Season 4 opened a new chapter in Lucy Chen's journey, and her relationship with Angela Lopez had shifted too. No longer the uncertain rookie, Lucy was now a more confident and skilled officer, but she still looked up to Angela, who had her challenges—balancing work with her new role as a mother.
The patrol car hummed as they cruised through Los Angeles streets, the city alive with its usual chaos. Lucy was behind the wheel this time, Angela sitting in the passenger seat, more laid back than she had been a season ago. But even now, Angela's eyes missed nothing, watching Lucy and the world outside with that sharp, seasoned gaze.
"How's little Jackson doing?" Lucy asked, referring to Angela's newborn son.
Angela smiled, and for a brief moment, the tough exterior softened. "He's great. Keeping me up all night, but that's the job, right?"
Lucy chuckled. "Sounds like my shift in the graveyard."
Angela gave her a sidelong glance. "You think graveyard shift is bad? Try running on two hours of sleep while also trying to keep a tiny human alive."
Lucy laughed, appreciating Angela's humor but also understanding the deeper meaning behind it. The pressure of being a mother on top of the already demanding job weighed heavily on her. Yet, Angela remained unshakable, someone who Lucy continued to admire.
Their light conversation was cut short by a call that came through the radio—an armed robbery in progress at a local convenience store. Angela's expression shifted, and Lucy felt her pulse quicken. This wasn't the routine stuff anymore.
"7-Adam-15, responding," Angela said into the radio before looking at Lucy. "You good to drive on this one?"
Lucy nodded, already flicking on the lights and sirens. "I've got it."
As they sped toward the scene, Angela gave Lucy a brief rundown. "Armed robbery means high risk. The suspect could be desperate, or just reckless. We go in cautiously, got it?"
"Got it," Lucy said, her grip tightening on the wheel as they approached the store.
They arrived to find the parking lot eerily quiet, but the store's windows were intact, which was a good sign. Angela motioned for Lucy to follow her lead as they carefully approached the entrance.
Angela peered through the glass, spotting the suspect—a man in his thirties holding a gun and pointing it at the cashier. There were a couple of customers inside, frozen with fear.
"We've got hostages," Angela whispered, stepping back. "Chen, I'm taking point. You stay with me but keep your eyes open for any movement. We don't want to spook him."
Lucy's heart raced, but she nodded, falling into step behind Angela. This wasn't the first time she'd faced a dangerous situation, but the stakes felt higher. It was one thing to practice scenarios at the academy and another to be in the moment, with lives hanging in the balance.
Angela positioned herself by the door and took a deep breath. "LAPD!" she shouted, opening the door just enough to get the suspect's attention. "Let's talk this out."
The man whipped around, his gun still raised, and for a split second, Lucy's hand hovered over her own weapon. But Angela had a calm, confident demeanor that cut through the tension.
"Don't do anything you'll regret," Angela continued. "Put the gun down, and no one gets hurt."
The man looked frantic, his eyes darting between Angela and the hostages. Lucy could see the desperation in his face, a mix of fear and adrenaline that made him unpredictable.
"I need the money!" he yelled, his grip on the gun tightening. "I don't have a choice!"
"There's always a choice," Angela replied steadily. "Look, we understand things might be tough right now, but this isn't the way to fix it. You don't want to hurt anyone, right?"
Lucy stayed just behind Angela, scanning the room, keeping her attention on the hostages while Angela worked to de-escalate. The cashier looked terrified but unharmed, and the customers seemed to be doing their best to stay still, not wanting to provoke the man.
Angela took a step forward, her hands still raised. "Listen to me. We can work this out, but you have to trust me. Put the gun down, and we'll figure it out together."
Lucy could see the man wavering. His eyes flickered between his hostages and the door, like he was calculating his escape. The tension was thick, and Lucy's instincts screamed for her to act. But she waited, trusting Angela's calm approach.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man's shoulders slumped. He lowered the gun, tossing it onto the counter in frustration.
"I just... I didn't know what else to do," he muttered.
Angela moved quickly, stepping forward and securing the weapon before handcuffing him. "You made the right choice," she said, her voice steady but firm. "Now we'll take it from here."
Lucy let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The tension in her chest eased as the hostages started moving, clearly shaken but unharmed. The relief was palpable, and Lucy admired the way Angela had handled the situation. There were no dramatics, no excessive force—just calm, level-headed de-escalation.
As they walked the suspect to the patrol car, Angela glanced at Lucy. "What did you learn from that?"
Lucy thought for a moment. "Patience. Reading the situation."
Angela nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Not every call's a shootout. Sometimes the best weapon you have is your words. You talk someone down, you save lives—yours, theirs, and anyone else caught in the middle."
They loaded the suspect into the back of the car, and Lucy couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. She was growing into the job, but more than that, she was learning to trust herself. With Angela Lopez as her mentor, she knew she was on the right track.
As they drove back to the station, Lucy looked over at Angela, feeling that same sense of admiration she had since day one.
"Thanks," Lucy said quietly.
Angela smiled slightly, her tough exterior still intact, but with that ever-present glimmer of care behind it. "You've earned it, Chen. Just keep showing up, and you'll do fine."
