Their Sweet Baby Girl

5. Slipping At The Wrong Time

Throughout the day, Lucy felt the weight of Tim's watchful eye, making sure she didn't make a mistake. She tried her best to focus on the tasks at hand, proving herself to be an attentive and quick learner. When lunchtime arrived, he led them to the food trucks where most of the officers gathered.

Her heart sank when he pulled up beside Angela's patrol car, the sight of their laughing faces stabbing her with envy- sorrounded by friends.

She swallowed her pride and followed orders, getting a salad from her favorite truck. She chose an isolated spot under a large tree, away from the bustling crowd. Sitting alone on the bench, she picked at her food, her thoughts swirling. Why did Tim have to be so hard on her? She knew she had messed up yesterday, but did he really see her as a liability?

Her gaze wandered over to Angela, who was now leaning against Tim's car, chatting animatedly with him and the others. Lucy couldn't help but wonder if Angela would be a better training officer for her. After all, she seemed more understanding and patient. But she quickly pushed the thought away, knowing Tim was her assigned partner and she needed to work with him.

Determined to show him that she could handle herself, Lucy took a deep breath and stood up. She marched back to their patrol car, ready to tackle the afternoon shift with renewed vigor.

The end of the shift approached, and just as Lucy was about to make a beeline for the exit, Sergeant Grey's booming voice stopped her in her tracks. "Chen and Nolan, you two will be doing extra group training with your training officers on the field in ten," he announced, his steely gaze scanning the room. Lucy groaned internally but nodded dutifully, heading to the changing room to switch into her gym set.

She emerged a few minutes later, clad in a bright pink gymset, feeling more like a misfit than ever. Stepping outside, she saw Tim, Angela, Nyla, Jackson, and John already waiting for her on the field.

Tim was engaged in conversation with the other training officers, while Jackson and John were busy doing pushups, sweat dripping from their faces.

Lucy hesitated for a moment, her heart racing. She didn't want to draw any more attention to herself, but she knew she couldn't back out now. With a deep breath, she jogged over to join them, her sneakers squeaking on the freshly cut grass.

Tim turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Chen, you're up first," he said, tossing her a set of handcuffs. Lucy caught them reflexively, her stomach twisting into knots. She had hoped to just observe and learn today, but it seemed fate had other plans.

Glancing at Angela, she saw a sympathetic smile on her face, which gave her a sliver of comfort. As she prepared herself for the training exercise, Lucy couldn't help but think about how much she still needed to prove - not just to Tim, but to herself. She squared her shoulders and stepped forward, ready to tackle the challenge ahead.

As Lucy turned around she noticed Nyla was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, she had left early to pick up her kids from school. Jackson and John were already finished with their training, and had left.

It was just her, Tim, and Angela now. Tim clapped his hands together, drawing her attention. "Alright, Chen, let's see what you've got," he said, a hint of challenge in his eyes. Lucy's stomach flipped, but she forced a determined smile.

This was her chance to redeem herself. Tim blew his whistle, signaling the start of a sprint drill. Lucy dashed forward, her legs pumping as fast as they could go. Tim's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Run faster!" he shouted, pushing her to her limits.

Lucy gritted her teeth and pushed herself harder, feeling the burn in her muscles. She refused to let him see her falter again. Despite her efforts, she stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet.

She glanced back to find Tim closing the distance between them. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet, his grip firm but gentle. "Come on, Chen. You can do better than this," he urged, his eyes holding hers.

There was no anger or disappointment there, just a fierce determination to see her succeed. Something inside Lucy snapped, and she surged forward, leaving Tim behind.

She crossed the finish line, panting and exhausted, but victorious. As she turned to face him, she saw a rare smile spread across his lips. "That's the spirit," he praised, his voice gruff but proud.

Lucy couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest, knowing she had taken a step closer to earning his respect.

In the heat of the moment, Lucy's foot caught on an uneven patch of grass, sending her sprawling forward. Pain shot through her knee as it connected with the ground, and she let out a sharp cry.

Before she could gather her wits, tears began streaming down her cheeks, her breath coming out in ragged sobs. The fall had startled her, taking her back to a place of vulnerability that she desperately tried to keep hidden.

Angela, ever the nurturing figure, rushed over immediately. Kneeling before Lucy, she gently cradled her injured leg, assessing the damage. But it was the childlike glint in Lucy's eyes that caught her attention.

She knew that look all too well - it was the same look her old little ones gave her whenever they got hurt. "Lucy, are you alright?" Angela asked, concern etched on her features.

Lucy could only whimper incoherently, clutching at Angela's uniform sleeve like a frightened child seeking comfort. In that instant, Tim's demeanor shifted. His stern facade cracked, revealing a hint of worry and confusion.

He had never seen her like this before. Angela, however, seemed to understand. She smoothed Lucy's hair back, her voice taking on a soothing tone. "It's okay, sweetie. Let's get you cleaned up and take care of that knee, okay?" she cooed, helping Lucy to her feet.

As they made their way towards the first aid kit, Tim followed silently, watching the interaction unfold. He couldn't help but wonder what had caused Lucy to react so differently now compared to earlier in the day.