the rookie one shots

Into the shadows

Lucy Chen moved through the darkened warehouse district, her radio buzzing intermittently with chatter. She’d been patrolling alone due to an unexpected shift in assignments and had been asked to check out reports of unusual activity nearby. Tim had insisted she wait for him to finish up, but she felt confident. It wasn’t her first time handling things solo.

As she approached the main warehouse, she felt a chill in the air, the silence unsettling. She pushed open the door, the echo of its creak loud in the empty space. Her flashlight swept over stacked crates and shadows that seemed to dance with each step she took.

Then came a noise—a faint scuffle behind one of the crates. She stopped, hand hovering over her weapon, her voice steady as she called out, “LAPD! Show yourself!” The words barely left her lips when three masked figures emerged from the darkness, surrounding her in an instant.

Her heart raced, but she kept her stance firm. “Don’t do this,” she warned. But they weren’t interested in talking.

One of the attackers lunged at her, swinging a heavy baton that she barely managed to dodge. She countered with a sharp kick to his knee, forcing him back. But as she turned, another assailant landed a punch to her shoulder, sending a shock of pain through her arm. Lucy gritted her teeth, twisting to deflect his next move, her adrenaline pushing her to keep going.

“Come on,” she muttered under her breath, backing up slightly to avoid being cornered.

But the men weren’t slowing down. Another swung a pipe at her, and she raised her arm to block it, feeling a sharp, bruising pain as the metal connected with her forearm. She gasped, her vision blurring momentarily. “Stay focused,” she told herself, shaking off the pain as best she could.

She managed to grab the wrist of one attacker, twisting his arm behind his back before shoving him into the other. But before she could get her bearings, a masked man rushed her from the side, tackling her to the ground. Her head hit the concrete with a sickening thud, her vision going dark for a split second. She fought to stay conscious, her body screaming in pain as she tried to push him off.

With a surge of strength, she freed herself, struggling to her feet, but her legs wobbled. Her vision swam, and she stumbled, trying to catch her breath. The lead assailant took advantage of her disorientation, delivering a harsh kick to her side that sent her sprawling against a stack of crates.

Lucy gasped, the air knocked from her lungs, her hand instinctively going to her ribs, feeling the ache spreading. She was outnumbered, and the pain was overwhelming. But as she pushed herself up, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead, she heard a voice she knew all too well.

“Lucy!” Tim’s shout cut through the darkness, filled with urgency.

Relief flooded her for a split second, but she knew she had to keep fighting. “Tim,” she called out, her voice weaker than she intended.

Tim barreled into the warehouse, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. Seeing Lucy bloodied, barely on her feet, sent a surge of anger through him. “Get away from her!” he yelled, charging at the closest attacker, delivering a punch that sent the man crashing to the floor.

One of the other masked men turned his attention toward Tim, but Tim was faster, dodging his attack and taking him down with a swift, brutal maneuver. He fought with an intensity fueled by fear and fury, his gaze darting back to Lucy every chance he got.

But as Tim grappled with the remaining assailants, Lucy’s vision dimmed, and she felt herself slipping. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the ground, her body too battered to keep going.

“Lucy!” Tim’s voice was panicked now, filled with a desperation she’d never heard before.

He managed to subdue the last of the attackers, racing to her side as soon as they were down. Kneeling beside her, he gently lifted her head, his fingers trembling as he assessed her injuries.

“Stay with me, Lucy,” he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m here. Help’s on the way. Just keep your eyes on me.”

Lucy blinked up at him, her vision blurring. “Tim…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I tried…”

“You did more than try. You’re incredible, Lucy. Just hang on a little longer,” he murmured, his hand steadying her as he radioed for immediate medical assistance.

As the sound of sirens finally filled the air, Lucy’s eyes fluttered closed, her body succumbing to the exhaustion and pain. Tim held her close, his voice a steady anchor in the darkness.

“You’re going to be okay, Lucy,” he whispered, his voice choked. “I’ve got you.”

And as the paramedics arrived, Tim never left her side, his grip firm, his presence unwavering, refusing to let her face the darkness alone.

---------------------------------------------------------
Let me know if you liked it!!! Also, I'm writing on part 3 of crashed rn bc a lot of people on ao3 asked me to make more, it'll probably be out tomorrow!!