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My One and Only

July 12 – Day 2 Chenford Week 23 – TV Topes

Tim had just come back from his second tour in the army and was debating what he should do next with his life. He wanted to start thinking about finding someone he could settle down with as his friends had been teasing him for being the only one in their friend group that was still single, but he first wanted to focus on the next steps in his career, so he decided to apply to LAPD and then take things slowly from there.

Tim finished his run and walked back into his house when his phone rang.

Stephanie: Hi, I’m looking for a Tim Bradford

Tim: Speaking.

Stephanie: Hi Mr. Bradford, my name is Stephanie and I’m calling from the reality dating show My One and Only.

Tim: Excuse me? How did you get my number?

Stephanie: I got it off the application you sent in to be this season's bachelor.

Tim: Um, I’m sorry, I did no such thing.

Stephanie: Well, that doesn’t matter right now. I’m calling to let you know that we have chosen you to be the bachelor and we will be expecting you at the mansion in Malibu on Sunday.

With that Stephanie hung up leaving Tim staring at his phone speechless when Genny walked in.

Genny: Tim you, okay? You look like you want to puke.

Tim: That’s because I think I am going to be sick.

Genny: Why? What happened?

Tim: I got a phone call from My One and Only, they want me to be their bachelor this season.

Genny: Tim, that’s awesome!

Tim: Genny!

Genny: What? Oh, come on? Tim, you haven’t been home in 4 years, you have no female friends, no girlfriends this will be a chance for you to meet someone knew.

Tim: Genny, I understand you want me to date and get married but to submit my name for something like this without asking?

Genny: First of all, Tim, I didn’t submit your name and second even if I did, who cares. This is your chance at trying something new.

Tim: Genny!

Genny: What? Tim, what do you have to lose by trying?

Tim: Embarrassing myself on national TV.

Genny: Tim you're smart

Tim: and handsome

Genny: Oh gag. Tim, I know you and you will be just fine. The world will fall in love with you, you have nothing to worry about.

Tim: Fine, I’ll do it. But I want it noted for the record that this was not my choice.

Genny: Noted.

Lucy was sitting in classroom trying hard not to fall asleep, but this professor was not one of her favorites and he was making it very difficult for her to stay awake. Lucy thought she had done a good job but realized that she had fallen asleep when she felt Tamara shaking her shoulder when the class was over. Lucy looked around and noticed that everyone had already left the room and it was just her, Tamara and Professor Scott.

Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, can you hang back a minute, there is something I would like to discuss with you.

Tamara: Uh oh. That is what you get for falling asleep in class, again.

Lucy: Tamara!

Tamara: What? It's true and you know it, you fall asleep every class.

Lucy: That’s because this class is soo boring.

Tamara: Whatever. Do you want me to wait for you?

Lucy: No, you can leave, I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you back at the apartment.

Tamara: Are you sure?

Lucy: Yeah. I’m good.

Tamara: Okay, I'll see you later.

Lucy walked over to Professor Scott and looked back over her shoulder just in time to see the door close behind Tamara.

Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, as you know the semester is halfway through and the term paper is coming up. I’m not sure if you are aware but every year one of the students from my class gets chosen to go on the dating show My One and Only to write their term paper on topic of whether one can find love on a dating show or not.

Lucy: I did not know that sir.

Professor Scott: Anyway, I have decided to pick you this semester to be our contestant on the dating show.

Lucy: Professor Scott, I don’t know what to say, but I have no intention of going on such a show.

Professor Scott: Ms. Chen, did you hear me say that this was optional.

Lucy: No sir, but I have a boyfriend.

Professor Scott: Ah yes, Mr. Sanford.

Lucy: That’s correct.

Professor Scott: Include that in your written part of the assignment Ms. Chen.

Lucy: And if I say no, I will not go on the show.

Professor Scott: Then I will be forced to fail you for this semester and will have to be in my class again next year with no guarantee that I will choose someone else.

Lucy: So, if I want to pass this class, I have to do this.

Professor Scott: That is correct Ms. Chen.

Lucy: What exactly do I need to do?

Professor Scott: You will go and experience it like everyone else. But the question you need to answer in your paper and oral presentation is whether the setting of reality dating is a good environment for one to find true love.

Lucy: Okay.

Professor Scott: And Ms. Chen.

Lucy: Yes?

Professor Scott: As the show begins filming on Sunday you will no longer need to attend any of my lectures, I just need you to present your final paper at the end of all of this along with the rest of the class.

Lucy walked out of the classroom in a daze. She had no idea what had just happened or how she was going to deal with all of this. She had never watched the show, but she knew her roommate Tamara was a huge fan and was going to be super excited when Lucy told her what was going on. Lucy was just a college student, a psych major going on a reality dating show to supposedly fall in love with some guy she never met sounded crazy to her, but if she never had to sit in Professor Scott's class again then maybe this would be worth it.

Lucy walked back into her apartment and found Tamara sitting on the couch watching TV.

Lucy: What are you watching?

