Unexpected Love

25. The Unexpected

Despite the gloomy weather, the mood inside the car was even darker. Lucy's words hung heavy in the air, her anxiety palpable. "I can't shake this feeling, Ang," she said, her voice laced with unease. But Angela, lost in her own thoughts about an upcoming promotion, brushed it off with a wave of her hand.

"Don't worry so much, Lucy. It's just another day at work." Lucy bit her lip, wanting to argue but knowing it would fall on deaf ears. Angela was always so focused on moving forward, on tackling the next big challenge, that she rarely paid heed to the subtler nuances of life.

*Maybe she's right,* Lucy thought, staring out the window as the cityscape blurred past. *Maybe I'm just being paranoid.* Still, the knot in her stomach refused to loosen, and she couldn't shake the sense that today was different - that something was coming.

As they pulled into the station's parking lot, Lucy steeled herself for the day ahead, determined to prove Angela right and her own fears wrong.

Suddenly the radio blared- it was an active shooting.

As Lucy and Tim rushed to the scene, adrenaline coursed through their veins. The radio chatter was chaotic, filling the car with a symphony of urgent voices and static. Lucy's heart raced, her breath shallow in her chest.

*This isn't just another call,* she thought, her stomach twisting. *This is real danger.* She glanced at Tim, his jaw set in determination, and felt a flicker of gratitude for his experience. They parked the cruiser a safe distance away, drawing their weapons as they approached the building. The sound of gunfire echoed through the air, each shot sending a fresh wave of dread down Lucy's spine.

*Please let everyone be okay,* she prayed silently, her grip tightening on her gun. As they entered the building, Lucy tried to push aside her fear and focus on the task at hand. She trusted Tim implicitly, and together they moved with practiced efficiency, clearing room after room. Her senses were on high alert, every sound amplified, every shadow suspect.

She couldn't help but think of Angela back at the station, oblivious to the chaos unfolding. Lucy knew she couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment, not now.

Suddenly a bullet flew through the air. Tim ducked just on time, but others weren't as quick.

Time seemed to slow as Lucy felt the searing pain rip through her abdomen. She stared down in disbelief at the growing red stain spreading across her shirt, her mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Tim's shout registered dimly in her ears as he pushed her back behind cover, his own gun raised. Lucy's knees buckled, her vision swimming. *This can't be happening,* she thought, her heart pounding in her ears. *Not today, not here.*

The world spun around her as Tim barked orders into his radio, calling for backup and medical assistance. His face was a blur of concern as he knelt beside her, applying pressure to the wound.

Lucy's hand shook as she reached for his arm, gripping it tightly. "I'm...I'm sorry," she managed to choke out, guilt washing over her for being so stupid and slow.

Tim's expression softened, his eyes filled with a fierce protectiveness. "Don't you dare apologize," he said firmly. "Just stay with me, Lucy. Help is on the way." Lucy nodded weakly, fighting to keep her eyes open as the pain threatened to consume her.