Secrets (Never to be Told)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucy woke up, blinded by the white hospital lights. She groaned as she sat up, looking around the room. Her eyes stopped at a sleeping Tim on a plastic chair next to her bed, a teen magazine unopened on the small table next to him.

He stirred at the rustle of the hospital bedsheets.

"You're awake." He rubbed the sleep off his eyes, groaning as he stretched his body. "I am." She chuckled. "I'm also having a déjà vu." She pointed to the teen magazine. "Have you found out your BTS soulmate yet?"

Tim grinned, shaking his head. "Still don't know what a BTS is", he slid the chair closer to the bed, "how are you feeling?"

Lucy shrugged. "My head hurts, that damn nightstand did a good job." She looked at the IV fluids, almost empty. "Other than that, I'm okay. Are we still in Las Vegas?" Tim shook his head again. "No, you were transferred to St. Stephens via helicopter. They stitched you up and here we are."

The door opened and a nurse came into the room. "Good to see you awake, Miss Chen." She flipped a page on her clipboard. "We're going to run a few last tests, then you're free to go!" She smiled at her as she put down the clipboard and prepared vials to take some blood. "When will I be able to return to work?" Lucy asked, looking at the blood running into the vial. "Depends on how fast you're recovering. At least a week, can go up to a month – to confirm you'll have to come in for a check-up."

Lucy sighed, nodding. "Okay." The nurse left, and Tim slid over again, taking her hand. "I'm sure you'll be back in no time." He smiled, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry." Lucy looked up at him. "For what?" Tim traced the blueish veins on her hand. "The mission failed. You said it was a bad idea." He shook his head. "It's not your fault. Besides, we got Roy and with that another way into his world." Tim shifted in his seat and Lucy sighed. "If you say so..."

They were released a few hours later, and Angela dropped them off at Tim's house. She was going to pick up his truck from the station afterwards.

Lucy made her way to the couch, holding onto the wall to fight the dizziness. She laid down once she reached it, careful to not apply any pressure on the wound.

"Careful with that" Tim was quick to kneel beside the couch, helping her set it up to her comfort.

She was fast asleep within a few minutes and Tim took the time to prepare light foods for her to eat. He also made sure to place a bucket in reach in case she needed to throw up. When the soup he made was finished and he left it on the cooled stove until it was actually needed, someone knocked on the door.

He opened it, not surprised to see Nyla with his daughter.

"Daddy!" Hailee sprung into his arms, and he caught her, hugging her tight. "Hi there, honey." Tim ruffled her hair as Nyla closed the door behind her. "So, how is she?" Her gaze wandered over to Lucy's sleeping figure.

"Dizzy, headaches – the usual. We have a check-up in a week." Tim got Hailee's backpack on the table as his daughter was playing with Kojo. "Is mommy okay?"

She was sitting on the ground, petting Kojo as she looked up at her father. "Yes, she will be okay. But she needs a lot of rest." Hailee nodded eagerly.

His attention went back to his colleague. "So, we heard Rosalind escaped?" Nyla sighed, nodding. "Yeah, she teamed up with her lawyer and she left the building in a uniform. But don't worry, she's already back in prison."

Harper didn't stay long. She said her goodbyes and recovery wishes and left the small family alone.

"How did mommy get hurt?" Tim sat at the kitchen table with Hailee, watching her eat a bowl of reheated soup.

"She was pushed and then hit her head." Tim scratched the back of his head. There was much more that happened, but none of it was kid appropriate.

As Hailee started another question, she was interrupted by a groan coming from the living room.

Tim and Hailee headed to the living room and he sat on the couch next to her, sliding a strand of her behind her ear with a smile. "Hey, feeling better?" Lucy nodded, trying to sit up. "Yes, thank you." Her gaze wandered over to her daughter, and she immediately opened her arms wide, inviting her in for a hug. "Hailee, baby!" The little girl smiled brightly, hugging her mother tightly.

He watched them. For years, he'd yearned for this – having a child with the woman he loved. Now he finally had it, under different circumstances than imagined, but it was there – so why was he feeling so weird about it?

Tim was shaken out of his thoughts by Hailee throwing herself into his lap, demanding a hug from him as well (he was more than happy to oblige).

Lucy had watched him; even concussed, she noticed the shift in his behavior.

"Don't you think it's almost time to go to bed?" Lucy ruffled her daughter's hair, earning herself a groan, but a few minutes later, Hailee pulled out of the hug and disappeared into the bathroom.

"A penny for your thoughts?" She scooched closer to Tim, sliding her hand over his.

He sighed. He didn't want to worry her, especially not when she was injured and had her own stuff to deal with. "I don't know, it's probably nothing." Tim shrugged it off, but Lucy only tightened her grip on his hand. "Please? Maybe I can help you with it?" She gave him a short smile.

"I", he started, stopping to think of a proper way to say it. "With you and Hailee, I have everything I've ever wanted." He looked down at his lap, but Lucy encouragingly squeezed his hand to continue. "Somehow it just felt...weird, watching you just now. The connection, I think? I've missed ten years that I can't get back or get a redo on. I...I don't really know how to explain it."

He looked up, his blue eyes now meeting her brown ones. For some reason, he'd expected a frown, but instead he was met with a smile. "It's not your fault. Life happens, you'll just have to make the most of it."

She pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Speaking of doing something." She pointed at his chest, poking him lightly. "You still owe me a date."