Lucy Chen-Secret Life

The Unraveling

Mid-Wilshire—Hours Later

By now, everyone has noticed that something's wrong with Lucy. Her behavior has become erratic, and the tension in her body is obvious to anyone who looks at her. She keeps glancing at her phone, checking the same notifications over and over, and her usually calm demeanor has been replaced with a quiet panic.

Tim Bradford, having given Lucy some space earlier, finally walks over again. He leans against her desk, his expression serious.

Tim Bradford: (firmly but softly)
"Chen. I'm not letting this go. Whatever's going on, you need to tell me."

Lucy looks up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She wants to tell him—she wants to tell everyone—but the words are stuck in her throat. She feels like she's suffocating under the weight of it all.

Lucy Chen: (quietly)
"It's... it's nothing, Tim."

Tim crosses his arms, his eyes locked on hers.

Tim Bradford:
"I'm not buying that. You've been a wreck for hours. You're shaking, you're barely talking, and you look like you're about to lose it. What's going on?"

Lucy glances around the room, feeling the walls closing in on her. Everyone is watching her, waiting for her to crack. She clenches her fists, trying to hold on to the last bit of control she has left.

Lucy Chen: (pleading)
"Just... leave it alone. I'm fine."

Tim's expression softens slightly, but he doesn't move. He can see the fear in her eyes, and it's starting to worry him.

Tim Bradford: (gently)
"Lucy, we're your team. Whatever's going on, we can help. But you need to let us in."

Lucy bites her lip, her eyes darting around the room as the pressure builds. She can't tell them. She can't let them know about Grace, not like this.

Lucy Chen: (more forcefully)
"I said I'm fine, Tim! Just drop it!"

Tim steps back slightly, surprised by her outburst. But he doesn't leave. He's not giving up on her that easily.

Tim Bradford:
"I'm not dropping this, Lucy. You're not acting like yourself, and you need to talk to someone."

Lucy stares at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She's on the verge of breaking, but she's still fighting to hold it all together. She doesn't know how much longer she can keep it up.

Lucy Chen: (softly, almost whispering)
"Please, just... let me handle it."

Tim watches her, his concern deepening. He's never seen her like this before, and it's starting to scare him.

Tim Bradford:
"Lucy, whatever this is... you don't have to handle it alone."

Lucy doesn't respond, her mind spinning as she stares at her phone, her breath shaky. She knows her secret can't stay buried much longer, but she's not ready to let it out. Not yet.

The hours drag on, and Lucy's stress continues to build. Everyone has asked her at some point what's going on

Lucy's heart pounds louder, echoing in her ears. She feels like the walls are closing in, the weight of the secret suffocating her. She's been fighting to hold it together, but Tim's words hit her like a wave, breaking through her defenses. For the first time in hours, she feels the cracks widening, and she's not sure she can stop it.

Her eyes well up with tears, and she presses her lips together, her whole body tense. She knows she can't keep this inside anymore. Her daughter—Grace—is all she can think about. Stuck in a school that's on lockdown, just like this station. Lucy feels utterly helpless.

Tim steps closer, his voice gentle but filled with urgency.

Tim Bradford:
"Lucy... talk to me. I can't help if you don't let me in."

Lucy's resolve finally shatters. She feels the dam break, and before she can stop herself, the words slip out. Her voice is shaky, raw with emotion.

Lucy Chen: (quietly, almost a whisper)
"I... I have a daughter."

The words hang in the air, and for a moment, Tim is silent, absorbing the shock of what he just heard. Lucy's eyes are brimming with tears now, her hands trembling as she looks up at him, fear and guilt flooding her expression.

Tim Bradford: (blinking in surprise)
"A daughter? You... you've had a daughter this whole time?"

Lucy nods slowly, her voice barely audible.

Lucy Chen:
"Her name's Grace. She's... she's at school right now. The school's on lockdown, just like we are, and I can't get to her. She's all alone, and I can't do anything."

The weight of her confession finally lifts, but the fear in her chest doesn't go away. If anything, it intensifies. She's terrified of what Tim must think—what all of them will think. For so long, she's kept Grace a secret, shielding her from the chaos of her life as a cop. But now, the secret is out, and there's no taking it back.

Tim takes a moment to process, his expression softening as the shock fades into understanding. He's known Lucy long enough to know that whatever decision she made to keep this hidden, she did it for a reason.

Tim Bradford: (softly)
"Lucy... why didn't you tell me?"

Lucy wipes at her eyes, her voice trembling as she tries to explain.

Lucy Chen:
"I didn't want anyone to know. I didn't want to bring her into this... this life, this chaos. She's just a kid. I thought I could keep her safe by keeping her separate. But now..."

Her voice breaks as the weight of it all crashes down on her.

Lucy Chen:
"Now I can't even protect her. I don't know what's happening at her school. I don't know if she's okay, and I'm stuck here. I can't do anything, Tim."

Tim's heart aches as he watches Lucy crumble in front of him. She's always been so strong, so capable. But now, he sees just how much she's been carrying on her own. He steps closer, his voice gentle and reassuring.

Tim Bradford:
"Lucy, you're not alone in this anymore. We'll figure this out together. But you don't have to carry this by yourself."

Lucy wipes at her face again, sniffling as she tries to pull herself together, but her emotions are still overwhelming her.

Lucy Chen: (whispering)
"I'm so scared, Tim. What if something happens to her? What if I lose her, and I'm not even there?"

Tim kneels down beside her, his voice steady and comforting.

Tim Bradford:
"You're not going to lose her. We're going to get through this lockdown, and then we'll find a way to make sure she's safe. But right now, you've got to trust us. Let us help you."

Lucy looks at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief. She's been holding onto this secret for so long, trying to protect her daughter from the dangers of her world. But now, with the team around her, she realizes she doesn't have to do it alone anymore.

The door to her emotional cage has been opened, and though the fear remains, there's a small part of her that feels lighter. For the first time in a long time, Lucy isn't alone.

She takes a shaky breath, nodding at Tim, her voice small but steady.

Lucy Chen:
"Okay... okay."

Tim stands, giving her a reassuring nod. He knows they still have a lot to figure out, but for now, the most important thing is that Lucy finally let someone in.

As Tim walks away to check on the latest updates from the lockdown, Lucy feels a wave of relief and vulnerability wash over her. She doesn't know what's going to happen next, but at least now, she's not facing it alone.