Title: Falling Apart

author: Cindy Ryan

notes and summary: See part one

It was mid-day when Lucy woke. Her eyes were dry and gritty from crying. Her body ached from the kidnapping and from being on the floor. She burrowed deep under the covers as memories returned. Lucy was more than a little embarrassed that she'd let the nightmare break her. That she'd lost emotional control in front of Tim of all people.

He hadn't judged her. Lucy had felt nothing but support and friendship from her T.O. That had surprised her. Then again since the quarantine the relationship she'd had with Tim had grown. He still gave her crap on the job but it wasn't as harsh as it had been at the start. With Lucy being close to the end of her training they were almost equals and he was starting to treat her as more of a partner.

'You're safe, boot.'

Lucy wondered when the word boot had evolved for them. She hadn't been that out of it last night to hear the tenderness Tim had put in that word. The term was supposed to remind rookies where they ranked. Now with her and Tim it'd almost become a nick name of sorts. Tim holding her and telling her she was safe had been the combination she'd needed to calm down enough to get some rest.

Knowing the only way to recover from the kidnapping was to get on with her life. That meant getting out of bed. With a sigh Lucy pushed aside the covers, got up grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom. Reaching the living room Lucy stopped in surprise seeing Tim sitting on the sofa watching tv. He turned at her approach. She had not expected him to still be here.

"How are you feeling?"Tim asked as he stood walking to her.

"Better."Lucy replied feeling a slight blush color her cheeks. "Thank you for staying with me."

Tim nodded as he shuffled his feet not quite looking at her.

"Jackson home?"Lucy inquired.

"Left early for work. Grey wanted his report."Tim explained quietly.

On my kidnapping. The enormity of the situation hit her full force once again. Lucy wrapped her arms around her torso hugging her clothes to her chest. She leaned back against the wall by her room.

"I still can't believe I was so wrong about Caleb."Lucy began softly.

"He fooled a lot of people, Lucy."Tim soothed as he stepped closer. "Including me."

Lucy blinked at the sudden anger in his voice.

"Tim, I..."Lucy began.

Tim ran a hand through his hair and Lucy saw the other hand clench into a fist.

"Angela told me there was no way I could have known."Tim continued bitterly. "Damn it, I should have seen through him. All these years patrolling the streets and my instincts failed me."

Lucy hated seeing the pain etched on Tim's face. The anger and anguish in his eyes. The guilt pouring off him in waves. She set down her change of clothes and moved towards her partner.

"Every minute you were missing I hated myself."Tim stated hoarsely meeting Lucy's gaze. "I questioned my future as a cop. If I didn't see Caleb coming, if I didn't protect my partner what good am I to this city?"

Lucy felt a lump of tears in her throat. Her heart ached for him. Lucy reached out to Tim with her right hand but he stepped back his gaze haunted.

"I'm sorry, Lucy. More than you'll ever know."Tim apologized."If-If you want to switch T.O's I'll understand."

When Lucy had regained consciousness after being freed from her prison the first face she'd seen had been Tim. From what she'd heard her partner had been the one to find her; the first to start digging. Lucy swallowed hard and her vision blurred. Lucy blinked as she shook her head.

"You saved me."Lucy said fiercely. "When I needed my partner the most; you were there. That's what matters."

"Lucy..."Tim began.

Lucy wrapped her arms around Tim and hugged him tight. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her small frame. He was beyond grateful they'd found her.

"I don't want to switch T.O's."Lucy said her voice muffled by Tim's shirt.

Part of the weight lifted off of Tim's shoulders. The knot in his stomach eased at her words.

"Good."Tim acknowledged quietly.

They stood like that for a long time. Lucy reluctantly pulled away and stepped back.

"I should finish getting ready."Lucy commented as she reached for the clothes.

"You have plans for today?"Tim inquired.

"No, well besides going in to give my own report."Lucy responded. "You have an idea?"

"Yes."Tim grinned. "Get dressed; I'll drive you to the station."

Lucy smiled and nodded before turning and hurrying into the bathroom. She hadn't missed the mischievous glint in Tim's eyes. She was more than curious to what he had planned.