Many thanks to LDT5413 for the beta

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

The next month passed in a busy happy blur for Lucy. Training was going well with the new T.O. She and Tim had finally gotten everything moved from their old apartments. On a tuesday afternoon her cell phone rang just as she was getting off shift. Lucy frowned not recognizing the number. She almost let it go to voicemail but decided to answer it.

"Hello?"Lucy greeted.

"Officer Chen?"A young female voice replied. "Sorry to bother you but this is Margaret Wise I'm the social worker on the case of the infant that was abandoned at your station."

"Yes, I remember."Lucy responded as she walked to the locker room.

"I'm sorry to bother you but I'm in a bind."The woman continued. "I haven't been able to locate any relatives of the baby. "

"I thought you had confirmed her idenity?"Lucy asked confused.

"We did through fingerprints."The social worker replied. "However, the mother was killed in a car accident near San Diego two months ago."

"Someone had to have been taking care of her."Lucy insisted. "She was in good condition and healthy."

"I know."Wise agreed. "We're still retracing the mother's past. "

"How can I help?"Lucy asked.

"As you know the welfare system in Los Angeles is overwhelmed and over crowded."Wise said with a sad sigh. "The home where I have the baby placed is a short term placement. There's nothing else available until Friday. Do you know of anyone that would take her in for a few days?"

"Let me make a few calls and I'll get back to you."Lucy promised.

"Thank you."The social worker said ending the call.

As Lucy changed and got ready to leave she was already coming up with ideas. One that she wasn't sure would work but she hoped it would.

Tim was late getting off shift that day because a traffic stop had turned into an arrest. Of course as Tim had taken the jackass out of the squad the idoit had headbutted him. Causing a bloody nose for Tim and an hour's worth of more paperwork. On top of that Tim felt a headache forming. He'd had two calls that morning from Isabel's lawyer requesting to set up times to discuss terms of the divorce. Tim knew Isabel wouldn't haggle him; not after everything. It was just lawyers being lawyers and giving their profession a bad name. All Tim wanted to do was go home to Lucy.

As if on cue Lucy appeared at the desk Tim was working at. She'd changed into civilian clothes. He was amazed that no matter what she wore Lucy looked beautiful. Right now her brown eyes were looking at him with concern and worry. Tim had nearly forgotten the icepack he had awkwardly balanced on the bridge of his nose.

"You okay?"Lucy asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Traffic stop."Tim replied gruffly. "Idiot headbutted me as soon as I took him out of the squad at the station."

"Is it broken?"Lucy inquired as she reached over and took the icepack off to examine Tim's nose.

"No, but the OT pay is not making up for my headache."Tim grumbled. "No sense both of us staying you can head home. I'll be there as soon as I finish."

It was then Tim noticed something a bit off about his girlfriend's demeanor. She was tense, worried and not just about him. Setting down his pen Tim reached out and touched Lucy's right cheek.

"What is it? Something happen today?"Tim asked with concern.

"Not in the way you think."Lucy replied quietly.

Some how Tim had a feeling this day wasn't going to get any better.

"Remember the baby that was left while I was on front desk duty?"Lucy prompted.

Tim nodded.

Lucy knew this wasn't the time to bring this up but she didn't have a choice. The social worker had called again sounding more desperate. They needed to find placement for the baby within the next hour.

"The social worker called me today."Lucy continued quickly. "They found out the baby's mother died in a car accident a few months ago. They haven't found any living relatives."

"What about the father?"Tim asked as he rubbed his forehead.

"Not listed on the birth certificate."Lucy responded grimly.

"Of course."Tim muttered sarcastically. "Why did the social worker call you?"

"I wanted to keep tabs on the baby in case they needed us to research something."Lucy stated."So I left her my contact information. Anyway Margaret called me today because the temporary placement expires tonight and the next available is Friday. You know how the system is; over crowded not as may foster families as the city needs."

"You volunteered to take her."Tim surmised.

"Not yet, I wanted to talk to you first."Lucy replied with a weak smile.

"You've already made up your mind."Tim snapped.

Lucy shook her head.

Tim didn't know why his temper was flaring. He could chalk it up to the day he'd had and the injury and the headache. Tim knew Lucy's heart was in the right place. Right now he wasn't feeling like the greatest human being. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a screaming scared infant at two am. He and Lucy wren't there yet; not even on a temporary basis. Not with their schedules; or their jobs.

"I haven't..."Lucy protested taking a step back. "Tim..."

"I need to finish this."TIm said in a clipped tone. "I'll see you at home."

Grabbing the paperwork and a pen Tim launched himself to his feet. He picked up the icepack and stalked out of the bullpen. Tim got two steps out into the hall before his conscious caught up to him and gave him a mental kick. He moved out of the way of foot traffic and sighed. Lucy didn't deserve the attitude he'd just given her. His day wasn't her fault. Nor was it the kid's she was trying to help. That's why most people became police officers was to help people. Tim turned and started back to where he'd left Lucy hoping she was still there. She nearly collided with him in her hurry to leave or either catch up to him. Tim gently gripped Lucy's shoulders and pulled her over to the side of the bull pen.

"I'm sorry."Tim apologized. "Let's start this over. I love that you want to help this child, but you're still

a boot, no time off."

"I've got coverage from other shifts."Lucy explained quietly. "Kind of a baby sitting network of the LAPD."

Tim shook his head in amazement.

"So we'll have her until our shift starts..."Tim prompted.

"And the next available person coming off duty will take over."Lucy stated with a smile.

"You are incredible."Tim said as he leaned in and kissed her. "What's our clock on this?"

"Just under an hour."Lucy replied excitedly. "The social worker's going to go pick her up and bring her here."

"Guess I better get going on this."Tim replied holding up the file folders.

"We're doing this?"Lucy clarified. "We're helping her?"

"It's what we do, right?"Tim asked with a smile.

Lucy leapt and wrapped her arms around Tim's neck kissing him. He kissed her back until some cat calls and whoops from their colleagues interrupted. Tim glared at them then sighed and stepped away.

"You might want to go shopping."Tim suggested as he walked away. "We have nothing kid related at home."

"Oh God."Lucy replied flustered as she glanced at her watch. "You're right. I'll call when I hear Margaret's on her way."

"Okay."Tim acknowledged as he left.