Lucy startled awake, a nightmare quickly faded to the corners of her mind.
Why was it so dark in the room? Had she only been asleep a few minutes?

Ugh, she thought, that wasn't enough sleep. She had moved at some point, because she was no longer using Tim as a pillow. She did feel his strong arm wrapped around her waist and felt the weight of him at her back. He stirred for just a second when she woke, pulling her tighter to him. It was like a magnetic response, she thought, for both of them, and smiled to herself, snuggling back down against him, but her eyes would not close again. Too many thoughts running through her head to sleep now. She lifted her head just a little and tapped her phone to see the time. 8? How could it already be 8 and not sunny? That's when she heard it. Rain. It hardly ever rains in L.A. The tinkling sound as the drops hit the roof, the windows, the metal decking, it was hypnotic, and should have put her right back to sleep...Any other time, maybe. Well if she was up, might as well make coffee.

Lucy carefully lifted Tim's arm and scooted off the side of the bed. This was the first time she'd been up before Tim. She turned around and stood there, watching him sleep for a few seconds. They seemed to be able to feel the other person's gaze, so she didn't watch too long. God, he really was something, she thought to herself gazing at his arms, his shoulders, his strong jaw, relaxed now, still in a pretty deep sleep. If Tim hadn't seen that open door, Lucy was positive he was going to allow them to finish what they'd started that time. She wasn't imagining it, he was saying yes last night, without saying the word. Just like she was. If it were just sex, she was pretty sure they'd have let it go too far already. They could've gotten it out of their system and moved on. The emotional link they had is what was holding them both back. As if they knew once they allowed this thing to start, neither of them would be able to control it.

Lucy started the coffee, poured a cup and walked over to the sliding glass door, opening it a crack so she could smell the rain, and feel the cool humidity in the normally dry warm LA air. She'd realized she had probably been in love with Tim long before she'd ever admitted it to herself. She'd caught herself feeling jealous pangs when she saw him with Rachel, though she refused to acknowledge it at the time. She'd been the one responsible for bringing them together, and she was happy for them...but was she? Really? Deep down had she known the thing with Rachel wouldn't last? Rachel's goal of moving to New York had been something she'd talked about for years. Did Lucy set Tim up with her knowing it wasn't something that would last? Did she do the same for Rachel too? Rachel was his first relationship after his divorce from Isabel. That wasn't likely to last either. Subconsciously maybe she'd known she had feelings even back then and had chosen someone she knew would be temporary, for both of them.

Standing in the doorway she brought her hand up to her cheek, feeling them flush as her lips curled into a smile and she allowed herself to recall, in detail, the walk from the party, that first kiss that had quickly exploded into passion that nearly overtook them...until they saw that open door. She silently made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let Tim back away from this. When this assignment was over, she wouldn't allow him to list all the reasons they shouldn't be together. Rules were important, but some things mattered more.

Last night though, something changed again. After the break in she knew things would have to cool. They'd been living in their own bubble the past few days, and someone had broken it. This was more serious than they'd initially thought and they needed to let work have their full concentration. She had to admit though, she'd be thinking about how close they'd come on the beach for a long time.

Walking to the kitchen, she refilled her coffee She glanced over at the stairs that lead up to the master, goosebumps covering her arms. That wasn't a normal break in. Lucy couldn't put her finger on it, but it just felt like a violation, and it didn't feel finished. Her instincts were usually right on the mark, and she was trusting them this time. She could tell Tim knew it too. Agent Ford had done a sweep last night to make sure no one has planted any bugs, but Lucy couldn't shake the feeling of someone watching her.

For now, at least it seemed they were safe. They'd talk to Caruso today and start a plan to get to the bottom of what they'd stepped into. A few minutes later, she was curled up in the lounge chair, sipping her coffee, overlooking the deck. The rain was coming down hard, and she noticed a few drops on the floor inside, but she made no move to close the door. She was trying to use her senses to create a feeling of calm. The earthy smell of the rain, the sound of the waves constantly breaking, and the oceans surface disturbed by all the rain drops. No one walked on the beach, and no one was even out surfing this early.

Tim slowly woke, not opening his eyes. The smell of coffee and sound of rain drifting into the guest room. He reached over, and didn't feel Lucy in the bed. For a split second, panic set in, and he sat up fast, "Chen"! he called to her, barely awake but frozen in fear.

"Here! I'm here"! she called, knowing he must still be half asleep to call her Chen. She rose from the chair, quickly crossing the room and appeared at the threshold to show him she was okay.

