chenford stories ✩

Scared ✿

Her entire body was shaking, her cries loud, and her breaths short. His arms wrapped tightly around her body as he rocked her.

She's alive. She's breathing. She's in your arms. She's safe.

The words Tim kept repeating in his brain as he held onto Lucy. He had found her, pulled her out of that barrel, and shielded her from the eyes of their friends as she sobbed. Loud gut-wrenching sobs.

"You're okay. Everything is okay. I've got you. I've got you Lucy" he whispered in her ear over and over again until her cries came to a slow.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he looked up and away from Lucy's face. "We need to get her in an ambulance and to the hospital Tim," said Angela in the softest tone she's used since the search began.

Nodding, he stood with Lucy still wrapped in his arms. He could feel her tense and then slightly relax as he carried her to the ambulance.

"I have to put you on the stretcher now" he spoke softly, before slowly lowering her body.

He could feel the way her hands still shook as she grabbed onto his hands tightly, only looking at him. Her eyes were red from the crying and exhaustion that shook through her body.

She could hear the voices of the paramedics around her, eyes darting between them, Tim, Angela, and back again. She could feel the way Tim's thumb ran over her hand, his eyes looking over every inch of her body for any damage Caleb caused.

Caleb.

She didn't know when the screaming started. When she began pushing away the countless hands poking and prodding at her body for any signs of discomfort.

Lucy didn't know when Tim caught her before she almost fell off the gurney in an attempt to get closer to him, and she didn't know how her face yet again ended up cuddled in his chest. "Breathe for me Lucy. Everything is okay. You are safe. He's not here anymore. He's gone I promise. I promise baby".

Baby. He'd never called her that before...but secretly it grounded her. Brought her back to the present.

The grip she had on his shirt was strong. She whispered unintelligible words into his chest, as he rocked her back and forth trying to calm her panic.

"What can I do to help you feel more comfortable? We have to get you to the hospital but we won't leave until you feel ready.". His voice was soft, smooth like velvet.

She didn't know what she wanted. All she needed was him. Tim's thumb ran back and forth across the crease where her eyebrows furrowed, desperately trying to find the words to answer him. His worried eyes scanned her face and body repeatedly.

"Stay" Lucy croaked out. Her voice was rough from the crying, singing, and screaming.

He reassured her that he would. He would stay the entire time, he wouldn't leave her again.

The next time she woke up, there were a few nurses surrounding her. When had she gotten to the hospital, and who the hell were these people?

Tim.

"T-Tim?" she called out to him. He promised he would stay, where is-

She felt a squeeze on her left hand, and when she turned her head there he sat. A worried expression plastered across his face, eyebrows furrowed as he searched her face. His lips were moving, but she couldn't tell what he was saying.

Why the hell can't I hear him?

"Wh-I can't hear!" Lucy yelled out. Why can't she hear Tim?

The more unsettled she became, the faster the group realized they needed to move in order to get the earplugs out of her ears. Angela slowly moved towards the bed, placing her hand softly on Lucy's leg more moving it towards her face. She very slowly and carefully pushed the brunette's hair back before pulling the first earplug out.

Smiling slightly she spoke, "Can you hear me now Lucy?". Now the dark-haired woman was even more confused, but before she could ask anything Tim was answering for her.

"We put earplugs in your ears to help with the noise. Every time you woke up in the helicopter you would panic. It was the only way to get you calm, and keep you resting".

She understood now and could feel herself relaxing back into the pillows, her hand still tightly holding onto Tim's. To take her mind off everything, Nolan broke off into a story about how hard it was to find the giant pink teddy bear he'd gifted her with.

After a few minutes of intense listening, Lucy's mind slowly wandered off. They found her, she was alive and breathing in this hospital bed with everyone she loved surrounding her in support.

Chuckling to herself she knew she could never go on a date again. Her small laughs slowly turned into quiet sobs. She tried to keep as still as possible, keeping all focus on Nolan. But the more she cried, she could tell Tim had noticed.

His gaze shifted towards her face, immediately alarmed when he saw the tears streaming down her face. He watched her head shake in silent protest to whatever he was going to say or do. She didn't want that right now, and he would have to be okay with it.

Angela was second to notice, hearing her breaths coming out in short gasps, just as they did when she began breathing again after Tim did CPR.

Her eyes softened as she grabbed Lucy's hand. This was going to be hard, but Lucy had to know there were other people, other women there to support her through it all.

She felt Lucy squeeze back, eyes trained on their joined hands. By the time the others noticed, her tears began to slow significantly. She could feel the concerned eyes of everyone on her but she couldn't face that right now.

"C-can I please have some time alone? Please" her voice broke, filled with emotion.

Tim went to stand, but Lucy's grip on his hand tightened, signaling she wanted him to stay. Once the others had left the room, giving words of encouragement, Lucy visibly relaxed.

She didn't really know what to say to Tim, but he seemed okay just sitting with her. "You hungry?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm starving. You know what I really wanna eat right now?". Lifting the bag Tim spoke, "Veggie burger and fries? Extra pickles".

For the first time since he had saved her life, Lucy smiled at him. "You know me so well" her eyes never leaving his. "Too well" he laughed.

"Once we can get you outta here, I'll take you down to that ice cream place you like" he smiled brightly.

This is the life she knew.

I am okay. I am safe.

"I'll be looking forward to that".

Fin.

Note:

I have always felt that we were deprived of scenes after Tim pulled her out of the barrel and saved her life. We didn't see Lucy's fear once she gained concious of her surroundings. I feel as though during those moments Tim would've been her anchor, and we weren't able to see that before the scene jumped to her being in the hospital and laughing. Her fear after bein saved and then put into the hospital should've been shown more.

So here's how I think it would've gone based on what their dynamic was like in season 2.