RANK 21-86:
01. CHEN, LUCY.
« I did it »
« Of course, you did it »
Lucy returned to her car, the smile of victory plastered on her face, her sergeant stripes tightly clutched in her hand.
She opened the door, placed her bag on the passenger seat, and closed the door behind her. Wrapped in silence, she took a deep breath, lowered her head, and faced the reality of her tomorrow: Sergeant Lucy Chen.
And suddenly, without warning, the tears began to fall, one by one. The breaking point had finally been reached, overwhelmed by all the emotions.
She had postponed this moment far too often. And unconsciously, this achievement was also a reflection of everything she had endured over the past months, the past years.
She had flirted with death far too often—buried alive six feet underground, or under a fire blanket in the middle of a massive blaze. She had faced the deaths of those she admired, like Captain Anderson, and Jackson, whose death had been even more brutal. All the disappointments of being a woman in a man's world, where success didn't solely depend on professionalism, but also on the men who—whether intentionally, like with the detective exam, or unintentionally, like Nolan who seemed to succeed where she had failed—still had influence over her career.
The little girl in her would have loved to call her parents tonight and proudly tell them that she had succeeded where she thought she had failed. That the name next to number 1 was hers, and not someone else's. But the adult she had become knew that call was a lost cause, that the support she wished for from her parents would be nonexistent, and that her life and choices would again be questioned and scrutinized. And she no longer had the strength to fight against all that.
And then, there was Tim. The man who had broken her heart, but who remained her only anchor. The one who, despite everything, had given her the space to move at her own pace while also being the support she needed to succeed. Because her success also depended on him. Ironically, he had struggled the most in recent months, yet he had kept his promises. And seeing the pride in his eyes was undoubtedly the second-highest point of her evening.
She loved this man—deeply. And her success made it all more real. Them. And all the unspoken promises, the subtle implications, were becoming real. It wasn't just about physical intimacy—it was about them, the story of a man and a woman for whom not loving each other was impossible. He was her future, and she was his. But until now, she had protected herself with the need to pass her sergeant's exam before imagining anything more.
But now.
Now everything was real. Now there were no more "What ifs?" She had succeeded. And oh my God, it was terrifying. Was she ready to break down that final wall between them? Were they both ready to give each other one last chance? Love wasn't the question—Tim would give his life for Lucy if asked.
It was too much—too overwhelming, too intense. She needed to let it out. Lucy closed her hand around her stripes just as the tears began to flow even harder.
A mental breakdown. After months, years of bottling everything up, of not allowing herself any choice but to be strong and keep going, it took a victory to finally give herself permission to fall apart—alone, in the parking lot, behind the wheel of her car.
Then, the passenger door opened and closed again a few seconds later. She didn't need to look up to know it was him. He sat beside her in silence, his hand timidly finding hers. Once again, he was there—without her asking, he was simply there.
Tim let her cry, let her release it all without saying a word, his thumb gently brushing her wrist from time to time.
When Lucy finally lifted her head and looked Tim in the eye, the tears had stopped, leaving only dampness in their wake. And for a moment, time stood still. Lucy took the time to really see him, and...
"I love you."
It was a cry from the heart, a declaration, a confession. She needed to tell him, to make him understand that he wasn't alone in all this, that she still loved him—and probably always would. Two words spoken with a timid smile and tear-filled eyes.
Still locked in her gaze, his eyes said everything he had to say in return. Tim Bradford loved Lucy Chen.
"I did it, Tim..."
"You did it..."
They stared at each other for a moment, as if time outside no longer existed—until Lucy's phone rang and brought them back to reality.
"Celina? Yeah, no—I'm coming... The results? Yeah..." Lucy looked at Tim silently, and he nodded, the smile stuck to his face. "I did it. First place. Yeah... See you soon."
"Go celebrate with Celina. I'll see you later, Sergeant Chen."
"Yeah..."
Tim kissed the back of her hand before stepping out of the car and closing the door. He took a breath and knocked on the window. Lucy rolled it down instantly.
"I love you too, Lucy. I never stopped loving you."
They both knew the war was over, and all that was left was finding the courage to take that final step. Tim saw the smile on Lucy's face and knew it was only a matter of time before he dropped to one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life by his side.
She had done it.
" When you've been fighting for it all your life
You′ve been struggling to make things right
That's how a superhero learns to fly
(Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power)
When you′ve fighting for it all your life
You've been working every day and night
That′s how a superhero learns to fly "
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08.05.25 : Oh hello, hi everyone! Please comment and vote, it helps a looooot
Last Saturday, I attended the Saving Lives convention, and let me tell you — it was absolutely amazing. They were amazing. I can't wait for the On Patrol convention next year! I hope that one day, you get the chance to meet them, to hug them, and to say thank you in person.
Take care of yourselves
♡