Tamara: My One and Only.

Lucy: How did you find out?

Tamara: Find out what?

Lucy: That I'm going to be on that show.

Tamara: Uh, what did you say?

Lucy: You heard me. Professor Scott is sending me on that show.

Tamara: Lucy! That is so cool. I’m so jealous. Why only you?

Lucy: I don’t know. But this is definitely not something I want to do.

Tamara: I will gladly go instead of you.

Lucy: You can’t. Professor Scott said they pick someone specific and no trading spots.

Tamara: This is going to be so great Lucy.

Lucy: What about Chris?

Tamara: What about him?

Lucy: He's, my boyfriend. How do I tell him I’m going on a dating show.

Tamara: Well, I never liked Chris, so maybe now will be a good time for you to break up and see if you can fall in love with someone else.

Lucy: Who said anything about falling in love?

Tamara: Uh, Lucy. That’s the whole point of the show. The bachelor proposes to his first choice during the finale episode.

Lucy: This is crazy.

Tamara: Crazy good.

Lucy: Tamara!

Lucy quickly got her personal life in order, telling her parents what was happening and to say that they were upset was an understatement. Her mother said that she was not supposed to be dating right now as she had to focus on her studies and her father said that he was not paying thousands of dollars in tuition only to watch her embarrass the whole family on national TV. So although Lucy had no intention of falling in love, she was determined to prove her parents wrong and show them that she was still their daughter, and someone they could be proud of.

Tim was standing in this stunning mansion in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the costume designer had given him this uncomfortable tux to wear, and he was regretting his decision to come on the show, but it was too late to turn back now.

Stephanie: Are you ready to meet this season's contestants?

Tim: I guess so.

Stephanie: Okay, so Tim Bradford, I would like you to meet our first contestant. Are you ready?

Tim: I’m as ready as I will ever be.

Stephanie: Rachel Hall, social worker from LA

Rachel: Hi Tim, I’m Rachel.

Tim: Rachel, nice name. So, tell me about your job.

Rachel: Well, I guess you could say, it's my job to keep children safe.

Tim: That is really a wonderful thing, Rachel. Thank you. See you later.

Rachel: You can count on that Tim.

Tim: Rachel,

Stephanie: Ashley McGrady, Lifeguard from Malibu

Tim: Pleasure to meet you Ashley.

Ashley: Pleasure is all mine, but please call me Ash.

Tim: If we are going to get to know each other, I guess a nickname is okay. I’ll see you soon Ash.

Stephanie: Isabel Monroe, LAPD detective from LA.

Isabel walks over to Tim and embraces him in a big hug.

Isabel: It is so nice to meet you Tim. I’m Isabel and I really hope that you will keep me around for a long, long time.

Stephanie: Tim, I would like to introduce you to your final contestant this season. Lucy Chen. Lucy is a college student from Los Angeles, California.

Lucy: Hi

Tim: Great to meet you.

Lucy: Great to meet you too. Sorry that I am a little awkward, I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never even watched the show so I’m not really sure what I'm supposed to be doing right now.

Tim: Don't worry, neither have I.

Lucy: Good so I’m not alone then.

Tim: No, you are not. So, you are still in college?

Lucy: Yup, Psych major.

Tim: You don’t sound so enthusiastic about it.

Lucy: Well, both my parents are therapists, so they chose my major for me but if I'm being honest with you, I'm just not feeling the whole thing anymore, probably never was. I’m sorry, was that too personal?

Tim: No. So, can I ask you what might be sort of an odd question?

Lucy: Sure.

Tim: How would you define true love?

Lucy: True love is what makes us feel whole. Well, it was nice to meet you, Tim.

Tim: It was really nice to meet you too Lucy. I’ll see you soon.

Lucy walks away from Tim and goes to join the other 9 contestants.

Ashley: I could tell as soon as we locked eyes, instant connection.

Isabel: I wasn't going to just stand there and do nothing, so I gave him a hug.

Rachel: We were told to keep it professional, like a job interview.

Isabel: Oh, come on, Tim is ridiculously handsome up close I mean his hair, his eyes, his perfect skin, I couldn’t not touch him.

Lucy laughs at Isabel which causes Isabel to look in her direction.

Isabel: Something funny?

Lucy: No, no. Don’t mind me.

Isabel: Sure, it doesn’t seem like nothing, Little Lucy.

Lucy: Is that supposed to offend me? Look, yes Tim is very handsome, but none of this is real life.

Isabel: Good Luck making it past the first week with that attitude.

Lucy: You’ve known him for what thirty seconds? If I'm sent home first, I won't take it personally.

Isabel: Clearly you are way too young to be here, Little Lucy. Anyway, I am already looking forward to our first kiss.

Lucy spent the rest of the week practically rolling her eyes. This whole place was fake, it was so not real, and she couldn’t comprehend how anyone could even possibly imagine let alone want to fall in love in a place like this. She so badly wanted to go home, back to college and her real life. She missed being around normal people who didn’t look down on her simply because she was 10 years younger than most of the other contestants.

