Chenford Oneshots

As long as I'm here no one can hurt you

A/n: This is unrelated to the series I just did! Enjoy!

Tim was in the middle of a training session when his phone buzzed on the table, the screen lighting up with Lucy's name. He paused, sensing something was off by the urgency in her tone when he answered.

"Lucy? Hey, what's up?" he said, trying to keep his voice calm and reassuring.

"Tim," she said, her voice shaky and barely audible, "I... I need you. I can't breathe!"

Panic shot through him as he realized she was crying. "I'm on my way. Just stay on the line with me, okay?"

He grabbed his keys and rushed out of the precinct, his heart racing as he drove to her apartment. "Lucy, just focus on my voice. I'm almost there. Can you tell me what's happening?"

"I don't know, I just... I can't think straight," she choked out. "I keep seeing things, and it's like everything is closing in on me."

"Okay, just breathe with me. In through your nose, out through your mouth," he instructed, trying to keep his own panic at bay. "You're not alone, Lucy. I'm almost there."

When he reached her building, he rushed inside and up the stairs, knocking on her door frantically. "Lucy! It's Tim!"

"Tim!" she called out, her voice breaking. "Please, hurry!"

He pushed the door open, finding her sitting on the floor, her back against the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked lost, her breathing rapid and shallow.

"Hey, I'm here," he said softly, kneeling beside her. "Let's work through this together."

"Everything feels so overwhelming," she gasped, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I can't escape it. It's all coming back."

Tim took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's okay to feel this way. You're safe with me. Remember those grounding techniques we talked about?"

She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "I—I don't know if I can do it."

"Yes, you can. Let's start with your senses. What can you see right now?"

"Uh... the couch, the coffee table," she stammered, trying to focus.

"Good. Now what can you hear?"

"I can hear the fridge humming," she said, her voice shaky.

"Great. Keep going. What do you feel?" he encouraged, moving closer to her.

"I feel the carpet beneath me. It's soft," she replied, her breathing still erratic but starting to stabilize.

"Perfect. You're doing amazing, Lucy. Now let's work on your breathing," he said, gently guiding her through the process. "In for four seconds, hold for four, and out for six. Just follow my lead."

They practiced together, Tim counting softly as Lucy mirrored his breaths. Slowly, her breathing began to even out, the panic starting to subside.

After a few minutes, she finally looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry for falling apart like this."

"Hey, there's nothing to apologize for," Tim said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "I'm just glad I got here in time."

"But it feels so embarrassing," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I thought I was past all this."

"You've been through a lot, and it's okay to have moments like this," he reassured her. "What matters is that you're not alone. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Lucy leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his presence. "Thank you for coming. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Just remember, you can always reach out to me. I want to help you through this," he said, rubbing her arm soothingly. "You're strong, Lucy, but it's okay to lean on someone sometimes."

Tim pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, letting the warmth of the moment settle around them. "You're safe here, as long as I'm here, no one can hurt you," he whispered, pulling her fully into his arms. He held her tightly, letting her know he was right there, steady and unwavering.

As they sat together on the floor, Lucy felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. The shadows of her past still lingered, but having Tim beside her made the burden a little lighter. She realized that even in her darkest moments, she had someone who cared deeply.

"Tim?" she said softly after a moment of silence.

"Yeah?" he replied, his tone gentle.

"I love you."

He smiled, squeezing her shoulder. "I love you too, Lucy. Always."

They stayed like that for a while, the panic slowly fading as comfort and reassurance enveloped them. In that moment, Tim could finally relax, his own panic subsiding as he focused on the woman in his arms. With Lucy by his side, he knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.