𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆, tim bradford

𝟬𝟬𝟱. listened

╭── ✿ ❀ ღღ ✿ ❀ ──╮
005. listened
╰── ❀ ✿ ღღ ❀ ✿ ──╯

penelope and tim were back on patrol. tim hadn't spoken much after the situation with isabel, but it didn't really matter as he couldn't have gotten a word in anyway. penelope hated silence. since she was a child, she'd sing herself songs to keep the soundless presence away. she hadn't stopped talking since they left the store, and wasn't planning on stopping until a call came in.

"-so i was offended, as you would be, and this manager just kept saying 'i'm going to have to ask you to leave'! so i left because i don't like confrontation, but i was thinking, i wasn't breaking any rules! it's not my fault that i'm good at poker and last time i checked, being good at something wasn't grounds to escort them from the premises" she rambled away, sure that tim wasn't listening.

not many people did listen to her when she spoke. wether it was because they didn't think she had anything good to say, because she said too much, or because they just found her annoying, penny didn't know. she did know that she'd rather be underestimated than overestimated, so she made her peace with it.

one thing she knew was that her father never listened to her. not when she was speaking or singing or crying or screaming, he had a special talent of ignoring her begs for him to stop. to stop hurting her mommy, to stop yelling, to stop hurting her. either he didn't want to listen or he just didn't care. either way, it taught penelope from a young age that you can't make people listen if they don't want to.

she continued with her out loud thoughts, not expecting an answer at all. "and the thing is, that was the sixth time it had happened. so long story short, that's why i'm banned from all the casino's in vegas. oh, and one in new york but that's for a different reason" she waved herself off.

"speaking of casino's and poker, my dog- i don't know if i told you i had a dog, three actually, but that's not the point, one of them is called chip! not like 'poker chip' like 'chocolate chip' but it just reminded me of him. besides-" penelope cut herself off abruptly with a frown, turning to tim who hadn't moved a muscle unless it was to drive the car. "i'm sorry, i'll be quiet" she apologised, forcing herself to shut up to that time could have a minute to think about what had happened.

"don't" was all the T.O said, still not looking at her.

"what?"

"don't be quiet. keep talking" he ordered "what about your other dogs" he encouraged. when penelope didn't say anything, in shock that he wanted her to talk, no matter actually listened to what she was saying, tim glanced at her quickly, sighing impatiently "that's an order, doc!"

"right um" she couldn't stop the uncontrollable smile that made its way onto her face. he listened "so my other two are cupcake and peaches. they're the cutest, i'll show you pictures when we get back to the station actually-" she carried on talking about her dogs, failing to notice tim's smile.

as she spoke about the pets, tim could almost see what he assumed where tiny, yappy things with pink collars and glittery carriers. it felt like sausage dogs or chihuahuas fit penny the best. little dogs that would probably hate the grumpy cat he had at home.

unfortunately, penny's talk got cut short by their radio coming to life, causing penelope's words to quickly die down "7-adam-15 requesting additional unit to meet us at 1350 bellview street. possible location of our BOLO suspect. we are en route"

tim picked up the radio, responding accordingly "7-adam-19, show us responding"

"7-adam-19, be advised, we are approximately five minutes away" talia replied through the radio.

𐦍 ❀༄𖥸𓍊𓋼𓍊𖤓𓇢𓆸𖤓𓍊𓋼𓍊𖥸༄ ❀ 𐦍

the pair pulled up to the alley the call directed them to, just to see two men standing next to a car, the trunk wide open. tim bad briefed her quickly, mentioning about how it was likely selby that they'd encounter, warning her to be careful.

"you were right" penelope commented "it's selby" she expected tim to radio the information in. he hadn't been keen on letting her do much by herself. she somewhat understood that he didn't know weather she could handle herself or not, but on the other hand, how could she prove anything is she didn't have the chance.

to her surprise, tim picked to the radio and held it out to her "call it in. backup and airship" he instructed.

"right" she nodded to herself, a soft smile on her face "7-adam-19. show us code 6 on BOLO suspect, we need backup and airship" she spoke into the device. tim then opened the door to the car, getting out but staying behind the door. penelope followed, though she went to step out, not thinking anything of it.

"no, no, no" tim stopped, holding out a hand towards her "you stay here till we clear them from that car" he reminded. penelope nodded nonchalantly, even though she was cursing herself internally. she knew that! why didn't she do it?

"LAPD, gentlemen" tim announced their presence "step away from the car and show me your hands"

"there a problem, officer?" selby asked.

"there will be if you don't show me those hands" he waited a beat, still no motion coming from the man "now!"

selby did show them his hands. just not in the way they had hoped. he and his companion pulled weapons out from the trunk of the car they were shielding themselves behind. before penny could register what was happening, they began shooting towards the officers. she quickly returned the sentiment, as did tim.

almost immediately after the shoot out began, a bullet flew through tim's door window, smashing it and imbedding itself into tim's midsection. pennys eyes widened. she ducked down quickly, moving down and behind the car of the car while radioing in for help "7-adam-19, officer down. shots fired in the alley of bellevue and clinton. i repeat, officer down! send help!"

she then moved forward dragging her T.O behind the shop. she turned to tim who was putting pressure on his wound "stay there!" she yelled over the sounds of gunfire, beginning to instruct obvious actions as an effect of the stress.

"well i can't exactly go anywhere can i?" tim groaned, pushing the back of his head into the ground from pain.

"i know that! i'm making sure i don't kill my T.O during my first shift!" she said back, the number of shots to the car making it go up in flames. penelope grabbed tim again, dragging him further from the car. as she did, nolan and chen appeared form seemingly nowhere, one of them shooting a shot near selby as he ran away.

"you okay?" nolan asked tim when he reached them as lucy bent down next to him.

"no! i got shot!"

"no! he got shot!" she yelled at the same time as tim.

"you go" lucy told john and penny, having injured her ankle on the run there and knowing the other two were in better shape to chase selby. "i'll stay till the RA units arrive.

when penelope was under stress, she tended to explain things that people didn't need explaining. her friends growing up usually called it pen-splaining. like mansplaining but for penny. she knew lucy knew what to do but she needed to make sure.

"apply pressure to the wound with some fabric, add more if the blood comes through, don't pack it because there's no exit wound, keep him awake and the RA unit'll be here in about four and a half minutes" she told lucy, looking down at tim as she reloaded her gun "you" she pointed at him "don't die!"

"wasn't planning on it" he gave her a small smile before his expression turned serious "now go, doc!"

———— authors note 💭

hey loves! i literally love penny so much u don't understand. i think she's my second favourite oc out of all of them (including my drafted books) she's so cute 🤭🤭🤭

lmk if you think i should add a TW for the bit about her dad. i don't think i need to because i have a TW at the start of the book and it's not really explicit but... yeah

anywayyyyy, i hope you liked the chapter and please comment and vote <3