Lucy was not surprised when during the first elimination ceremony she was in the bottom 3. As she stood there waiting to find out if Tim was going to keep her around longer a part of her wouldn’t have minded going home but there was a small part of her that really wanted to stay at the mansion and try to get to know Tim better.

Stephanie: Hi contestants, welcome to the first elimination. In My One and Only, just like in life first impressions aren't everything but they are important. You all had a chance to make a lasting impression on Tim and hopefully he now feels the same way about you as you do about him. For eight of you tonight will not be the end of your journey with Tim. You will continue to spend time with him, and he will get to know you and you will get know him better as you continue to date him in the hopes that Tim will be able to leave here an engaged man and get to call one of you his fiancé. But that means that for two of you your journey here at the mansion is coming to an end tonight.

Tim: I met ten incredible and amazing women this week. We got to hang out and spend time together and although this is only the first elimination, I am already extremely overwhelmed with this decision that I have to make here tonight. When I say your name, please step forward to accept a token of my affection. This necklace represents my desire to get to know you on a deeper level. If you do not hear your name being called, please know that I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy lives to come here and get to know me, and I am glad that we have met. Even if it was only for a short amount of time. So, let's get this over with, shall we?

One by one Tim started calling names and Lucy stood there unsure if he would call her name or if she would be going home.

Tim: Isabel

Isabel: I had no doubt about your judgement Tim. Thank you so much. Wow, so unexpected. Thank you.

Tim: Rachel

Tim: Ashley

By the fifth name he called Lucy, was starting to believe that she was going home that night and as much as she had enjoyed her time on the show with Tim, she was also more than ready to get back to her real life. So, with a new sense of calm, she stopped worrying and started paying attention to what Tim was saying. He called the next two girls and Lucy looked around, there were only three girls including herself who had yet to receive a necklace from Tim and Lucy knew that this was it and she was going home.

Tim: If I could hand out three more of these, I would but I don’t make the rules. So, this last gift goes to someone who has already in the first week captured my heart and it would make me extremely happy to have them stick around here a little while longer. This necklace goes to... Lucy Chen.

Lucy stood there in shock, not only did he call her name, but had she heard correctly did he really say that she captured his heart?

Tim: Lucy, will you do me the honors and continue to date me?

Lucy: Of course, Tim. I will

Tim: Thank you Lucy, for giving me this opportunity

Stephanie: Ladies, those of you who did not receive a necklace tonight, know that somewhere out there your one and only is waiting for you. Good night.

Lucy walked back to her room, took out her phone and called Tamara.

Tamara: Hey girl, how's it going there on My One and Only?

Lucy: He gave me a necklace.

Tamara: Of course, he did. What’s his name?

Lucy: I’m not allowed to tell you that Tamara, I am not allowed to leak any spoilers.

Tamara: I still can’t believe that you chose me to be the one person you are allowed to call. You know you are way too good to me Lucy. I don’t deserve me.

Lucy: Your right, you don’t. Maybe we should break up.

Tamara: Lucy! Anyway, what’s it like living in a mansion?

Lucy: I feel like I'm living in a whole different universe right now. I know that to you it all looks so amazing on TV but up closely this is just a bunch of people pretending. There is no way that you can form a real relationship like this.

Tamara: Isn't that the purpose of this assignment Lucy?

Lucy: Yes, but I was not happy about this from the beginning.

Tamara: I know. Look, this guy is obviously smart enough to know that you are the best thing that has ever happened to him as he already gave you a necklace.

Lucy: Tamara, this was only week one, there is still plenty more time for him to get rid of me.

Tamara: Nope, no way, just you wait and see by the end of this Lucy Chen will have an engagement ring on her finger and you will be completely in love with the man of your dreams.

Lucy: Tamara!

Tamara: Fine is this mystery man cute at least?

Lucy: Oh my god Tamara, he is drop dead gorgeous the guy is really handsome, I will have to give him that.

Tamara: That's the spirit. Now you go and win this thing.

Lucy: Bye.

Tim continued going on the dates with the other girls, but the one girl he was most interested in was Lucy. Every time he was with someone else his mind kept wandering to Lucy. Tim knew that it wasn’t fair to the other contestants but if he was being honest with himself, he had pretty much fallen in love with her on day one. But this wasn’t his game, he didn’t make the rules and so he continued dating the other girls.

As the weeks passed by Lucy kept wondering how it was possible that she was still here. But the longer she stayed and the more she got to know Tim, the more she wanted to know and a part of her knew that she was actually falling in love with him.

By the end of fourth week there were only 4 girls left Ashley, Rachel, Isabel and Lucy. Tim like all of them, but the only one he wanted to continue seeing was Lucy but this wasn’t how the show worked. So that week he said goodbye to Ashley and Rachel and now he was sitting in his room worrying about the family visits. This week he was going to meet both Isabel and Lucy’s family and by the end of the week he was going to have to propose to one of them. At this point Tim knew without a doubt that by the end of the week he was going to ask Lucy to marry him.

