Can you Remember the Church Bells Ringing

Chapter 4

As the adrenaline from the morning's altercation began to ebb, Lucy and Tim readied themselves for the next hurdle of their mission: facing Aaron and Angela. The bathroom incident was still fresh in their minds but the urgency to return to a somewhat sliver of their regular lives took precedence.

Tim dialed Aaron's number from the burner phone arranging Aaron's jet to force them back to their reality. The newlyweds exchanged silence; they were both still bracing themselves over the rather spontaneous events of this U.C mission. Within the hour Aaron had managed to secure them a sleek, black car (much like the one they had arrived in) to bring them toward the airstrip. The tension between them palpable yet strangely comforting.

Silence occupied the car, both drowning in their thoughts - it wasn't a bad thing but mostly surprising. Basic biology! Tim thought as he rolled his eyes, it had seemed that basic logic was lost when you threw alcohol in the mix. He couldn't shake the image of Lucy, fierce and capable, disarming their assailant while still clad in her bathrobe. It was a sight that made him smile despite the intensity of the situation. He wondered if their impulsive matrimony had unlocked certain stirrings that he had become more fond of every minute in her presence. It also occurred that he would most probably have a second divorce before he turned 40; it was unbelievable. Yet the ego at the back of his head praised him. He was married to Lucy at the end of the day. Lucy Chen, his rookie, Lucy Chen, his friend. Lucy Bradford now his wife. The same Lucy whose personality was made up out of the sun and all things good - this personality was diluted in her silence.

Lucy recited the event of the past day and morning as if it was her new mantra. 1) Married her T.O
2) Took on his surname - now Officer Lucy Bradford 3) Had slept with him or had officially consummated said marriage 4) They had no recollection of either events (well she had clear recollection of some events)
5) Their cover had been blown and were attacked in their room which ended rather fortunately for them

The memory of Tim's face , a mix of concern and admiration, lingered in her mind; it wandered to his shockingly blue eyes to his perfect lips. She glanced at him, his profile strong and stoic and wondered how badly would their marriage already complicate their complex relationship. As the car neared the airstrip, she resolved to keep things professional, at least for now.

Lucy gasped at the sight of the monumental planet of a plane. Aaron certainly had good taste - infact good was an understatement Lucy thought while marvelling at it. The jet was a sleek, luxurious Gulfstream, its engines humming softly as it awaited their arrival.

Aaron and Angela stood at the foot of the aircraft's stairs, their expressions a mix of apprehension and curiosity. Angle was the first to speak, her sharp eye taking in ever detail of their disheveled appearances.

"What the hell happened to you too?!" She semi-yelled, her voice a blend of incredulity and amusement.

"We had a bit of a situation," Tim replied sternly, glancing at Lucy who nodded in agreement.

Aaron stepped forward, extending a hand of comfort and support on Tim's shoulder. "Well, let's get you both home. You can fill us in on the details during the flight."

Once on board, the jet's interior offered a stark contrast to their chaotic morning. Plush leather seats, a fully stocked bar and an aura of tranquility that was almost surreal. Lucy sank into a chair, closing her eyes for a moment, allowing herself a brief respite. Tim took a seat next to her as Angela had tactically reserved her means of comfort prior to them leaving the hotel. This caught the unwanted attention of Angela's eyes as she raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting and explanation and trying to provoke an answer.

"We got married," Lucy blurted out, unable to contain the information any longer. The shock on Aaron's face was as indescribable as a Roman statue. "You what?" He yelled, his pupils practically falling out of his eyes.

"It was a mistake," Tim quickly added, attempting to mitigate the shock."We were drunk and things out out of hand."

Angela had formed a smirk, which worried both Tim and Lucy, "Aaron how did you forget! We called these two and discovered that their wasted asses had gotten themselves hitched in their civilian form and we also took the liberty of signing a witness signature so their union is permanent." She exclaimed boisterously laughing, resulting in a flustered Lucy and vexed Tim. "Only you two could turn an U.C opp into a soap opera!" Aaron added joining in with the teasing antics instigated by Angela.

Despite the tension between the couple, laughter broke the ice which was only shared by Angela and Aaron. The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on any of them, As the jet soared gaining altitude, the playful teases and banter continued until to laughter felt comfort enough for Lucy to slip into a much needed slumber to refresh her mind.

Tim had gazed over his sleeping wife and glared at the pair of hysterical hyenas still cackling with Aaron's fancy champagne in their clutch. All laughter had stopped as the pair noticed how Tim had carefully swept the stray hair away from Lucy's face and how he had gently propped her onto his shoulder so the she could be more comfortable also how he delicately placed a blanket on top of her timid body.

As the hours passed, Angela asked Tim with all seriousness "So what now? Are you going to annul it?" Her gaze softened as she examined their body language; they truly looked like they had been high school sweethearts.

Tim looked down at his 'wife'; the question still hung in the air and only Tim was awake to answer in their behalf. "I don't know," he sighed, running a hand through his hair, " we haven't really had time to think about it."

Aston nodded thoughtfully. "Well whatever you decide, just know that we're here for you. This doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to."

Tim felt and unfamiliar warmth spread through him. It was reassuring to know that they had the support of their friends. He looked back down at Lucy, "We have some big decisions coming our way." In this moment if Lucy was awake she would've had agreed.

The rest of the flight was spent in relative peace, the four of them indulging in their own types of happiness. Lucy had awoken upon a boisterous landing, they were greeted with all the familiarities of home. The chaos of Vegas had been put to rest, feeling like a dream but would inevitably end in a harsh reality.

As Lucy disembarked from the jet, Angela pulled Lucy aside, her expression serious. "Just so you know we're a team. Don't let this mess with your head."

Lucy nodded, grateful for the motherly reassurance. "Thanks, I needed that."

She walked towards the awaiting car where Tim had leant against conserving his patience.
"Ready?" He asked a hint of the infamous smirk reviving.

"Ready." She replied matching his optimism