Tell Him I Love Him

11. Come on, Lucy

Every time Noah shuts his eyes, he sees the crime scene photos of the kids he couldn't save. Two years ago, he had no idea what would become of the curious case of a kid who had been found shaking and crying in a shipping container. The other kids found with him had not survived, but he had. Noah formed an attachment with the little boy who lived, and he wanted to seek justice for the rest who had not.

Chasing leads had kept him up late at night, much to his girlfriend's dismay. The relationship ended, but the case remained painfully open. It taunted him when he went to UC school. It overtook his dreams while he was undercover. And just when he finally gathered enough evidence to initiate a Metro raid that would put away the bad guys and help him sleep easier, Noah intercepted communication that there was a bigger fish in charge of the operation that trafficked innocent children. Condor.

Desperate to take down the mysterious Condor and the whole group of people truly responsible for abducting and selling kids, he knew he needed someone to go undercover and infiltrate the operation. The ONLY person Noah could trust with something so sensitive and so close to his heart was the best student at UC school- Officer Lucy "Hot Pants" Chen. She had proven herself as a strong UC asset with the little pieces of intel she had gathered and shared. The only problem was that distracting, nosy boyfriend of hers.

Noah took care of that.

All that mattered now was catching Condor, who is apparently an unassuming woman named Monica. The distress text of "lemons" from Lucy was probably an overreaction. She claimed to need assistance a few months ago when Condor's goons wanted to take her to another location. Noah sat back, and Lucy came out just fine. Surely, her request for help could wait until after he slapped handcuffs on the people he had been hunting for TWO YEARS. Lucy is strong and capable. She'll be okay. He is TOO close to closing the case. Noah NEEDS this, so Lucy has to wait.

He rode with Tim to the Port of Long Beach where Condor was planning on picking up her next shipment. Noah could see the way the sergeant was holding his breath and the white knuckles from how tightly he was squeezing the steering wheel.

"Relax, Tim. We're gonna get 'em. I can smell it," the detective tried to calm the man beside him.

"Something feels wrong. I'm worried about Lucy. Have you talked to her?" The knot in his stomach that has existed since Grey told him Lucy left had expanded uncontrollably in the last few hours. He did not think he could even take a deep breath from the way the worry was crushing him.

"She'll be fine."

"You didn't answer my question," Tim turned to face Foster and narrowed his eyes. That response was suspect.

Noah winced. "Lucy...she..."

Tim's eyes widened when he realized why his gut was telling him something was wrong, and the detective's face confirmed it. "DID SHE ASK FOR HELP AGAIN?"

"Calm down! Hot Pants can take care of herself!"

Instantly, Tim restarted the car and backed out of his position at the edge of the port.

"Where are we going?"

"TO GET LUCY!"

"CONDOR WILL BE HERE ANY SECOND!"

"I'M GETTING LUCY! IF YOU WANNA STAY, GET THE HELL OUTTA MY CAR!" He yelled. How DARE this idiot put this case over Lucy's life. AGAIN.

Noah stumbled out of the car while Tim already started speeding away, and he swore under his breath at the overdramatic overprotective ex boyfriend. Lucy can take care of herself. He shook his head while he watched Tim's car race out of view so quickly.