Cop Cuties (chenford/the rookie) stories

Blast from the past

Summary: Chenford run into someone from their past!

Lucy stood in the middle of the isle, staring at the wall of pregnancy tests. She held one in her right hand, which was slightly shaking. In her left hand, she held her shopping basket, holding the other 8 tests she'd picked up. Lucy remembered hearing Angela and Nyla talk about the best brands once, and she had picked up two of each brand. As well as random others just in case.

She shouldn't be so nervous. Even though she and Tim weren't actively like TRYING for a baby... they'd definitely done the required steps for making one. Besides, they were married, and in a stable place. Having a baby made sense, they'd even talked about wanting one in the past. It was the next step for them, it was exciting, and logical. Still, Lucy couldn't help the slight ache in her stomach as she bent down a little to grab a test that could tell her how many weeks she was along. Slightly crouched down, she heard footsteps coming up behind her.

"I would get the clear blue ones, i've heard they're pretty accurate." A woman's voice said, and Lucy smiled, dropping one into her cart without looking behind her.

"Thanks, i'm kind of lost right now," Lucy admitted, and grabbed another clear blue. This one claiming to be 90% accurate.

"Of course!" The voice said, and Lucy stood, turning around to face them. But the woman had turned her back and was grabbing a shampoo from the shelf. Lucy stepped up next to her, and grabbed a shaving cream.

"Um, do you know if these are any good?" She asked, holding up one of the pregnancy tests. The woman turned to face her, opening her mouth to say something, before her jaw completely dropped in recognition.

"CHEN?" Lucy smiled as she heard her old last name.

"TALIA?"

Lucy's hands flew to her mouth, dropping her basket. And Talia grinned. She studied Talia's pixie cut, "You haven't changed one bit!" She said, pulling her old friend in for a hug. Talia hugged her back, then stepped back to take Lucy in.

"You have!" She said, her eyes flying to the ring on Lucy's finger. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since..." the silence hung in the air, neither wanting to address the fact that Talia had lost her badge.

"Good! How are you? What have you been up to?" which indirectly translated to "what's your new job?"

"Im good! I'm actually still on the force, I am an instructor at the academy up in sacramento."

"Oh that's great!"

"So how's everybody at the station? Did Angela make detective? Wait, who washed up... you, Nolan or West?" Lucy felt a twinge as she heard Jackson's name, but she forced a smile.

"Yeah, Angela made detective! She and I both actually!"

Talia didn't mean it, but she felt a stab of jealousy. Lucy was still home in LA, working as a detective, but Talia wouldn't ever step those stones and make her way to chief of police. She was stuck training and basically being a TO forever. But she also felt happy for her, Lucy had always worked really hard and was truly a great cop. She deserved it.

"None of us washed out actually, i'm a detective and i'm working UC a lot, and John's a TO and union rep." Lucy paused, her eyes dripping slightly as she continued. "Jackson was murdered when we were P2s. But, technically we all made it through,"

"Oh good. I mean, no, definitely not good about Jackson, i'm so sorry, but good that you guys beat the odds." Talia reached out for lucy's hand, a comforting touch, and Lucy stifled a sob. wiping a tear away.

"God, these fucking hormones. I barely even need these tests," She let out a laugh, and Talia did too. Then, a look flashed across her face. "Omg i need to get my husband, he's gonna be so excited to see you!" She held out her hands "stay right here, he's grabbing-" Just as Lucy was about to run and get Tim, he stepped out from the corner and into the isle.

"Hey baby, you got the test? Also, they're out of the extra soft downy, so i just grabbed tide. Is that ok-" his mind dropped from the laundry detergent as his eyes fell on Talia. "Talia?!What are you doing in LA?" He walked up and gave her a quick hug, then wrapped his arm around Lucy's shoulders, picking up the mounds of pregnancy tests and dropping them into his cart. Talia's eyes shifted from the pregnancy tests, to the arm around Lucy's shoulders, to the rings on their fingers, and her eyes widened.

"Timothy Bradford! You MARRIED your rookie!?!" The shock in her voice couldn't be contained, and she nearly dropped the bottle of shampoo she'd been clutching onto. He let out a long laugh and Lucy's cheeks went red.

"Going on two years!" He said, and Lucy smiled at the lack of embarrassment in his voice, and the evident pride.

"Wow. Officer no nonsense is a rule breaker now!"

"Actually, Sergent no nonsense and I didn't break any rules somehow. He's in metro now, so no chain of command issues or anything!" She smiled, thinking back on their days of five player trades.

"Sargent? Metro? Married? Jesus Tim, congrats!"

"Okay enough about us, what are you doing here? How's Sacramento? We haven't barely talked since you transferred there what, five years ago?"

"I'm here for my foster brother, he's getting married. Sacramento's good, the academy sucks but i'm working up the ranks best as I can,"

"Wouldn't expect anything less!" Talia smiled as Tim said this, and Lucy slipped her hand into Tim's.

"So, we're a little busy tonight," Lucy said, her eyes dropping to the pregnancy tests. "But we should catch up some more while you're here! I bet everyone from the station would love to see you! How about you drop by tomorrow, we could get some lunch out at the food trucks, it'll be just like old times."

"Tomorrow works, i'll stop by about 1?"

"1! it's a plan!"

"great, see you then! And guys, congratulations."

Lucy and Tim smiled, picking up Lucy's basket and pushing the cart out of the isle. Talia watched them walk away and saw Tim squeeze Lucy's hand, and plant a little kiss to the top her head.

God, they're adorable.