Tim saw her, and the tense wrinkled forehead relaxed a bit as he brought his hands up, running them over his face then back through his short cropped hair, bringing them back under his chin. The reality of the morning was setting in. They'd been living a dream for the past few days, and he needed to gain control of those feelings he had been about to confess before they were interrupted.

"I couldn't sleep anymore" she admitted, sitting down on the bed next to him. "I made coffee though, want some"? When she sat, she deliberately sat close enough to him that most of her arm touched his. Touching any part of her to part of him was exhilarating. Her heart sped up just being close to him. Tim leaned back into her, acknowledging he appreciated it too.

"I got it, sorry, just after last night, and you weren't there"...he trailed off.

Lucy gently pushed him with her body to let him know she was right there.

"Come on, I'll get you some coffee". She stood, but before she could start towards the kitchen, he reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. He was looking at the floor at first, afraid he'd be lost in her eyes once he looked up. Finally he gained the courage and met her gaze.

Lucy smiled down at him and they just looked at each other for a minute. So much said, without either one of them speaking a word. She nodded, squeezing his hand back in understanding.

Lucy knew things had changed from an assignment babysitting a house, one they could do in their sleep, to something more sinister. If Caruso had reached out to the FBI, this wasn't as simple as they'd initially thought. She knew what he would be thinking this morning before he even woke. That's why she'd talked herself into being on the same page. She knew him so well.

Just when Tim thought Lucy couldn't possibly impress him any more than she already had, she did. He had admitted to himself last night that he was absolutely in love with his rookie. He was about to risk both their careers by giving in to this last night. He would have talked to Grey about resigning as her TO, of course, but that was something that would have probably cost him the Sergeant position. Now though, they needed a hundred percent focus on the assignment. At some point they'd have to verbalize all of this, but for right now, it would be back on hold. He'd have to find a way to push back down all those feelings he had finally allowed to break through over the past few days. When this was all over, if she'd be willing to risk it, he would be too.

Lucy broke the spell by pulling him up.

"Come on, lets get coffee. Looks like a run is out today". Feigning disappointment, she grinned at spoiling his training regime. She felt like they needed a little light after all the heavy.

Tim chuckled and followed her out to the kitchen. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand. He started a text to Caruso asking about a meeting today.

An hour later it had been decided that Tim and Lucy would head to Wesley's mothers house out in Los Feliz. They could all meet there without any suspicion. Wesley's mother's home fit in with the same lifestyle as Tim and Lucy's covers. Just a trip to a multi million dollar estate in the Hollywood Hills, it was the perfect place for them to meet Caruso, they could also have Wesley and Lopez bring Kojo. Tim thought it was a good idea to have him there as another form of alarm. He was a smart dog, and if his behavior with Lucy was any indication, he would likely be protective of her too. Even though he was a sweet passive dog, dogs were very loyal, and in Tim's experience would protect the ones they loved. Tim didn't mind having that extra help. He also wanted to bounce all this off Lopez. She already had a detective's brain. He wanted her to look at everything and give them her take. She was not only a good cop, but a good friend. Despite Tim giving her every reason not to be. He knew he could be difficult, but she was even more stubborn than he was. Aside from Lucy, she had been someone he could rely on. She was his first thought when Lucy was taken. He wanted her to help him find her, and confirm his worst fear, that this had all been his fault. Of course Angela refused to agree with him on that topic. That stubbornness again. She'd calmed him down enough though, at least he could think straight so he could get past it and find Lucy. Which is just what he did.

Once it was decided, they cleaned up the breakfast mess they'd made, and in true Lucy fashion, she bravely went upstairs to the bedroom to get ready. She wasn't about to let someone intimidate her into staying out of there. As Tim watched her march determinedly up the stairs, he allowed his heart a brief moment of admiration. This wasn't going to be easy. She was by far the most impressive woman he'd known on the job, or in his personal life.

Tim made a promise to himself that he wasn't going to let her go once this was all over. Rules were important, but some things were more important. With a clearer mind he knew it needed to be after her training was over. In light of the feelings they'd both admitted to though, he needed to talk to Grey. Find out what was best for Lucy, him continuing her training, or finding someone to replace him. He didn't want anything to interfere with the bright career Lucy had ahead of her at the LAPD. He knew she'd end up going much farther and faster than he did. Not that he couldn't have, but he truly enjoyed his job and felt he was making a difference by training rookies the right way.

In the meantime he wasn't about to let anything happen to her either. He'd do whatever he had to to keep her safe.