secrets

The Rookie: Turmoil and Truth (Chapter eight)

Tim's POV

Tim stood in the sterile waiting area of the hospital, his heart pounding as the minutes dragged on. Lucy had been taken into surgery after that brutal encounter, and every second felt like a lifetime. The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall, and he turned to see Jackson and Angela approaching, their expressions serious.

"Any updates?" Jackson asked, glancing at the double doors anxiously.

"No, nothing yet," Tim replied, running a hand through his hair. The weight of the last few hours hung heavily on him. "I... I need you to do something."

"Sure, what is it?" Jackson leaned in, sensing Tim's urgency.

"I need you to pick up the kids," Tim said, his voice low. "They need to know what's happening with their mom."

Jackson's brow furrowed. "You sure about that? They're so young..."

"I know," Tim interrupted, guilt gnawing at him. "But they deserve to be here when she wakes up. They need to understand why she's not home."

"Alright," Jackson said reluctantly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll go get them."

Angela stood quietly, watching the exchange with curiosity. She had been filled with concern for Lucy but was now piecing together a different narrative. "What kids?" she asked, her tone incredulous. "You never mentioned you knew about her kids."

"Jackson is picking them up," Tim replied, keeping his voice steady. He didn't want to dive into the details, not now. "Lucy's kids." He avoided mentioning their marital status, knowing he needed to keep that a secret for now.

The wait felt endless, and Tim's anxiety began to rise as he thought about Lucy in surgery. He paced the waiting room, glancing at Angela, who was clearly still trying to connect the dots.

---

Ella and Jake Arrive

Tim barely registered the sound of little voices until the waiting area erupted with excitement.

"Daddy!" Ella called, running toward him with Jake right behind her.

Tim's heart swelled as he knelt down to embrace them. "Hey, sweethearts," he said, forcing a smile despite the weight of the situation.

"Is Mommy coming home?" Jake asked, his face alight with innocent hope.

"Yeah, she's in the hospital, but she's going to be okay," Tim assured them, ruffling Jake's hair.

Angela's eyes widened as she witnessed the reunion. "Wait a minute," she said, stepping closer. "These are your kids?"

Tim felt the heat rise in his cheeks. "Uh, yeah. They're... Lucy's kids."

"Your kids too?" Angela pressed, disbelief clear in her voice. "Tim, you never mentioned you were married or had children."

Tim took a deep breath, knowing this was the moment he had been trying to avoid. "Well, Lucy and I have been married for six years," he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. "We have two kids together."

Ella, still holding onto Tim, looked up at him with wide eyes. "Daddy, when will Mommy come home?"

"Soon, I promise," Tim replied, then turned back to Angela, trying to explain. "I didn't want to complicate things at work. It just... it didn't feel right to mix my personal life with my job."

Angela crossed her arms, processing the information. "And the fight? What happened?"

Tim swallowed hard, his gaze drifting to the floor. "It was stupid. We were both stressed, and I said some things I regret. But now... all I care about is Lucy getting through this."

Angela's expression softened slightly, though confusion still lingered. "Tim, you should have told us. We could have helped."

"I know, and I'm sorry," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I just wanted to keep them safe, you know? I didn't want anyone at LAPD to use that against her or the kids."

Ella and Jake looked between the adults, sensing the tension but not understanding it.

"Can we see Mommy?" Jake asked, his small voice cutting through the heaviness of the moment.

Tim knelt down, meeting his son's gaze. "As soon as she's out of surgery, I promise we'll go see her."

As they waited together in the hospital, the gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air, but amidst the uncertainty, Tim felt a flicker of hope. They would face whatever came next together—family, secrets, and all.