The babysitter

Emma's hero

The sound of laughter echoed through the backyard as Lucy and Emma dashed around, playing an intense game of tag. Emma's giggles were contagious, and Lucy found herself genuinely enjoying the carefree moments with the little girl. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow across the yard as they weaved through the small garden.

"You'll never catch me!" Emma squealed, darting around a tree and throwing a mischievous look over her shoulder.

"Oh, you think so?" Lucy called back, feigning exhaustion as she slowed her pace just enough to let Emma think she had the upper hand. She crouched slightly, hands on her knees, pretending to pant. "Phew, you're too fast for me!"

Emma giggled, clearly loving the chase. "I'm the fastest!" she declared, spinning in a circle before darting toward the far side of the yard. Lucy's eyes twinkled with amusement, but as she watched Emma's next steps, a chill ran down her spine.

Something above Emma shifted. A loud creak cut through the air, and Lucy's eyes snapped upward. A large, heavy wooden branch, weakened over time and storms, had begun to crack loose from the tree above Emma. Her heart lurched as she saw it start to fall.

"Emma, stop!" Lucy shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.

Emma froze in place, startled by the sudden change in Lucy's tone. But it wasn't fast enough. The branch broke completely, falling in a slow, almost surreal arc toward Emma. Lucy's instincts took over. She sprinted forward, throwing herself between the falling branch and Emma, shielding the little girl with her body.

The impact came hard and fast. The branch hit Lucy's back with a dull, painful thud, knocking the air out of her lungs as she fell to her knees, wrapping her arms protectively around Emma.

Emma let out a startled cry, tears welling up in her eyes as she clung to Lucy. "Lucy!"

Inside the house, Tim had been sorting through some paperwork when he heard the loud crack and Lucy's panicked shout. He was on his feet in an instant, his heart racing as he bolted toward the backyard.

"What's going on?" Tim demanded as he burst through the door and into the yard. His eyes immediately landed on the scene: Lucy kneeling on the ground, a large branch pinning her down, and Emma crying into her shoulder.

"Oh, gods..." Tim muttered, rushing over to them. He quickly assessed the situation, crouching beside Lucy to help lift the heavy branch off her back. His hands were steady but his movements quick, a mix of panic and focus etched across his face.

As soon as the branch was moved, Lucy winced but didn't waste a second. She cupped Emma's face gently, her voice soft and soothing despite the pain radiating through her back. "Em... are you hurt?"

Emma sniffled, her tiny hands clutching at Lucy's shirt. "I'm okay..." she mumbled, though her voice wavered with fear. Lucy's eyes scanned Emma quickly and noticed a small scrape on her knee, barely enough to bleed but enough to sting a little girl.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Lucy said, her voice filled with calm reassurance. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Before she could move, Tim's hand landed firmly on her shoulder. "Take care of yourself first. You're bleeding," he said, his tone a mix of concern and authority.

Lucy blinked, confused, and glanced down to see the blood trickling from a gash on her arm where the branch had scraped her. It wasn't deep but enough to leave her sleeve damp with red. She shook her head, dismissing it. "Tim, I'm fine—"

"Lucy," he interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "It's an order. Take care of yourself first."

She sighed, giving him a mock salute. "Yes, sir."

Tim stood, helping both Lucy and Emma to their feet. Lucy led Emma back inside, grabbing the first aid kit from the kitchen and sitting down at the counter. She quickly cleaned the wound on her arm, wincing slightly as the antiseptic stung. Once her cut was bandaged, she turned her full attention to Emma.

"Alright, let's see that knee," Lucy said gently, guiding Emma to sit on a stool. She crouched down to examine the scrape, cleaning it carefully as Emma sniffled.

"Does it hurt?" Lucy asked, her voice soft.

Emma nodded her head, her lower lip trembling.

Lucy smiled warmly, leaning down to press a soft kiss to Emma's knee. "There. A kiss on the booboo makes it all better, right?"

Emma giggled through her sniffles, nodding again. "Better," she said, her voice tiny but cheerful.

Lucy ruffled Emma's hair. "Good girl. Go on, go play in your room. I'll be right here."

Emma hopped down, her earlier fear forgotten as she ran off to her room, humming a little tune to herself. Lucy sighed, leaning back against the counter and rubbing her temples. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and the dull ache in her back was making itself known.

Tim walked in just then, his expression unreadable. "Lucy."

"Yeah?" she replied, looking up at him.

"Come here," he said, gesturing to the couch.

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Why?" she asked, but she followed him anyway, letting him guide her to sit down. Before she could protest, Tim grabbed the first aid kit and knelt in front of her, carefully pulling her arm into his hands to inspect the bandage she'd haphazardly wrapped.

"Tim, I already took care of it," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.

"Not well enough," he shot back, his tone gentle but firm. "Sit still."

Lucy huffed but stayed put as Tim unwrapped the bandage and cleaned the wound more thoroughly. His hands were steady and careful, the contrast between his usual tough demeanor and the tenderness he showed now making her heart twist unexpectedly.

"You saved Emma. Again," Tim said quietly, his focus still on her arm as he applied a fresh bandage.

Lucy shrugged, trying to downplay it. "It's my job."

Tim looked up at her, his blue eyes locking with hers. "To take care of her. But what you do goes way beyond that. Thank you."

Lucy's breath hitched for a moment, caught off guard by the raw sincerity in his voice. She offered him a small smile. "Not a problem, Tim. Really."

Tim finished securing the bandage and sat back on his heels, studying her for a moment before nodding. "Well, next time, try not to throw yourself in harm's way, okay? You're not invincible."

Lucy chuckled softly. "Noted."

Tim stood, offering her a hand to help her up. "Come on. Let's see if Emma's made her room into a fortress yet."

Lucy took his hand, a small smile tugging at her lips. Despite the aches and bruises, she wouldn't have changed a thing. Keeping Emma safe was worth it every time.