secrets

The Rookie: Healing Wounds (Chapter twelve)

Discharge Day

The sun filtered through the window of Lucy's hospital room, illuminating the sterile space with a warm glow. Tim sat in the chair beside her bed, scrolling through his phone, while Lucy watched him, feeling both grateful and uneasy about the conversation they were about to have. After days of hospital food and sterile smells, she was finally being discharged. The idea of going home felt both comforting and daunting.

"Are you excited to go home?" Tim asked, glancing up with a soft smile.

"More than you know," Lucy replied, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "But I'm also nervous. I don't want to overdo it."

"You won't have to do anything alone. I'll be there to help," he promised, reaching for her hand. "We'll take it slow, I swear."

Just then, a nurse entered, holding a clipboard and wearing a friendly smile. "Good morning! I see you're ready to get out of here, Lucy. How are you feeling?"

"A little sore but excited," she admitted.

"Great! I'll just need to go over your discharge instructions, and then we'll get you all set," the nurse said, checking her vitals. "You've made excellent progress. Just remember to take it easy for the next few weeks and follow up with your doctor if anything feels off."

"Got it," Lucy replied, her heart racing at the thought of being home again.

---

At Home

After what felt like an eternity, Lucy was finally wheeled out of the hospital, Tim at her side, beaming with pride and relief. The ride home was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by Ella and Jake's excited chatter about the little crafts they'd made while she was away.

"Mommy! Look what I made!" Ella exclaimed, holding up a glitter-covered piece of paper as they entered the house.

"Wow, Ella! That's beautiful!" Lucy said, her heart swelling as she knelt to embrace her daughter. The warmth of home enveloped her, and for a moment, it felt like everything was right in the world.

"Hey, buddy, how about you show Mommy your dinosaur drawing?" Tim encouraged Jake, who promptly ran off to find it.

As Lucy settled into the couch, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She glanced at Tim, who was busy putting Ella's craft on the fridge. "Do you think Angela will show up soon?" Lucy asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

"Yeah, she should be here any minute," Tim replied, his tone light but his expression serious. "I wanted to talk to her about... everything. You know, with you being home now, it felt like the right time."

Lucy nodded, understanding the importance of explaining their relationship to Angela, especially after how it had unfolded during the hospital visit. "I just hope she understands," she said, biting her lip.

"I think she will. She cares about us both, and she'll want to support you," he reassured her. "Besides, we need to clear the air."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Tim exchanged a quick glance with Lucy before heading to open it.

---

Angela's Arrival

"Hey, guys!" Angela greeted, stepping inside with a bright smile, followed closely by Jack, who was carrying a backpack filled with toys and games. "I brought Jack along to entertain the kiddos while we talk."

"Thanks for coming," Tim said, his tone sincere. "We appreciate it."

"Of course! I couldn't let you two have all the fun," Angela said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She glanced at Lucy, taking in her pale complexion and the slight exhaustion in her eyes. "You look good considering everything. How are you feeling?"

"Better, I think. Just a little sore," Lucy replied, forcing a smile. "It's nice to be home, though."

Angela gave a sympathetic nod. "I can only imagine. Well, let's get the kids settled, and then we can chat, okay?"

Jack wasted no time in engaging Ella and Jake. "What do you guys want to play first?" he asked, kneeling to their level.

"Dinosaur! Rawr!" Jake shouted, bouncing on his feet.

"I want to color!" Ella added, rushing to grab her coloring book.

As Jack led them to the living room, Tim turned to Angela, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Thanks for coming by. There's a lot to explain."

"I can see that," Angela replied, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. "But first, I want to know how you've been holding up, Lucy. This must be a lot."

"It has been," Lucy admitted, her voice steady. "But Tim has been amazing. I really don't know what I would do without him."

Tim glanced at her, warmth flooding through him at her words. "I'm just trying to be here for her, like I should be," he said, a hint of vulnerability in his tone.

Angela raised an eyebrow, sensing the deeper connection between them. "And what exactly does that mean? Tim, I know you guys are close, but..."

"Angela, we've been married for six years," Tim said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "And we have two kids together."

Angela's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? You're married? Since when? Why didn't I know about this?"

Lucy exchanged a glance with Tim, the tension in the room palpable. "It's complicated," Lucy said softly, her gaze dropping to her hands. "We didn't want to involve work in our personal lives, especially with everything happening at the LAPD."

"Yeah, and we didn't want it to affect how they looked at us when we would work together even if there was a small chance of that happening as lucy works for the FBI and met the LAPD." Tim added, his voice firm. "This isn't easy to explain, but it's important."

"Clearly," Angela said, her voice still edged with disbelief. "But you both should have told me. I care about you guys, and keeping this from me doesn't make sense. I could've helped."

Lucy sighed, feeling the weight of Angela's disappointment. "We thought we were doing the right thing. It was easier this way."

"Easier?" Angela echoed, her expression turning serious. "How do you think that was easier? You've been juggling a marriage, two kids, and a dangerous job. It's not like I wouldn't have understood."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Tim said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "We just thought it would be better to keep it separate. But clearly, that didn't work out."

Angela took a deep breath, her expression softening. "I just want you both to be happy and safe. I know how much you mean to each other, and it's clear that you've been through a lot together."

"Thank you," Lucy said, her voice breaking slightly. "I appreciate you caring. It means a lot, especially right now."

"Okay, so now that we've cleared the air," Angela said, her tone lightening, "let's focus on the kids and what they need. I'm here to support you both, but I think we can do that while also letting them have some fun."

Tim nodded, relief flooding through him. "That sounds good. We can figure this out together, one step at a time."

As the afternoon wore on, laughter filled the house, with Jack and the kids playing games while Tim and Lucy exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of unspoken words but also the comfort of understanding. This was their family, and despite the challenges ahead, they would face them together, stronger than ever.