Title: Something worthwhile
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: See part one

The next two weeks were spent house or more accurately condo hunting. Lucy had been surprised at Tim's enthusiasm. Perhaps he'd grown tired of apartment living too. By the end of the second week they had it narrowed down to four. All fairly close to work. They finally decided on a two story Spanish style townhouse. Their offer had been accepted almost immediately which was a rarity in the sometime cut-throat Southern California real estate game. The townhouse was only a few years old. Two bedrooms, one and a half baths and a balcony.

Lucy couldn't wait to move in. Outside of her parent's home this would be the largest place Lucy had ever lived. She was also nervous excited about living with Tim. Even with alternating time at the other's apartment they were still adjusting to co-habitation. Now a week after closing she and Tim were spending their first night there. Both had worked that day with Lucy being on restrictive duty neither had a chance to move a stick of furniture. Still Lucy was very happy as she sat on the bare wood floor of her new home. Tim sat across from her. The utilities had been turned on so they at least weren't eating by flashlight. Between them sat a pizza delivered twenty minutes before and two bottles of beer.

"You haven't stopped smiling."Tim commented as he took a bite of pizza.

"I couldn't wait for this day to get here."Lucy said excitedly."It's wonderful!"

Tim grinned leaned forward and kissed Lucy.

"I'm glad you're happy."Tim replied as he took a sip of beer.

"Are you?"Lucy prompted.

"Yes."Tim said with a nod as he looked around."Even though all we have to sleep on is a sleeping bag."

Lucy smiled and kissed Tim.

"It'll be the best sleep ever."Lucy proclaimed.

She was right they both slept like a rock.

The next day Tim made his usual lunch time stop at a group of food trucks. He had just walked back to his squad and placed the bottled water in the roof. He reached to open the door when someone called out his name.

"Officer Timothy Bradford?"A twenty something tall thin brunette asked as she approached.

Tim didn't recognize her.

"Yes."Tim acknowledged.

"You've been served."The woman proclaimed handing over a large envelope. "Have a nice day."

"Not likely."Tim muttered.

Setting the bag of food on the squad's roof Tim opened the envelope. He pulled out a stack of legal papers.

"You okay?"Talia asked as she approached."Somebody hit you with a law suit?"

For a long moment Tim didn't answer his friend. He was engrossed in the words on the page. While it wasn't a surprise it was still hard to face.

"No."Tim responded quietly."Divorce papers from Isabel."

Without another word to Talia Tim retrieved his lunch , got in the squad, and left.

When Lucy got home it was nearly dark. She'd had errands to run. Plus she had packed as much of her stuff as she could into her car. With the size of her car that wasn't much. It was going to take both of them several days to move all of their things.

Lucy carried a couple small boxes into the condo and placed them on the living room floor. She saw a dining room table had appeared and was nestled against the right wall. There was also a dark blue sofa she remembered from Tim's place. After a brief search Lucy found her boyfriend on the balcony.

Tim was leaning against the iron rail beer bottle in hand. He didn't turn at her approach. Lucy sighed inwardly she'd heard through the gossip mill that Tim had been served divorce papers. While Lucy was happy he'd be divorced soon she knew what the marriage had meant to him.

"You okay?"Lucy asked as she leaned against the railing.

"I should have told you so you wouldn't hear second hand."Tim responded."While I wasn't surprised by it I still..."

"Sometimes it's hard to close chapters of our lives even when that chapter ends painfully."Lucy responded softly.

"Sometimes I forget you're a daughter of a shrink."Tim said with a brief smile.

Lucy returned Tim's smile and rested her head on his shoulder.

"She was a large part of your life."Lucy commented.

"Marriage was over a long time ago."Tim replied grimly."This makes it official. But it also gives both Isabel and I a fresh start."

Lucy leaned up and kissed Tim. The kiss lingered for several minutes before they broke apart.

"Want to help me unload the car?"Lucy asked.

"After dinner."Tim agreed."I'm starved."

Lucy smiled as they left the balcony and walked into the kitchen.