Chapter 11
Tim stared at his phone. He was so confused and worried. He quickly dialed Angela who picked up on the first ring.
Angela: You promised you wouldn't hurt her and now this? She thinks you never wanted to go on the date with earlier.
Tim: What the hell are you talking about? Of course I wanted to go on the date. I just. Look where is she? Let me talk to her?
Angela: She kept calling for you screaming your name, but you never came. In the end they had to sedate her so she is sleeping again.
Tim: Agitated? Sedated? Where are you?
Angela: What do you mean Tim? I'm with Lucy, waiting for you. Been here for hours.
Tim: Angela, please where are you?
Angela: Tim? Where are you?
Tim: I was about to leave the restaurant when I got your message.
Angela: Resetaurant? Seriously? You went out to eat during a time like this? Maybe Tamara was right after all and Lucy dating you again really is a bad idea.
Tim: Angela come on, I am so confused. I told Lucy to meet me at the restaurant for our date and when I got here she was never here, they said she never came. Why are you yelling at me?
Angela: Of course she never came. But where were you? Lucy said you would come but Tamara said that your job was more important to you than Lucy will ever be. I guess she was right.
Tim: That is so not true. Lucy is the most important thing in my life and I believe we both know that.
Angela: Oh yeah so then why am I the one sitting with Lucy in the hospital room while you went out to some nice fancy restaurant alone.
Tim: Hospital room? Angela, what happened tonight?
Angela: You are something else, you know that. Look I'm going to go and pretend this conversation never happened. And Tim, do Lucy a favor and don't show up.
Angela hung up the phone all angry. How could Tim be so clueless. Lucy had just offered him a second chance and he somehow still picked the job over her. Tamara was right and Angela was going to make sure that Tim never got close to Lucy again. No matter how much she loved him, she deserved way better than Tim.
Tim stood there in shock. Hearing Angela's words over and over in his head but the one thing he couldn't shake was that Lucy, his Lucy was in the hospital and he no idea why. Tim was so worried and so concerned that despite Angela telling him not to come he got in his car and drove to Shaw memorial anyway. As soon as he pulled up in the driveway he realized that Angela had never told him which hospital Lucy was in. His first thought was to call Tamara but then remembered that Angela had mentioned something about Tamara not loving the idea of him dating again so he decided against that idea and just walked straight into the emergency room hoping to get some answers from the nurse.
When he got inside the place was full and he was told to sit down and wait his turn. But Tim couldn't wait he was so worried about Lucy. He walked up to the front desk and flashed his badge.
Tim: Official police business, I need to know if my partner was brought into this hospital earlier tonight.
Nurse: I'm sorry, there is no record of any police officers being brought in here tonight.
Tim: What about Lucy Chen?
Nurse: Chen, Chen, nope I'm sorry. No one with the last name Chen was brought in here.
Tim: Thank you for your help.
Tim didn't want to waist time driving now to St. Stevens but he needed to find Lucy, to understand what had happened tonight, what in the world was going on. Tim knew he had no other choice but to call Angela to find out where Lucy was. Angela picked up and started yelling at him again.
Angela: What do you want Bradford, I'm busy.
Tim: I need to know which hospital Lucy is at.
Angela: Nope, not telling.
Tim: Why not?
Angela: You should have been here when they brought her in hours ago Tim.
Tim: And I would have been there as soon as she got there had you told me she was in the hospital.
Angela: Your impossible.
Tim: Please, the nurse at Shaw memorial said she never came here. Is that true or did you pay her to lie to me.
Angela: Tim, go home and forget about Lucy. This isn't fair to her.
Tim: I can't believe you are even asking me to do that. Please just tell me where she is. I need to see her, I need to know she is okay.
Angela: And where were you when she was calling your name for hours? Begging them to wait to take her for tests until her boyfriend got here? Where were you then.
Tim: Angela, please
Angela: No Tim. You cannot keep doing this to her. She kept saying over and over tonight that you promised, you promised you would always be there for her, but Tim you weren't here.
Tim: Please, tell me where she is and I will be there now.
Angela: Now? Its too late now. Look she's waking up again, I have to go.
And with that she hung up. Tim was so lost and frustrated. He just wanted to be there for Lucy if only someone would just tell him where she was. Tim knew it wasn't smart but if Angela wouldn't tell him where Lucy was he was going to have to try Tamara. As soon as Tamara picked up Tim regreted calling her.
Tamara: Oh hell no! Now you call? Now you call?!
Tim: Tamara please, I get it your upset, just please tell me where Lucy is.
Tamara: I told her this date was a bad idea, begged her to reconsider.
Tim: Why can't you understand that I love her and whatever happened here tonight was not in my control.
Tamara: Seriously. Your girlfriend gets into a car accident on her way to meet you at the restaurant because you couldn't even have the decency to drive her there yourself and you say that was not in your control.
Tim: Accident? What accident? What happened to Lucy?
Tamara: Tim, go to hell.
Tim: Tamara please. Is Lucy okay?
Tamara: Once she gets you out of her system she will be
Tim: How badly was she hurt?