Lucy had gone home to prepare for her hometown date with Tim and she was sitting in her room with Tamara.

Tamara: Lucy! I can't believe that you have almost made it to the finale. This is huge!

Lucy: I can’t even believe that I got this far.

Tamara: I knew you would Lucy, you are amazing. Can you picture his proposing to you at the end of the week?

Lucy: Tamara, no one goes on TV to actually fall in love. Do I like him? Maybe but get married to guy? I didn’t sign myself up for this and you know that.

Tamara: Okay, admit it, you do like this guy.

Lucy: I mean yes, he checks off a lot of boxes

Tamara: How many boxes?

Lucy: All of them. Every single box. He is tall, blonde, handsome.

Tamara: So, you do like him.

Lucy: Maybe a little?

Tamara: Lucy?

Lucy: Okay, okay. Yes, I like him a lot, Tamara, I really do. But there is no way he feels the same about me.

Tamara: Oh my gosh! Lucy Chen, in love, never thought I would have seen the day.

Lucy: Nope, Tamara, no way look it doesn’t matter, I am probably going to be eliminated at the end of the week and that will be the end of my adventure into TV dating.

Tim went back to LA and spent several days with Isabel and her family. If he was being honest, yes, he liked her a lot, she was kind and nice and beautiful, but she wasn’t Lucy. The dates were okay but nothing major. He knew if Lucy wasn’t here that he would probably propose to Isabel at the end of all of this, but Lucy was here, and he was really looking forward to spending the next couple of days with her.

He pulled up in front of Lucy’s home and looked around. It was a small Spanish style house, and it reminded him of Lucy. Tim parked his car and knocked on the door and he was happy when Lucy answered.

Lucy: Tim! I’m so glad you found it. My mother is preparing lotus soup for lunch, so if it is okay with you, we can walk around the neighborhood a little, while we wait for lunch to be ready.

Tim: I would like that.

They start walking down the block and Tim and Lucy are bumping elbows and Tim is actually surprised by how natural this all feels with Lucy.

Tim: I can't believe that we both live in LA, and we have never met before.

Lucy: I don’t know if you have ever looked at a map of LA before, but it is not exactly a teeny tiny city.

Tim: Fair point. So, what is your plan for when the show is over?

Lucy: Go back to school, get my degree.

Tim: I thought you weren't sure if you wanted that.

Lucy: I’m still not. But what else am I going to do?

Tim: What excites you?

Lucy: I don’t know. How about you Tim, what is your plan for when this is all over?

Tim: I signed up to join the LAPD.

Lucy: So, you knew Isabel from before?

Tim: Isabel? No, it was just a coincidence that she is a detective.

Lucy: So, is that why you like her? Because you are both cops.

Tim: Not a cop yet, but it definitely helps me to understand her better. Does that bother you?

Lucy: Does what bother me?

Tim: Me, becoming a cop.

Lucy: No, it actually makes me respect you more.

Tim: Thank you Lucy.

Tim and Lucy walked back towards her house, and they continued talking. The lunch was awkward, but Tim didn’t mind as long as Lucy was by his side even the most awkward of situations were bearable. Tim knew that he had fallen hard for Lucy and there was nothing that was going to make him break up with her, ever.

The next day Tim was sitting alone with Lucy’s parents hoping to get their blessing to marry Lucy.

Mr. Chen: So, Tim, what exactly is your intention with our daughter? It is my understanding that you are also seeing another young girl.

Tim: Well, if I am being honest with you Mr. Chen, I love your daughter and I would like to propose to her tomorrow.

Mr. Chen: You will do no such thing sir.

Tim: Excuse me?

Mrs. Chen: Tim, what my husband is saying is that we will not give you our blessing to marry our daughter.

Tim: I’m sorry, but I did not expect to hear you say that. I’m not trying to be disrespectful here, but why not?

Mr. Chen: Lucy tells us that you are a cop.

Tim: Yeah, that’s true.

Mr. Chen: Well, our daughter is not supposed to be the wife of a cop. Lucy will marry a doctor or a lawyer, someone with money who can provide for her in the way that she deserves.

Tim: Is Lucy aware that you feel this way Sir.

Mrs. Chen: She knows, and she agrees.

Tim: She does?

Mr. Chen: She told us last night that she doesn’t see how this can work between you two because you come from two totally different worlds. She worries that you are so focused on becoming the best cop that you will either lose focus of her or that one day you won’t come home, and she doesn’t think she can handle that.

Tim: Lucy said that?

Mr. Chen: She said that she thinks Isabel is better for you than she is, and she was hoping we would tell you this so you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself to propose to her and then she be forced to turn you down.

Tim: I don't understand where this is coming from.

Mrs. Chen: Tim, Lucy just doesn’t want to hurt you, but maybe the best thing for everyone would be for you to choose Isabel tomorrow and not Lucy.

