Can you Remember the Church Bells Ringing

Chapter 5

The drive back him from the airstrip was heavy with excessive silence - mirroring the same journey to endures to get out of Vegas and their awkward memories of boot and T.O. Tim and Lucy slumped in the backseats, occasionally glancing at each other, each exchange charged with the intensity of the past 24hours. The events of Vegas had left them reeling and now ,back in L.A, they were faced with the reality of resolving their matters to a state of normality. 

As the car neared Tim's house, he had managed to muster up the shreds of himself to break her quiet spell.

"Why don't you stay at my place for a while?" He offered, his tone a mix of insistence and awkwardness. "Angela said we might as well be debriefed tomorrow after everything that's  happened."

Lucy hesitated, her mind was racing at the thought and wondrous possibilities of her accepting. "I don't know Tim. Maybe it's best for everyone if I just head home today," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.

His eyes softened but his resolve was clear. "Luce, please. You need rest and it would make me more comfortable knowing that you are safe with me."

Her heart could have melted into a puddle of goo if she was still in love with him but her infatuation would always remain. Tim could read her like the back of his hand; he could map each and every look she made it was like he had memorised a map that was particularly appealing to his eyes. "Stop overthink it. You're staying with me."

Lucy noted that this was no longer a suggestion or an offer yet and order form her senior officer. "I wouldn't want to impose." She sighed avoiding his harsh gaze.

Tim knew that Lucy was stubborn but he never knew that she could be this stubborn. "Chen or other Bradford you should stay with me or stay for Kojo until we figure this out." He used his 'T.O' voice that Lucy and Angela had once labelled which was quite know to scare the rookies.

Lucy shot him a seemingly harmful look. She was the 'other Bradford' or so. "Do not try to intimidate me with that voice because the thing we did would not be tolerated for a normal rookie and T.O."

Tim had lost all his oxygen - she was absolutely right and he hated that he had loved it. "Too early for jokes," he affirmed.

"Maybe a bit, but nothing puppy love can't fix."

Tim couldn't help but smile at himself and Lucy; the events of the past day had clearly left them both drained but having Lucy by his side made it all seem a little more bearable.

"Welcome home," Tim said softly, a small smile playing in his lips as he held the door open for Lucy.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. Memories flooded back to her, reminding her of the last time she had been here - after Jackson's death, seeking solace in Tim's comforting presence. The memory was vivid and bittersweet, hanging in the air between them.

Tim noticed the hesitation in her step, his heart sinking as he realised the weight of her memories. "Hey," he said gently, reaching out to touch her arm "it's ok. We're in this together now."

Lucy nodded, her gaze softening as she met his serene eyes but she still felt a pang of loss and guilt. "Y'know if he was here, he would've have been in that car with us begging us for information and constantly teasing us." Lucy stated as she giddied over the thought.

He gave her a reassuring smile and let out a slight chuckle in an attempt to brighten her mood.

They moved inside, the coziness of Tim's humble abode offered a stark contrast to the turmoil of their thoughts. Tim led her into the living room, where they sat down, trying to recover a sense of regularity amid the chaos of their newfound nuptials.

"So," Tim began, leaning back in the couch, "what's our next move?"

"Did you really just turn this well whatever this is into a football analogy ?"

He simply sniggered at her response, "What I meant to say was: we have to figure out how to handle this... situation."

Lucy sighed running her hands through Kojo's silky coat of fur ,that lay on her lap, "We need to firstly tell Grey and we should get our story straight. Knowing Angela she has spun the truth into her own fantasy. But isn't her brother a priest so can't we ask her if there's any way to annual this quickly and quietly but until then we have to keep going as we normally have."

"Agreed. We need to ensure that the news of our situation does spread around the station - this is entirely our personal business." Tim did most definitely not agree with this. It was unbelievable that she wanted to dissolve their affiliation as soon as possible. He had just got a taste of her - he had felt her body in his hands, he had heard all the noises she made during that night. He had wanted more of her ever since they woke up, he had felt his icy heart swell whenever she smiled at him. He couldn't he selfish with her, she was only 28, she was 10 years younger than him, she had so much more to explore and love and loose. He had already been married and attempted to settle down but Lucy she had ages to decide how to live her life; it had taken her so long to come to terms with a job that she had truly loved despite her parents wishes.

Lucy smiled, feeling a sense of comfort and relief, she knew that Tim would not hesitate to make anyone's life a living hell if they pried into their personal business. Although consolation washed over her worries, he had kept referring to them and their marriage as a 'we' and this was not the royal 'we' or just partners 'we'; this had some sort of affection and borderline lust hanging over it. It was almost crazy to think so but he didn't hesitate or stutter or worry at the outcomes of their union.  

It was when she offered him a smile again that he knew that he may have developed feelings for her, it had consumed his every being. Every atom of his body had grown accustomed to her and her peculiar ways. She wanted the annulment and wanted her chance at happiness, what kindo friend/husband would he be if he had denied her that. 

Just as they started to grovel at their inner thoughts, Lucy's phone range, breaking the fragile calm the shrill sound cutting through the air like a knife. She glanced at the caller I.D. It was Tamara. 

Lucy heart had temporarily stopped as she answered the call, he voice trembled as the realisation sunk in. How could she be so foolish to leave Tamara all of her own, what is she had got hurt, what if she had gotten in danger or trouble. The endless series or what ifs circled her mind as she asked what was wrong. 

Tim had tried to listen to Tamara's muffled voice over the phone, the conversation grew more frantic as he saw Lucy's face freeze, his own anxiety mounting with each passing second. Something was wrong - terribly wrong.  

As Lucy hung up the phone, her face drained of colour, Tim knew that their moment of peace had been shattered. Without a word, Lucy stood up, her hands trembling as she reach for her bag. 

"I have to go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Tim stood up too, his heat echoed in his throat. "Lucy, wait!" he pleaded, reaching to grab her arm. 

She was already out of the door. She was already out of his reach. She had looked so scared and troubled and she had left. She had left him, trying to scramble the pieces together of her departure.