Tamara: Tim, if you really cared you would have been there as soon as you found out she was hurt, not 5 hours later.
Tim: I am only finding out now Tamara.
Tamara: Because you were so busy at work that you didn't care that your girlfriend was in an accident.
Tim: You are being crazy.
Tamara: No, me being crazy was letting Lucy drive herself to your date tonight. Never again Tim.
Tim: Tamara please
But there was no point she had already hung up. Tim was about to leave the hospital when he saw Bailey walk in.
Bailey: Sargent Bradford, what are you doing here? We brought Lucy to St. Stevens.
Tim: Bailey oh thank god. How is she? How is Lucy? What happened tonight?
Bailey: Oh my gosh Tim! I'm so sorry. Lucy asked me to tell you about the accident and we have just been so busy tonight I completely forgot to call you.
Tim: So you were the one who messesd up
Bailey: Excuse me?
Tim: I'm sorry. I have just been so worried about Lucy and they refuse to tell me where she is because they believe I didn't care enough about her to come. But I honestly didn't know what happened.
Bailey: I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Lucy was alive when we brought her to the hospital, some scrapes and bruises and a couple of broken bones. She wanted to call you herself but her hand was broken and it was safe for her to use the phone like that. I told her I would tell you and then I just forgot.
Tim: What matters is you telling me now. You said she's at St. Stevens?
Bailey: Yes
Tim: Thank you Bailey. Thank you.
Bailey: I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.
Tim: It's okay.
Bailey: I really hope Lucy gets better soon.
Tim: Thanks.
Tim turned around and for the first time in 2 hours was finally able to breathe calmly. He quickly drove to St. Stevens, parked his car and walked inside determined to make this right with Lucy. Now that he knew this wasn't his fault he just had to somehow get everyone else to understand exactly what happened tonight and he knew that after his last conversations with them, that it would not be easy. As annoyed as he was that they were being so tough on him he was also happy that Lucy had so many people who cared so deeply about her. Tim once again walked over to the front desk to ask about Lucy.
Tim: Excuse me, but I'm looking for my girlfriend Detective Lucy Chen I was told she was brought in here earlier tonight.
Nurse: I'm sorry sir, but you cannot cut through the line, I'm afraid you will have to wait your turn.
Tim once again flashed his badge at the nurse.
Tim: Official police business, I need to know where my partner is, detective Lucy Chen, she was brought into this hospital earlier tonight.
Nurse: Yes um, okay. Here it is ICU room 7100
Tim: Thank you.
Tim left the front desk and decided to skip waiting for the elevator so he ran to the stairs taking them two at a time until he reached the 7th floor. As soon as he opened the door of the stairwell, he saw Tamara walking in the hallway and he knew that finally he was in the right place. He walked over to Lucy's room but was stopped by Tamara before he could enter the room.
Tamara: You shouldn't be here right now.
Tim: The hell I shouldn't.
Tamara: Tim. get out or I will call security to have you removed from this hospital.
Tim: Tamara I appreciate what you are trying to do for Lucy, but it is not your call to make.
Angela who had heard the screaming came outside into the hallway.
Angela: I thought you told me; you didn't tell him where Lucy was.
Tim: She didn't.
Angela: Then why are you here?
Tim: Bailey told me what happened.
Angela: So now you listen to her?
Tim: Angela, she forgot to tell me earlier. I don't know what exactly happened but the first I knew something was wrong was when I got your text.
Angela: Yeah right.
Tim: Look I know you don't believe me right now. But I came here as soon as I found out. And I would have been here sooner had you two not been so stubborn, refusing to tell me where she was. It took me an hour to figure that out until Bailey finally told me what happened.
Bailey: It's true, you should believe him.
Angela: Bailey. Lucy told us you told him about the accident while you were in the ambulance on the way here.
Bailey: I told her i would tell him, and then got busy and forgot too notify him. I'm really sorry.
Angela: So Tim really didn't know until now?
Bailey: No, he's telling you the truth.
Bailey smiled at them sadly before walking away
Tamara: Tim, I'm so sorry. I just the thought of you hurting Lucy again after everything you have been through. I couldn't be okay with it.
Tim: I know, and i really appreciate how much you care about her. But please if you two will just finally let me in. Im way past panic mode here.
Angela: Tim, she will be okay. They had to reset her arm and she has 2 broken ribs but she will be okay.
Tim walked past Angela and Tamara and opened the door to the room. He was happy to see that Lucy was sleeping so she didn't hear everything that was going on in the hallway just now. Tim quietly closed the door behind him as he walked back into the hallway to talk to Angela.
Tim: Tamara, can you give me a minute alone with Angela please?
Tamara: Sure, I'll go inside and sit with her so she's not alone.
Tim: Thanks. If she wakes up let me know. I need to be there when she does.
Tamara: Will do Sargent.
Tamara walked back into the room and Tim turned towards Angela.
Tim: Talk to me Lopez, what do we know about this accident? What happened?
Angela: Lucy was driving in her car on the way to meet you when a car came out of no where and hit her straight in the drivers door. A witness called 911 and Bailey was the first on scene. Bailey said that Lucy's car was totaled and it was a miracle she made it out of there alive.
