The morning was the moment of the day Lucy loved the most, especially when he was sleeping next to her. When she heard his alarm and felt his body moving from where he was glued, she sighed a bit.
"Five more minutes, please..."
"Two more minutes," he said, going back against her.
"Fine, two minutes.""
"You okay? You seem a little tense."
"Hm, hm. It's just... nevermind."
"Lucy ? ..."
"I don't like him. Stanton... but hey, 3 more months, right? "
"Three more months..." He kissed her neck and got up.
Lucy had three more months left as a rookie, but the past four months, riding with Officer Stanton has been a hardship. Stanton was her TO; at first, he seemed nice; let her believe they were partners more than a rookie and her TO. But as she was learning to know him, she didn't like him. She was sure she didn't want to become the cop he was. She didn't trust him. Recently, he couldn't stop asking about her personal life; he knew she was with someone. One day, from nowhere, Sergeant Bradford's name was quoted. Did Stanton know about them? He couldn't stop teasing her about these two subjects. For sure, Stanton knew about them. And he didn't like it. And it was not only that. His methods, his language, and his preconceptions were more than questionable. But he never crossed the line when she was next to him. She saw things when she was in the shop, she heard things too. But who is going to believe a rookie ?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tim and Lucy have been dating for three months. One night, he helped her fix her car. The battery was dead. To thank him, she offered him a beer at the bar. They talked and talked. Three days later, they met again, not for the car but for a drink. And they did it again. It was something smooth, easy, and comforting. At some point, he completely forgot she was a rookie, he forgot he was a sergeant, and he deeply forgot his own principles. Even if it was inappropriate because he was her superior officer, he was falling in love with her, and she was falling too. And after an umpteenth gaze when he escorted her to her car, they kissed. They became something neither of them planned: a couple. No one knew, no one except Sergeant Grey. The talk wasn't easy. Grey was upset; he gave them the speech. The one where you said nothing and just nodded. But when he saw the way Tim looked at her, he softened a bit. He knew Tim for a little while now; he saw him before and after Isabel, and he saw him at his best and his worst. But this Tim was different. He asked Lucy to leave his office.
"She's still a rookie, Bradford."
"I know, sir, but...""
"But you didn't choose to fall in love with her, right?""
"Hm.. "
"Listen, you have to keep it secret, at least until she's not a rookie anymore."
"But I have to move from her chain of command. Are any positions available, or should I ask for a transfer to another station?"
"That serious, hm?""
"Yes. " They had been dating for a month, and he was sure.
"Let me figure it out."
One week later, Tim was transferred to METRO, out of her chain of command, but still three more months in the dark before they could be public.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Another ride with her TO. Another day stuck with him for 12 hours. Twelve never-ending hours. As usual, they stopped at his favorite coffee shop and asked her to wait in the shop while he was inside. No coffee for her. They were dispatched several times—nothing big. He had his way of correcting her mistakes, and she hated it. He was so condescending. At some point, he made her understand that he was her superior and that she was nothing but a woman. She had to learn to shut up; she had this feeling that he was capable of everything. But sometimes, enough is enough. After a call, while they were going back to their shop, once again he had something to say about the words she used, and not only this. She was quiet. Once again, he put her down on so many levels. And it happened. She rolled her eyes, and he saw it.
