What if Tim and Lucy both had kids

Part 19

The next day started out like any other. Kids were at school, and Tim and Lucy were out on patrol, the morning passing quickly as they talked about everything and nothing. Their conversations were lighthearted, filled with the easy banter that had defined their friendship. But as they were halfway through a quiet route, Tim's phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, he frowned as he saw the school's name.
Tim- Uh-oh. This can't be good.
Lucy looked over, eyebrows raised with curiosity and concern, as Tim picked up the phone. He didn't say much and hanged up again.
Lucy- What's up?
Tim- Josy's school. She's apparently been sent to the principal's office.
Lucy didn't miss a beat, reaching for the radio to inform dispatch they'd be unavailable for a while as Tim was already turning the car around, driving to the school with quiet urgency. They arrived quickly, pulling into a parking spot out front and making their way into the building with an underlying worry masked by Tim's calm expression.
Tim approached the receptionist, who led them to the principal's office. Lucy, though technically not involved, accompany him. Once they reached the office, the principal—a young man, new to the school, judging by his nervous demeanor—stood to greet them.
Principal- Mr. Bradford, thank you for coming in. Ms. Chen, nice to meet you. (He saw her name on the name tag.)
Tim nodded but said nothing, eyes scanning the room until they landed on Josy, sitting with her arms crossed, her face a mix of frustration and defiance.
Principal- I called you because Josephine was... well, I was told she was quite disrespectful to a teacher, repeatedly disrupted the class and disobeyed instructions.
Tim took a deep breath, his voice calm but firm.
Tim- Alright.
He turned to his daughter, his expression softened slightly but still serious.
Tim- Josy, tell me what happened.
Josy hesitated, looking between her dad and the principal before launching into her story.
Josy- I asked to go to the restroom, Dad, but the teacher wouldn't let me. I tried to wait, later, I asked again, and she still said no. So I just... went. What was I supposed to do? Use the trash can?
Tim's face remained impassive, though his jaw tightened slightly as he processed what she was saying. He kept his tone even.
Tim- So you asked twice, and she wouldn't let you go?
Josy- Actually... it was four times, Dad. Four times!
Tim took a deep breath, visibly containing his irritation, and turned back to the principal, his voice controlled but laced with a restrained frustration.
Tim- Alright, Mr. Anders. According to my daughter, she asked four times to go to the restroom. She was denied each time.
The principal shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the right words.
Principal- I understand, Mr. Bradford, and we'll... speak to the teacher about handling requests like these with a little more sensitivity. But we also expect students to follow their teacher's instructions—
Tim- I'd like to speak to this teacher myself.
The principal paused, trying to defuse the tension.
Principal- Mr. Andrews, I assure you, this will be addressed. But I also need to ask that students respect classroom rules, even if they disagree—
Tim's patience had run thin. He cut him off, his voice low but authoritative.
Tim- I'd like to speak with the teacher. Now, please.
Sensing he wouldn't be able to brush this aside, the principal nodded, excusing himself for a moment to retrieve the teacher in question. As he left the room, Tim looked over to Josy, giving her a reassuring nod.
Tim- Don't worry, sweetheart, you're not in trouble. You didn't do anything wrong.
Josy's tense expression softened, and she nodded back, clearly feeling a bit more at ease.
Josy- This whole situation is just, stupid.
Tim- Well, you're right, partly. What your teacher dit, that was stupid, yes. But me being here isn't. I'll make sure this wont happen again.
A moment later, the principal returned with the teacher, Ms. Avery. She looked slightly uncomfortable as she walked in, her arms folded in a defensive stance. Tim's gaze was steady, the patience in his expression noticeably thinner than before.
Tim- Ms. Avery, I'd like to understand why my daughter was denied a basic need four times in a row.
Ms. Avery sighed, clearly prepared to justify herself.
Ms. Avery- Mr. Bradford, I understand your frustration, but we have policies in place to prevent students from leaving the classroom repeatedly. It disrupts the lesson. I explained this to Josephine, but she chose to ignore my instructions.
Tim's voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
Tim- And did you consider that, by refusing her repeatedly, you put her in an uncomfortable situation? This isn't about disrupting a lesson; this is about respect and basic decency.
Ms. Avery shifted, glancing toward the principal as if for backup, but he merely cleared his throat, staying neutral. Tim took a steadying breath, deciding to make his point even sharper.
Tim- Look, Ms. Avery, you don't know what Josy—or any other student—is going through on any given day. She could be dealing with things that require her to leave the classroom quick. And out of all of us in this office, you, as a woman, should know better.
Ms. Avery blinked, taken aback, her face flushing slightly as she processed his words. Tim leaned forward, folding his hands calmly.
Tim- Maybe she is on her period, or she's experiencing something personal. You wouldn't know. You just denied her the basic dignity of attending to a need she couldn't put off. That's not just policy; that's... unnecessary cruelty.
Beside him, Lucy raised an eyebrow at the blunt tactic Tim had just deployed. Ms. Avery seemed too stunned to respond, glancing at the principal, who looked entirely unsure of how to mediate. After a beat, the principal took charge.