Tim didn’t have a chance to talk to Lucy again that day, but he was so conflicted. His heart was telling him that Lucy was the one, his one and only, but her parents said they would not support this marriage, that Lucy did not want a proposal. He went into the last day extremely conflicted.

Stephanie: As we are about to go to the final elimination and the proposal ceremony Tim, where is your heart at?

Tim: Well, you know, Isabel is a lot of fun and we are both in the LAPD and I really think that we can make a great team in our careers and in life.

Stephanie: And Lucy?

Tim: It's complicated.

Stephanie: Complicated how?

Tim: What I feel for her is real and it is much deeper than what I feel for Isabel. I really feel like I cn be myself around her. She has been a good influence on me, she makes me want to be a better man without actually saying the words. Her heart, her empathy, her humor, her ability to share her feelings and to listen to what others are saying and really care about them. How can I ever let her walk out of my life?

Stephanie: It sounds like you plan on picking Lucy.

Tim: I wanted to but it turns out, that a proposal, marriage, its not something that she wants with me.

Stephanie: Why would you think that? You clearly like her and I know she likes you too.

Tim: She told her parents that we are from two different worlds and that there is no way we could possibly share a life together, it doesn’t make any sense for me to pick her. That Isabel is so much better for me than Lucy will ever be.

Stephanie: Lucy really said that?

Tim: She did.

Stephanie: Do you think that Isabel has any doubts?

Tim: I don’t know.

Stephanie: You need to make a lifetime decision here Tim. Imagine if the woman you chose says no to you on national TV because she doesn’t want a relationship with you anymore.

Tim: That is what is making this decision so tough to make.

Eventually Tim knew what he had to do and with the ring in his pocket and Lucy’s best interests in his heart he walked towards her that day. Lucy was standing there in front of him, her brown hair flowing down her back. She looked gorgeous in an emerald green dress and Tim’s heart thought it couldn’t handle what he was about to do, but he knew that he loved Lucy with all of her heart and if this is what she thought was best for her than he was going to do it, even if it made him want to scream and cry and ask her to reconsider.

Lucy stood there looking at Tim with all the love in the world and in her heart she just knew that there was no going back. She had fallen completely in love with Tim Bradford and by the look on his face and his hand in his pocket Lucy was slowly beginning to believe that she was going to be walking away from this mansion as the future Mrs. Tim Bradford.

Tim held out his hands and took Lucy’s hands in his. He looked at her straight in the eyes and with all the love in the world. He smiled at her, and then took a deep breath before talking.

Tim: Lucy, you captivated my heart from the first moment I laid eyes on you. And I knew right away that there was something special here. Lucy you are incredible and special, and I could see us having a life together, getting married, having kids growing old together, you and me. But Lucy, we live in two totally different worlds. I’m just afraid that my life, my job will stop you from becoming the best person you can possibly be. You don’t deserve to be sitting by the phone every day waiting to find out if your husband is coming home to you or not. Lucy I just can’t, I won’t do that to you.

Lucy: Are you breaking up with me?

Tim: I'm so sorry.

Lucy stood there and sobbed; this was not how she had expected this day to end. She really thought that they understood each other, that they were in love. Yet here she was, Tim had just dumped her on national TV and Lucy honestly did not know what to think of it.

Tim felt like he wanted to throw up, but he knew there was no turning back, no telling Lucy he made a mistake. He did what he thought was best for her. So here he was standing in front of Isabel, and he so badly wished it was Lucy, but it wasn’t.

Tim: Isabel, from the moment I met you, I couldn’t get you out of my head. I can see us having a good future together on the job and in marriage.

Tim takes out the ring and gets down on one knee.

Tim: I have fallen in love with you Isabel. Will you marry me?

Isabel: Yes, yes, yes!

Tim slides the ring on Isabel’s finger.

Isabel: I love you so much Tim. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Isabel then leans in and kisses Tim.

Lucy went home and was still heartbroken. She was sitting on her bed the night the finale aired when Tamara walked in.

Tamara: Hey Lucy, how are you holding up?

Lucy: I just don’t get it. How could he pick Isabel over me, I really thought he loved me also.

Tamara: I don't know, have you heard from him since?

Lucy: Not a word. I really thought he would call me tonight; tell me it was a mistake. Or that there would be some apology in the episode. But no Tamara, he really dumped and proposed to Isabel. Tim Bradford broke my heart on national TV.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Tim walked through the doors to the roll-call room and smiled at Grey as he sat down. Tim knew he was late again and like Grey had told him last week his behavior would need to change, or they would demote him back to patrol. Tim had been working on becoming a Sargent when Isabel had left him and now 2 years later Tim still hadn’t been able to get his life back on track.

He knew that most of his friends and colleagues believed it was because his wife left him, but Tim knew that deep down, he and Isabel had only gotten married because the show had forced them to do so and not because they wanted to. The contract he signed stated that they had to be married for five years or they wouldn’t get the reward money. So, they stayed together, but he really missed Lucy and wished that he had at least been able to talk to her, to figure it all out.