Tim: How did you find out?
Angela: I heard that there was an officer involved in an accident over the radio. I called Grey who said he hadn't heard anything so he sent me to scene. I got there after the ambulance had left and they told me it was Lucy. I called Grey who said I should go to the hospital to wait for you to come. When I got here they said that you had been notified and they were just waiting for you to show up.
Tim: And then I never came.
Angela: Yup.
Tim: I really didn't know. I would have come right away had someone just called me.
Angela: I really thought you knew and I didn't want to get yelled at by you so I didn't call you. But then she woke up and needed you
Tim: I would have been mad at me too if I were in your shoes. Do we know who the driver of the other car was? Was it a drunk driver, fluke accident or was Lucy the intended victim?
Angela: We don't know yet. Nyla went back to the station to try and figure it all out.
Tim: So she is trying to find both Ashley and the person who hit Lucy.
Nyla: Looks like it might be the same
No one had noticed her coming and joining their conversation.
Tim: What are you talking about?
Nyla: Hi to you too. How's Lucy?
Angela: Same, no changes.
Tim: Nyla, I need to know who did this to her.
Nyla: Now you show up?
Tim: Angela really?
Angela: What? Lucy was calling for you for hours. You expected me not to tell everyone that you decided not to come here.
Tim: Whatever. Long story short I wasn't ignoring her, no one told me she was in an accident until an hour ago.
Nyla: And we believe him?
Tim: Bailey confirmed that she forgot to tell him until he was frantically searching for Lucy like 5 hours after the accident.
Nyla: Okay then.
Tim: Back to the accident, what did you find?
Nyla: So, by the time first responders arrived at the scene the driver had already left. We do know that there was someone in the passenger seat of the car as they cut, their seatbelt before they ran from the scene. We do not know yet who the passenger was but we were able to get the make and model of the car that hit Lucy as it was still at the scene when we came.
Tim: What are you not telling me?
Nyla: When we ran the plates it showed that the car was previously in accident.
Tim: Why you acting so weird? Just spit it out.
Nyla: The car was registered to Ashley McGrady and it was the same car she was driving when she got in the accident that killed your baby.
Tim: What are you talking about? What accident? What baby?
Nyla looked at Angela who looked at Tim.
Angela: Tim, what are you asking?
Tim: What accident are you talking about? Cuz you're saying there was a second accident?
Nyla: This was the second accident.
Tim: Okay, so what was the first accident you were talking about?
Nyla: The one in which Ashley lost the baby.
Tim: Can someone please tell me what the hell you are talking about?
Angela: Tim, what did Ashley tell you when she lost the baby?
Tim: I do not want to talk about this. Not when Lucy is lying injured in a hospital bed.
Angela: I know but it looks like we have to know what Ashley told you.
Tim: Why? I really want to just put it in the past and keep it there.
Angela: I know this is hard, but we need to know what you were told.
Tim: Ashley said that Lucy threatened to kill her if she didn't terminate the pregnancy. That she had no choice but to get rid of the baby. She said that Lucy put her in the car and drove her to the clinic herself and didn't leave until the baby was gone.
Angela and Nyla stood there in shock.
Nyla: And you believed her when she said that?
Tim: After hearing the recording of Lucy's voice saying that she was upset that Ashley was pregnant and she wanted to be the only woman to make me a father I had no reason not to believe her.
Angela: Tim, no wonder you were so angry at her.
Tim: So, I'm guessing what Ashley told me wasn't the truth
Nyla: Nope, not even close.
Tim: Then what did happen with the baby? Was there ever even a baby or was all of this to get back at me?
Angela: There was a baby Tim, that was real. Ashley didn't want it and wrote up papers for Lucy to be this baby's mother which Lucy signed.
Tim: And the baby?
Angela: Ashley was in a car accident. She survived but the baby didn't.
Tim: And the car that hit Lucy tonight was Ashley's car? The same car that she was driving when she lost the baby.
Nyla: Yeah
Tim: And you think that both accidents were not accidental?
Nyla: That's correct. From the point of impact at both scenes it looks like Ashley knew exactly what she was doing. With the first she wanted to kill the baby but survive herself. And tonight, it looks like she wanted to kill Lucy.
Tim: I just don't understand what Ashley's issue with Lucy is? Why is she doing all of this?
Angela: I don't know Tim.
Tim: What about the passenger?
Nyla: Waiting for the results of the DNA from the car.
Just then Tim's phone rang and he was that it was the restaurant they were supposed to go to earlier that evening.
Tim: This is Tim.
Manager: Hi Mr. Bradford, we spoke earlier regarding your reservation.
Tim: Yes, I remember.
Manager: I was able to pull up the footage of your table and I can send you a copy of the couple who sat at your table during your reservation.
Tim: Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Tim hung up and a minute later he opened the picture and all three of them stared at the picture of the couple in front of them. They were clearly looking at each other lovingly with their hands touching.
Nyla: That's your ex girlfriend Ashley
Angela: With Lucy's Ex boyfriend
Tim: Chris.
