Cop Cuties (chenford/the rookie) stories

Making it work

Authors note:

I totally stole this idea from someone on AO3, so crees to them. I just edited the story to be more cohesive!

The first week after Tim broke up with her was a blur to Lucy. She checked her phone every few hours of every day in hopes he'd text her an apology and stayed awake longer than usual in hopes he'd come home. It was so strange to go from living with someone almost full time to having an empty bed and silent apartment. Grey had been sympathetic when she rode with him and she heard by word of mouth about him telling Tim that he'd be giving the department psychologist a ride-along.

To prevent their friends from picking sides, she backed out of several offers of dinner or drinks. Instead, Lucy opted to help get Tamara packed up since she was moving out. Tamara had confessed that Tim texted her asking if she wanted his help moving and she'd accepted. Lucy had reassured her that she wouldn't interfere in whatever relationship the two wanted to keep. She knew Tim viewed Tamara as a little sister and wouldn't rest until she was safe and happy in her new place. She would just vacate the apartment when move time came.

Lucy was sitting on the couch eating vegan ice cream and watching True Crime when there was a knock on the door. Setting her bowl down on the side table, she walked over and looked in the peep hole. Taking a moment to compose herself, she opened the door to see Tim on the other side. She had only seen him in passing at Mid-Wilshire or heard his voice over the radio. It was the first time seeing him outside of work since he took her heart and broke it in the parking lot. He clearly hadn't been sleeping if his expression said anything.

She waited and finally he spoke. "Can we talk?"

Lucy walked away from the door, letting him enter the apartment and close the door behind him. "It's kind of late to be talking." It was an honest comment, not made in anger or spite.

"I deserve that." He said and Lucy turned at the bar to look at him, his voice was filled with dejection and possibly, depression. "I need your help."

"With what?"

Tim folded his arms and tension filled him. She watched his micro reactions instead of the macro. "I need to find a non-departmental psychologist. A good one that will help me work through my issues instead of taking my money without care of my health."

"You hate therapy and psychology."

The response he gave shocked her far more than his wanting therapy. "I love you more. I wanted to protect you and instead, I just hurt you. I want a future with you, Luce. I want us to heal and move on and I can't do that if I'm a mess. I've done so many incredibly stupid things in my life but my biggest error was hurting you because I felt like I needed to protect you." He shook his head in an attempt to get rid of the tears in his eyes. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I am so sorry."

Seeing him struggling, Lucy took the five steps to hug him and felt him all but collapse in her arms. She closed her eyes as she felt his tears on her neck and his arms tighten around her. Once he was somewhat calm, Lucy pulled away and glanced up at him. "We're going to figure this out. I promise that this will get better even if its painful for weeks or months. I'm not ready to forgive you immediately but I'll do whatever I can to help you heal in the meantime."

"I'm not too late?" The question was there but his voice was broken. "I haven't lost you?"

Her smile was soft and didn't reach her eyes, but it was there. "If I'm honest, I've been waiting for you to get your emotions sorted. It's been painful, being rejected by the person who has always been there for you, but the one hurt more by everything that has happened has been you. I had to wait for you to take the first step, but you're worth the fight Tim. We're worth the fight."