Right after the finale aired all the fans had trashed him on social media, he had almost lost his job over it but eventually the hate died down and Tim was able to get his privacy back. His biggest problem was that every time he tried to contact Lucy, she didn’t answer his calls or messages and that was killing him more than anything. So here he was 2 years post-divorce about to get a new rookie on rookie day and the only thing he was thinking about was how terribly he had screwed up when it came to Lucy.

Tim was so wrapped up in his own misery that he was completely ignoring Sargent Grey talking in front of the room.

Sargent Grey: Officer Bradford I was talking to you.

Tim: Sorry sir.

Sargent Grey: Like I already said your rookie called in late this morning and should be here any minute.

Tim: Excuse me? Since when do rookies get to be late to roll-call? Especially on their first day?

Sargent Grey: Since Captain Anderson told me that there was some sort of mix-up and they ended up in the wrong station.

Tim: Okay fine.

Sargent Grey: To the rest of the new rookies, good luck out there. Officer Bradford, can I have a word with you in private please.

Tim walked with Grey to his office and sat down in the chair opposite Sargent Grey

Sargent Grey: Tim, this is the third time you have been late this week.

Tim: I'm sorry sir.

Sargent Grey: My bosses wanted me to put you back on patrol, no rookie.

Tim: Is that why I didn’t get a new rookie today?

Sargent Grey: No, I convinced them to let you train one more rookie, but if this one washes out, or there are any complaints about you being too difficult, they will send you back to patrol.

Tim: With all due respect sir, I am the best TO that this department has, and you know that.

Sargent Grey: Which is why I don’t want you back on patrol Tim, but this behavior, coming late, ignoring everyone, testing the rookies, being difficult with suspects it has to stop, or you will be demoted.

Tim: Understood sir.

Sargent Grey: Tim, I do not know all the details surrounding your split with Isabel, nor do I want to know, but you have to start picking up the pieces of your life you will lose your job also. Am I clear?

Tim: Yes.

Grey’s phone rings and Tim watches it as he picks it up quickly. When he hangs up the phone, he looks at Tim and smiles.

Sargent Grey: On that note Tim, your rookie is here and waiting for you in the captain's office.

Tim: Captains office? Why there?

Sargent Grey: I don’t know, but captain Anderson said she wants to introduce you to your rookie.

Tim: Isn’t that unconventional?

Sargent Grey: Maybe, but I don’t think you should keep the captain waiting.

Tim: Okay. And sir?

Sargent Grey: Yes.

Tim: Thank you for giving me a second chance.

Sargent Grey: Your welcome. But Tim, don’t prove me wrong or it’s both our jobs on the line here.

Tim walked out of Sargent Grey’s office and went straight to the captain's office. Tim was nervous and excited to meet his new rookie, so he knocked on the door.

After the show ended, Lucy went back home and tried putting her life back together, one day at a time. It wasn’t easy as everyone who knew her knew what Tim had done to her but eventually the hurt and anger faded, and she was able to move on with her life. She had gotten back together with Chris and although they had never made the next step official, she was happily living together with him.

She had finished college and had become a therapist just like her parents had wanted her to, but it wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more out of her life, yes, she was helping people, but it just didn’t feel like enough. After spending time with Tim on the show, and getting to know him and how passionate he was about police work Lucy had really wanted to become a police officer, but she knew that after the way Tim had dumped her and chosen Isabel that people would believe she only became a police officer to get back together with Tim.

Lucy hadn’t heard from him since the day he dumped her on national TV, but she still thought about him often and what her life could have been like had he chosen her and not Isabel. So, after many years of ignoring the voice in her to become a police officer Lucy had finally given in and decided to make the change. So here she was at age 32, she had just finished the academy and was standing in Captain Anderson’s office excited to meet her training officer.

Lucy knew that working in the same department as Tim was probably not the best decision to make, but she did not know what station he or Isabel worked out of, and she just hoped that she never actually bumped into either of them. Lucy was still hurt by the way Tim handled things on the show and she still couldn’t understand why he had chosen Isabel over her, but she knew she had to stop thinking about Tim and focus on what the captain was telling her. So, when she heard the knock on the door, she took a deep breath and then focused on Captain Anderson.

Captain Anderson: Sir, come in please.

Tim walked in and didn’t even bother looking at the new rookie, that just wasn’t how he did things.

Tim: Captain, Sargent Grey said you wanted to introduce me to the new rookie?

Captain Anderson: I did, please come in and sit down.

Lucy thought she was hearing things, but the voice of her new training officer sounded like the voice of the one person she never wanted to see again. So Lucy took a deep breath and looked over to man sitting in the chair next to her.

Lucy: Tim?

Tim was not okay with his rookies using his first name so without thinking he started talking.

Tim: That is officer Bradford to

Captain Anderson: Officer Bradford, I believe Sargent Grey was supposed to talk to you about how we treat our rookies.

Tim: Yes mam, he did.

Captain Anderson: Than you should know better than to treat a rookie like that during your first encounter sir.

