Chapter 1: The Shock
She stood staring into the distance, her blood running cold, all the colour completely drained from her face. All sounds around her muted, all she can hear is the blood flowing through her body, her stomach tight threatening to make her throw up.
The radio called "I repeat!!! Shots fired, Officer down!!! Sergeant Tim Bradford is down!"
Flashback
"WHERE ARE WE, BOOT?" She blinks confused and dazed, "I'VE BEEN SHOT!!! WHERE ARE WE???". Her first day as a rookie, this guy was intense, she knew the next year of her training was going to be painful, her hope of a TO/Rookie bond was never going to happen.
Present
A hand touches her shoulder, she blinks and she's in the shop, no recollection of how she got there, she kept her phone in her hands hoping he would call, It was all just a dream.
Flashback
She sat with her back to door separating them, she was so scared, this ruthless man had managed to work his way into her heart, she saw him as a friend, even if he did not feel the same way. In his eyes she was just another rookie to train and pass through to POII.
He looked so concerned as he shut the door in her face isolating himself and the virus infected man. She knew it was due to the fear of his impending doom.
When he collapsed outside her heart dropped, she realised she cared for him more than she realised.
Present
She blinks again and she's sitting in the waiting room of Shaw memorial hospital, holding a blood soaked blue shirt. People are talking to her, checking on her, she doesn't process any of it. Grey, Lopez, Wesley, all their faces blur into one. She starts blankly hugging his bloodied uniform shirt to her chest.
Flashback
'He will find me, I know he will find me.' She thought to herself focusing on her breathing. Trying not to show the cameras, trying not to show Caleb and Rosalind how petrified she is.
She felt so safe in his arms as she came too, like he was the only man she would ever trust again. That was normal behaviour for a TO and rookie, right?
Present
Her hands were being held by someone, Thorson? No, she listens to the voice assuring her how strong Tim is, How he will pull through, The only person this optimistic is Nolan.
Though she appreciates it, she can't believe him, not right now.
Flashback
Their first "fake" kiss. It was meant to be pretend, but like Tim said, It didn't feel pretend. 'Dim' and 'Juicy', their covers, were great together, she remembers how she actually found the greasy look hot, how could this man pull off the formal, military look, as well as the oily criminal. She remembers his lips against hers as they were 'making out' in the airplane bathroom, how strong his arms and chest were and how warm his body was.
That's when she realised, she was in love with Tim Bradford. She had to keep her feelings silenced because he would never feel the same for her, she was sure.
Present
A doctor is explaining to the group that Tim was in recovery, he was asleep, when he came around only one person could visit him, all eyes turned to Lucy. "You two are the closest, you should go into see him, I'm sure he'll prefer your company to the rest of us." Nolan had noticed the bond between them before anyone else, making quiet, personal jokes about how she majorly upgraded from him, Lucy always took it lightly as she knew Nolan was pulling her leg. Though now it is apparent to Lucy he saw through her, saw the feelings she had for Tim, maybe she wasn't hiding it as well as she thought she was.
Grey entered and sent his officers home, told them to shower, eat and get some rest, he will see them all at roll call in the morning.
She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Chen, do you want to go get some rest?" She slightly shook her head.
"Do you want food? Water? Maybe give me the shirt?" As Grey reached to take it from her she gripped it closer, if she lost him today this would be all she had of him, his bloodstained uniform shirt, and his dodgers jersey that she accidentally packed in her case after their last UC session, she hadn't got round to washing and returning it to him, mostly due to the worry of wrecking one of his favourite shirts.
Grey nods and pats her shoulder, "lay down Chen, that's an order. Get some rest."
She curls into the small chair closing her eyes, she inhales his scent from his shirt as she doses off, Grey places his LAPD hoodie over her and sits beside her, he had noticed the friendship growing between them, feared that they would let it get in the way of their jobs, but shockingly it never did. He knew if they lost Bradford, He would lose Chen in the mourning process.
But best not dwell on 'Ifs' and hope for the best, focus on the facts. The facts right now are Tim is in recovery, His shooter is in custody, and Chen is in pieces.