Pen Pals

Chapter 2

Lucy had gotten on the prison transport van that morning and was probably already been shown to her cell. Tim was manning the front desk today, and was desperate for anything to keep his mind off of worrying about her.

Although he usually hated dealing with the people who walked into the station and their near constant complaining, today he wished he had a line out the door. During one of his down times, he decided he might as well start working on his first letter.

L –

I am missing you a lot today. I hope you got settled and it's not too bad there. Work is slow and the day isn't the same without being able to see you. I miss your beautiful face and the smell of your hair.

I love you.

Sammy

It was almost freeing to be able to write all the things he felt about her without actually having to admit them. Everything "Sammy" was saying was something Tim wished he could tell Lucy. But he wasn't going to make the same mistake as last time they went undercover and think that she felt the connection too. After she had told him that it was just biology it had been clear to him that although she might be attracted to him, she wasn't romantically interested in him. So, he had forced himself to put all of his feelings for her away. Writing these letters was exquisitely painful. Tim knew every word he was writing was the truth, but that Lucy would never see him that way.

Days passed, and Tim focused on his job and tried not to worry about Lucy. He wrote her another letter:

L –

Last night I couldn't sleep because all I could think about was you. Being away from you is killing me. I'm counting down the days until I see you. I won't be okay until you're in my arms again.

Sammy

And another.

L –

Everyone at work is wondering how you are. I told them I get to see you in two days and then I will be able to give them an update. I can't wait to see you and hold you. It's all that gets me through the day, knowing that we will be together soon. I love you.

Sammy

He realized this was just making things worse. Although Grey had told him he was doing a great job keeping up their cover, Tim knew that opening this Pandora's box of his feelings for Lucy was just making them bigger. He was thinking about her all the time. And what happened when this undercover mission ended and they were back to being friends and colleagues? How would he stuff all his feelings away?

His worry was not lessoned when he learned that he would be heading to the prison today for visiting hours. Nyla told him to dress like "a mechanic slash petty criminal" so he had done his best with old jeans, a tank top and an unbuttoned flannel. She had seemed satisfied with the end result.

They loaned him a beat-up car and gave him his fake ID and he headed towards the women's correctional facility. When he got there, he went through the security check point. The guard taking him into the visitors' room lowered his voice and said, "I put you two here in this back corner. It should give you some privacy."

Tim sat down and waited for Lucy, his head snapping up every time the door opened. Finally he saw her walking in. Her hair was pulled back into two complicated braids and she still managed to look amazing even in the standard orange jumpsuit. He stood up as she walked towards him. The guard leading her said "Physical contact is briefly allowed at the beginning and end of each visit. Keep it appropriate." Tim opened his arms, hoping she thought it was all part of their cover identities. He felt her wrap her arms around him and then she stretched up to kiss him. It was over quickly but Tim's heart was still racing when he sat down.

"Hi, Sammy," Lucy said. "I got all your letters."

Tim's stomach dropped as he waited to see what she said next and if she realized he had meant every word he had written...