The rookie Groupchat

Chenford online argument P3

A:I just left the locker room. Lucy's in there. She's crying. Trying to hide it, but I can tell she's completely breaking down.

C:Crying? Lucy? That doesn't even sound real.

A:Trust me, it's real. I've never seen her like this before.

J:Is she okay? After that fight with Tim, I wouldn't be surprised if she's taking it hard, but crying... that's serious.

A:She's not okay, John. Not even close. It's like she's been holding it together with duct tape, and today just ripped everything apart. That fight hit her where it hurts.

Aa:I mean, it was brutal. Tim really laid into her. It was hard to even watch from the sidelines.

N:Lucy can hold her own against Tim in most arguments, but this one? He went too far, and it wasn't just about the job. He made it personal.

A:Exactly. And she's tried to brush off the whole "not making detective" thing for months, but clearly, it's been eating at her. Tim knows that. He went straight for the jugular this time, and now she's paying the price.

G:Wait a minute,Lucy's in the locker room crying? Are you telling me this got that bad?

A:Yeah, Sarge. I think it's been building for a while. Today just made her snap.

G:I heard bits and pieces of their argument earlier, but this... This is more than I expected. Bradford's always been tough on her, but it sounds like this time he crossed a line.

N:He did. And Lucy can only take so much. She's strong, but nobody's invincible.

C:I think it's more than just Tim's words, though. I mean, that stuff about her not making detective? That's been sitting on her for a long time. She's been bottling it all up, and today... it just exploded.

Aa:She seemed fine before, or at least she was pretending to be. But today... yeah, it's different.

A:It's more than just today, Aaron. She's been pushing herself to the limit, trying to prove that she's still capable, and then Tim hit her where she's most vulnerable. That's not something she can shake off easily.

G:I'll have to deal with Bradford on this. But right now, we need to focus on Lucy. She's not the type to break down like this unless she's hit her absolute limit.

C:I can go check on her. She probably doesn't want to talk, but maybe just being there will help.

J:Yeah, Celina, you're good at reading people. 

A:She might not open up to me, but she could with you. She doesn't need more pressure, just someone who gets it.

N:That sounds like the right move. Lucy doesn't need a lecture right now. She needs someone to let her feel what she's feeling without making it worse.

G:Exactly. Go ahead, Celina. 

G:Just let her know we're here if she needs us, but don't push her. If she wants space, give her space.

C:I'll go talk to her. Be back in a few.

A Few minutes later

C:Okay, so I sat with her for a while. She didn't want to talk at first, just kind of sat there, wiping her eyes like she was trying to pull herself together. But after a bit, she started talking.

A:What did she say? How bad is it?

C:She's angry. Really angry. And she's hurt. She feels like everything she's worked for, everything she's been through,it's just never enough. She said it's like she's constantly trying to prove herself, especially to Tim, and no matter what she does, it's like she's still failing.

Aa:That's rough. I mean, Lucy's always been so confident on the outside, but I guess that doesn't mean she isn't struggling.

G:That's what happens when people feel like they're being pushed to the edge and no one's acknowledging their efforts. 

N:Tim's always been tough on her, but I think he forgot that she's not his rookie anymore. She's his equal, and he can't treat her like he's training her for the academy. He's been hammering that detective thing way too much.

C:Yeah, that's exactly it. She feels like no matter how hard she works, she'll always be "the one who didn't make detective." And every time Tim brings it up, it's like twisting the knife. She said she's tired of trying to meet expectations that seem impossible.

A:She's not wrong. Tim keeps holding that over her head, and honestly, it's not fair. She's more than capable. She just hit a bump, and he's turned it into a roadblock.

G:This needs to stop. I'm going to have a serious talk with Bradford. He's a sergeant now, and part of his job is knowing how to lead without breaking people down. He crossed a line today, and we're not going to let this continue.

Aa:Yeah, Tim can be intense, but this time, it feels personal. It's like he's projecting his own stuff onto her, and Lucy's the one who's paying the price.

J:I think Tim's frustrations with his own career are coming out in how he treats Lucy. It's like he sees her struggles as a reflection of his own failures, and instead of helping her, he's pushing her too hard.

N:That's probably exactly what's happening. But that doesn't make it okay. Lucy's had enough, and it's up to us to make sure she knows she's not alone in this. Tim may be her superior, but he doesn't define her.

G:Lucy's one of our best. She's proven herself time and time again. This isn't about rank or titles. This is about mental and emotional health. And I'm not going to stand by while one of my officers is pushed past her breaking point.

A:We need to remind her of that, Sarge. She's so caught up in what she hasn't achieved that she's forgetting everything she's already accomplished. And Tim's not helping by throwing that detective thing in her face every chance he gets.

G:I'll make sure he understands that, Angela. But for now, we need to give Lucy the support she needs. She's tougher than most, but everyone has their limits. Let's not let her think she's facing this alone.

C:She's not alone. I told her that. 

C:She didn't say much after, but I could tell she appreciated it. She just needs time to work through everything. But I'll keep checking on her, make sure she doesn't shut everyone out completely.

A:Good. Thanks, Celina. We've got her back, no matter what.

J: we all do

N:that's what she needs to know.