordered as she lay her head on her pillow. Her contraband cell phone was pressed to her ear. "I want to hear."

The voice at the other end of the phone obeyed immediately. The broken sound of singing still sounded pleasing to Rosalind's ear.

"Stars shining bright above you

Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"

Birds singing in the sycamore tree

Dream a little dream of me. "

Rosalind hummed along as she listened. The song ended. She sighed contentedly before stating. "Thanks, Chris."

THE END