Tim: I'm sorry mam, but rookies are not supposed to call me by my first name

Captain Anderson: Maybe not, but if you looked up long enough to look at your new rookie maybe you would have been okay with it.

Tim: What are you?

Tim looks up and sees Lucy for the first time.

Tim: Captain Anderson, what is going on here?

Captain Anderson: I thought that was clear officer Bradford. I am here introducing you to your new rookie.

Tim: Is this some kind of joke?

Captain Anderson: Do I look like I'm joking right now?

Tim: No mam.

Captain Anderson: Then I think I made myself pretty clear here officer Bradford. Your new rookie is Officer Chen.

Tim: I'm sorry captain, can I please talk to you for a minute, alone?

Captain Anderson: No, you cannot sir.

Tim: But

Captain Anderson: But nothing. You will treat officer Chen like any other rookie. You are still on probation here sir, so I will warn you again about your need to be careful.

Tim: Yes mam

Captain Anderson: Now go set up your shop I would like a minute with officer Chen alone.

Tim: Usually the rookie sets up the shop

Captain Anderson: And usually your rookie is not the woman you dumped on national TV.

Tim: You know about that?

Captain Anderson: Of course, I do.

Tim: Then why am I her TO. There were other people to choose from, why give me Lucy as my new rookie?

Captain Anderson: That is a question that I am not at liberty to answer. You are dismissed officer Bradford.

Lucy: Captain Anderson, with all due respect maybe Tim is right, this is not a good idea for us to be working together.

Captain Anderson: I understand where you are coming from Officer Chen, really, I do. I don’t think there are many people out there who were happy with the way Tim treated you on the show, but this isn't my one and only and between you and me Tim isn’t the one in control here, you are.

Lucy: What is that supposed to mean? I’m the rookie, he is the veteran cop. He can cut me from the program whenever he wants, how exactly am I in control here.

Captain Anderson: Tim has been finding life and the job difficult ever since Isabel left him.

Lucy: Wait, Tim and Isabel aren’t together anymore?

Captain Anderson: No, I'm sorry. I thought you knew that.

Lucy: I didn't.

Captain Anderson: Anyway, Tim is very close to losing his job and his Sargent asked if we could give him one more chance, one more rookie.

Lucy: Okay.

Captain Anderson: I wasn’t so excited about it as he has not been very nice to his rookies lately but when I heard that you were joining the LAPD, I thought that maybe you would be the answer to his problems, let him train you to become the best cop you can be hopefully you will be able to bring back the Tim Bradford we all once knew and loved.

Lucy: Captain Anderson, I appreciate what you are trying to do here, but I don’t know that working with Tim is a good idea for me.

Captain Anderson: Lucy, this isn't a prison sentence, and I will not force you to be his rookie. I can switch it around. But if you do this and are successful, I am promising to give you a golden ticket.

Lucy: I'm honored with the offer mam; can I think about it?

Captain Anderson: Unfortunately, no. I need to know who you will be riding with today.

Lucy: And if i don’t do this?

Captain Anderson: I'll assign you another TO you may or may not pass the program and if you do you will have to work hard to get to whatever position you want. Tim will get another rookie and he will most likely struggle and lose his job.

Tim left the captain's office and went down to set up his shop. Tim was upset and annoyed and frustrated that he didn’t notice where he was going and bumped right into Angela.

Angela: Tim, you okay?

Tim: Never better.

Angela: Then why are you setting up the shop? Where is your rookie?

Tim: Talking to the captain.

Angela: What why?

Tim: I have no idea

Angela: Tim, what's going on? Why do you look like you are ready to puke instead of torture some new rookie?

Tim: Because my new rookie is the love of my life.

Angela: Wait what?

Tim: Yup, my new rookie is none other than Lucy Chen.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Tim was sitting in the driver's seat of the shop when Lucy walked out of the double doors towards the car. Tim was unsure of how this was going to work, and he had no idea what to do so he sat there and decided to let Lucy take the lead. Lucy opened the front passenger door and sat down. Tim knew that as the training officer it was his responsibility to teach her everything about the job, but he knew that if he were to take one look in her direction he would just about break. Tim hesitantly started the car and silently drove to an empty parking lot where he abruptly parked the car and got out. Lucy reluctantly followed him as he walked over to an empty bench, Lucy saw Tim struggle internally, debating if he should sit down or not so she remained standing waiting to see what he would do. After a couple of minutes of staring at him, waiting for him to say something, Lucy decided to take control.

Lucy: Okay Officer Bradford, I’ve already had the talk, we’re partners, I back you up no matter what, I don’t move unless you tell me to, this is your shop, so your rules are the rules. I understand that you are only here because they are forcing you to be here until you pass the Sargent's exam and while you like working the streets you do not like having a partner, you do not want to hold my hand and you did not ask to train your ex-girlfriend.

Tim: Well, done Officer Chen, you know why I am here, so now tell me, why are you here?

