The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Nineteen

A/N: I just wanted to give you guys a heads up that I'm going to be very busy in these next couple of weeks as I am moving soon and working extra shifts to help pay for the move. I'm still going to try to get at least one chapter out a week, but I can't make any promises there. Thank you for being so patient with me and as always, let me know what you think!

Also, I work a double today *cries*

TIM'S POV:

I'm so worried. I can't seem to get to the hospital fast enough. I don't entirely trust Emiliana yet, but Lucy does, and I trust her. Besides, something about this whole situation gives me a bad feeling. Emiliana is telling the truth - I don't know how I know, but I just do.

I can't get there fast enough. It feels like it's taking ages. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I can see the hospital come into my line of sight. I speed up. I need to get there, and I need to get there now. There's no time for me to be late.

I see cop cars as I approach. Sirens. Lights. F*ck. Something happened. Please, please don't let it be Lucy. Please let her be safe and sound.

I pull into a parking spot and practically jump out of my car. What the hell happened here? I'm about to clear the police barricades when hospital security steps in front of me. "Sir, you can't go in here, it's an active crime scene-"

Despite the words crime scene causing my blood to run cold, I can't allow my emotions to get the better of me and cloud my judgement. Not here. Not now.

I clear my throat and adjust my flannel so he could see my badge clipped to my belt. "I'm a police sergeant with Metro."

His eyes widen with recognition. "Oh, Sargeant Bradford, please forgive me. I didn't recognize you in your civvies."

"Understandable. Now, if you don't mind," I gesture behind him and he immediately nods, stepping aside. I walk as fast as I possibly can, as I know better than to sprint in an active crime scene. I normally enjoy the area in front of the hospital, which is a small garden designed for people to take a walk in, however right now it feels like an impossibly long obstacle.

Warm memories flood my brain, memories of the two of us, Lucy and myself, walking through this very courtyard, with Sasha in our hands as we crossed what then felt short but now is long on the way to take her home. Such a stark contrast for the reason that I am walking through that very same courtyard right now.

I approach my next obstacle soon enough. The cop stationed in front of the hospital doors. Something is telling me that no matter what I do or say, he isn't going to let me past. I'm going to have to get creative.

I think back to a few months ago, when Lucy made me watch The Princess Diaries 2, and one scene in particular caught my eye. Something I had originally registered as a clever escape plan if I ever needed one. The only difference is that I'm trying to get in. And the plan itself is only going to need a few minor adjustments to properly fit the situation.

Luckily for me, I'm able to find some vines that run along a small portion of one of the back walls of the hospital. It goes up just high enough that I should be able to reach the floor that the NICU is on. I don't know what it is, but something in my gut, intuition or instinct, is telling me that it's where I need to go. I've been doing this kind of thing for long enough that I know to trust my gut.

Lucy would love it if she knew that I was using the very movie - which she had to practically beg me to watch - to get to her.

I take a deep breath and go for it. This is like a scene out of a f*cking movie. I'd laugh if my hands weren't burning. F*ck. Dropmore Scarlett. I'm allergic to this type of vine. I don't care enough to stop or slow down. No allergic reaction is going to stop me from saving the life of my lover.