Principal- Ms. Avery, why don't you stay behind a moment? Mr. Bradford, Ms. Chen,—thank you for coming in. Josephine, I apologize you had do go trough this. We'll address this appropriately.
Tim nodded, his expression still steely, and stood, gesturing for Lucy and Josy to follow him out. As they walked down the hallway, Josy looked up at her dad, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Josy- Dad... you know I haven't—I'm—I don't... Why'd you say that?
Tim gave her a small smirk, trying to keep it casual.
Tim- Yeah, I'm aware. But they don't know and it could have been the case. Plus I wanted her to feel bad about how she handled things. She needs to think twice about pulling that on another student.
Lucy stifled a laugh, nudging Tim playfully.
Lucy- Careful, Bradford. That little move might just backfire on you someday. Josy's taking notes.
Tim shot her a quick, nervous glance, realizing just how sharp his daughter was becoming.
Tim- Oh, come on. Josy wouldn't do that to me... right?
Josy gave him a mysterious smile, leaving him slightly unsettled as they reached the front office just as the lunch bell rang.
Tim- Josy, sweetheart, why don't you go back to class, get your stuff and Theo, and meat us at the front desk?
Josy- Okay.
Josy made her way back to class. Both Tim and Lucy signed out their kids, waiting a few minutes as Josy and Theo returned, surprised but thrilled to be heading out for lunch.
They headed to a nearby diner, finding a comfortable booth by the window. As they settled in and waited for their food, the conversation flowed, relaxed and cheerful. A few minutes in, Theo reached into his backpack and pulled out a small notebook, sliding it across the table to Josy.
Theo- (grinning) Took notes for you. Figured you'd want to catch up.
Josy's eyes widened as she looked over the neatly written pages.
Josy- Thanks, Theo! You didn't have to do that.
Theo- It's nothing, really. Just thought you'd like to know what you missed.
Tim and Lucy exchanged a smile, almost a smirk across the table as Josy and Theo continued chatting about their classes and the events of the day. Soon, their food arrived, and the four of them dug in, the conversation light and full of laughter.
After finishing up, Tim and Lucy brought the kids back to school. They signed them back in, giving each a quick hug goodbye. As they watched Josy and Theo head down the hallway, they shared that 'proud parent' look before heading back to the patrol car to finish their shift.
Back in the shop, Tim and Lucy resumed their shift, the familiar roads winding quietly through town. They cruised through neighborhoods, exchanging nods with the few folks out on their front lawns. As the radio stayed silent, Tim finally broke the lull, shaking his head with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.
Tim- Can you believe that teacher, though? Four times she turned her down... like it was some kind of power play.
Lucy, watching the road ahead, nodded, her expression thoughtful.
Lucy- Yeah, it felt more like she was enforcing control than keeping order. I get the need for classroom management, but that crossed a line. You handled it well, though.
Tim chuckled dryly, glancing over.
Tim- Wasn't sure if I'd gone a bit too far, but honestly, the way she responded? Made me want to go further. And, you know, it's not just about Josy—it's all the students. What if a kid has a real issue and is just too embarrassed to say it?
Lucy gave a small sigh, looking out at the quiet town as they cruised past familiar shops and parks.
Lucy- Yeah. I mean, denying a kid's basic need like that isn't discipline—it's just... unnecessary.
Tim- She's lucky I didn't raise hell over it. But I'm glad we could make a point. I hope it'll stick with her, and maybe she'll handle things differently in the future.
Lucy nodded, casting a quick glance at him.
Lucy- Just promise me you'll be just as diplomatic when she hits high school.
Tim laughed, giving her an amused side-eye.
Tim- Diplomatic? Sure, I'll try. But hey, sometimes a little direct approach does the job. At least I got her attention.
Lucy stifled a laugh, keeping her focus on the road ahead.
Before they could continue, the radio crackled to life.
Dispatch- Unit 19, we have a report of a robbery in progress at the corner of Maple and Main. Possible armed suspects. Proceed with caution.
Lucy's hand shot to the radio, her voice calm but firm.
Lucy- Unit 19, copy that. En route.
Tim's expression turned serious, eyes sharpening as he turned the shop toward Maple and Main.
Tim and Lucy arrived at the corner of Maple and Main within minutes. They parked discreetly across from the store and scanned the situation: the suspect, completely unaware of their presence, was leisurely rifling through the shelves, stuffing specific items into a backpack. He seemed almost picky, casually choosing what he wanted.
Tim- (raising an eyebrow) He's really taking his time, isn't he? Almost looks like he's shopping.
Lucy- Let's give him a a special treatment.
The two officers moved quickly, entering the store with silent precision. The suspect, still focused on his loot, didn't notice them until it was too late. Tim approached from behind, weapon drawn but voice calm.
Tim- Hands up, buddy. Game's over.
The suspect froze, eyes widening in surprise. Lucy managet do get his gun, cuffed him, and with minimal resistance, they led him to the patrol car. Once he was secured in the back seat, they exchanged a look of mild satisfaction, both relieved at how smoothly it had gone.
As they drove the suspect back to the station, Tim glanced at the clock. They'd be cutting it close with picking up the kids.
Once at the station, Tim processed the paperwork for booking the suspect.
Lucy- I'll go grab Josy and Theo.  Can you handle this here?
Tim- Go ahead. I'll wrap things up here.
Lucy left for the school, picked up Josy and Theo, and took them back to her place. She waved as they headed inside, making sure they were settled before driving back to the station.
Back at the station, she found Tim finishing up the last of the paperwork.
Lucy- Kids are all set. They're probably raiding my snack cabinet by now.
With the day wrapping up, Tim and Lucy headed back out on patrol for the quiet final hours. They made their usual rounds, but the streets remained calm, leaving them with time to chat occasionally between check-ins.
After their shift ended quietly, Tim and Lucy made their way to the locker rooms, stowing away their gear and exchanging quick, tired grins as they stepped back into civilian life. Tim headed out first, driving over to Lucy's house to pick up Josy. He arrived just a few minutes before her, and Theo opened door to let him in.
Theo- Hey Tim. Josy's just grabbing her things.
Tim- Thanks, Theo. (glancing around, amused) Looks like you guys didn't do too much damage here.
Theo chuckled, stepping aside as Tim made his way in. Josy appeared shortly, her backpack slung over her shoulder and a smile on her face. She waved a goodbye to Theo just as Lucy walked through the door.
Lucy- Hey, didn't think I'd see everyone here waiting for me.
Tim- Just timing it right. Thanks for letting them hang out here. Makes things a lot easier.
They exchanged a few friendly words, filling each other in on some of the day's lighter moments. Then Tim and Josy said their goodbyes, heading out into the evening with Tim giving a friendly wave as they walked to the car.
Inside, Lucy closed the door and turned to Theo.
Lucy- So, how was your day?
Theo grinned, recounting a few things he and Josy had talked about, plus a few funny moments from the afternoon classes. After a moment, he pulled out a folder, his voice proud.
Theo- And, I finally finished that essay I told you about. Thought you might want to see it.
Lucy raised her brows, impressed, as she flipped through the neatly typed pages.
Lucy- Nice job, bud. Can't wait to read it! But for now, let's get some food. Cooking's off the table tonight. How does takeout sound?
Theo- Sounds great!
They ordered dinner from a favorite local spot, and once it arrived, they set up in front of the TV, digging into the food and getting caught up on one of their favorite shows.
After dinner, Lucy finally peeled herself off the couch, the thought of the warm shower too tempting to resist. She headed to the bathroom, turning on the water and waiting for the steam to build up, filling the room with a comforting warmth. Stepping under the hot water, she sighed as it melted away the tension from the day. It was one of those showers where she just didn't want to get out—the water felt so good, washing away every worry, the quiet hum of the water providing a moment of peace.
Finally, reluctantly, she turned off the shower and wrapped herself in a soft towel, feeling rejuvenated. After drying off, she slipped into comfortable sweatpants and a loose, cozy hoodie before making her way to the laundry room.
Looking at the clean laundry she'd been meaning to fold for days, Lucy sighed but knew it had to be done. She grabbed the basket and headed to the living room, where Theo was scrolling through his phone, completely absorbed in whatever was on the screen.
Lucy- (sitting down and nudging the basket over) Alright, Theo. Sock-matching duty calls.
Theo looked up, chuckling as he reached for a few socks.
Theo- You always save the best chores for me, don't you?
He said, shaking his head.
Lucy- I figured you were just the right guy for the job.
They worked together, matching socks and folding shirts, chatting about random things as they made their way through the pile. Lucy felt a sense of satisfaction with each piece folded, enjoying the little moment of calm. Theo, happily, not too happy, matching and occasionally creating mismatched "sock couples" for laughs, was her perfect partner in crime for the chore.
When they finally reached the bottom of the basket, Lucy leaned back, letting out a contented sigh.
Lucy- Not bad, huh? The laundry mountain is conquered.
Theo- Yep. Although I don't know if I'd sign up for the sock-matching gig full-time.
Lucy chuckled, leaning into the comfortable rhythm of their evening. She picked up her book from the side table, opening it to where she'd left off. Meanwhile, Theo returned to his phone, catching up on the latest videos and chatting with a few friends.
The house fell into a companionable silence, each absorbed in their own little world. Lucy was lost in her novel, occasionally glancing up with a smile as Theo laughed quietly at something funny he'd seen on his screen, or at a text. It was the kind of quiet that felt comforting, a soft ending to a long day.
As the clock inched closer to bedtime, Lucy looked up and saw Theo looking tired.
Lucy- Alright, bud. Time to call it a night. Tomorrow's Saturday, but you're looking pretty wiped.
Theo- Yeah, I guess you're right.
Lucy smiled, watching him head off to his room. She knew she'd treasure these quiet moments for a long time. When she heard the soft click of Theo's door, Lucy closed her book, stretched, and decided it was time for bed, too.
With a final check to lock up the house, she turned off the lights and made her way to her room, feeling a warm sense of contentment. It had been a good day, and she drifted to sleep with a peaceful heart, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.