Lucy: I've wanted to be a cop for many years sir, but due to personal reasons that I’m sure you can understand I decided against it.

Tim: What changed?

Lucy: After finishing college and becoming a therapist I knew that this dream of becoming a cop had nothing to do with you so regardless of what the rest of the world might believe I decided that I had to stop letting you ruin my life and it was my responsibility to myself to fulfil my dreams despite the fact that you and Isabel both work for the LAPD.

Tim: So, what now officer Chen? It wasn’t bad enough that you had to go and ruin my life by being on the show, making me fall in love with you when you never had any intention of taking our relationship further but now you have to come and ruin my work life as well.

Lucy: What are you talking about Tim? How did I ever ruin your life?

Tim: You know what, I don’t think this is going to work Lucy. I will tell Captain Anderson to assign you a new training officer.

Lucy: Tim, are you really ready to blow up your career?

Tim: My career will not get blown up over this Lucy. You get a new TO I get a new rookie and we can both be happy.

Lucy: And training someone else, will make you happy?

Tim: I don't know.

Lucy: So, what do you know Tim? Because the captain told me that if you don’t pass me, you're getting fired.

Tim: What I know is that you ruined my life Lucy, and I can’t sit here next to you for 12 hours every day and pretend that nothing happened between us.

Lucy: You keep saying that I ruined your life Tim, and I just don’t follow.

Tim: I proposed to Isabel for you Lucy, not for me. It’s not what I wanted. I did that for you.

Lucy: Excuse me? What are you talking about? I stood there at the mansion that day waiting for a proposal from you, believing that you were going to propose to me Tim. I was looking forward to beginning the rest of our lives together you and me and then you broke up with me, proposed to Isabel, and you're telling me that you did that for me? How does that make any sense?

Tim: Proposing to Isabel was not my first choice Lucy, but you left me with no other options. it wasn’t what I wanted to do at all.

Lucy: What did you want to do then Tim?

Tim: Propose to you of course.

Lucy: Then why didn’t you?

Tim: Because I didn’t want to force you to turn me down on national TV. It was better for you that our breakup be because of me than because you said no. Lucy, the world hated me for so long after what happened on the show but the one thing that made it easier for me was that I knew that they hated me and not you, I would have never been able to live with myself if the world hated you and bashed you and talked about you the way they spoke about me.

Lucy: Hold up, you lost me. Why in the world did you think I was going to turn down your proposal, had you asked?

Tim: Because you said that we come from two different worlds, that Isabel was better for me and that if I proposed you would turn me down.

Lucy: When did I say that to you?

Tim: What?

Lucy: I don't believe I ever said anything like that to you Tim.

Tim: No, but you did say those things.

Lucy: But what about what I said after that? The rest of the conversation?

Tim: What other things? They only told me that and that if I cared about you even a little, I wouldn’t force you to say no to me on national TV.

Lucy: Wait, Tim, all this time you thought I was going to say no, turn you down?

Tim: Yup.

Lucy: I need air.

Tim: Lucy, wait.

Lucy: I already waited Tim. 8 years I waited for you to come and tell me that you made a mistake, that you really meant to break up with Isabel, that you wanted to marry me and now you are telling me that for all this time you thought I never wanted to marry you. I just need to be alone right now.

Tim: Lucy please. Lucy stop!

Lucy: Stop? Tim, I finally signed up for the LAPD to stop letting you dictate my life. I stopped listening to my parents and what they wanted for me. I stopped being in love with you Tim. I’ve already stopped. I just please, let me go.

Tim: Lucy, can you just answer one question and then I will let you go.

Lucy: Fine.

Tim: Had I asked you that day to marry me, what would you have said?

Lucy: Does that really matter right now Tim?

Tim: Yes, it does Lucy.

Lucy: Why?

Tim: Because for all these years, the one little bit of comfort I had was knowing that I did exactly what you had wanted. That I did this for you.

Lucy: But breaking up with me is not what I had wanted back then.

Tim: Exactly, and if you expect me to train you, to work beside you every day I need to know where we stand. We can’t work in silence everyday Lucy. I need to know that you will have my back, or we will both get killed.

Lucy: Why would knowing what my answer would have been help the current situation?

Tim: Because then I can stop feeling sorry for myself that my life was so bad, and I can focus on rebuilding our relationship.

Lucy: Tim, I'm still dating Chris.

Tim: I don’t see a ring on your finger though

Lucy: Nope, after the show we got back together, but he knows that my heart isn't in it. He understood that I had fallen in love with you, and we were only together because you dumped me.

Tim: And he was okay with that?

Lucy: At first yeah, he was trying to give me time to get over you.

Tim: And now?

Lucy: I'm just waiting for him to propose.

Tim: So, you would have said no to me.

Lucy: No Tim, I was planning on saying yes. I really thought that you and me were going to live happily ever after. I had no idea why you broke up with me until just now.

Tim: Wait, you really were going to say yes?

Lucy: I still can't believe that you would have thought I would say anything other than yes.

Tim: Your parents said you didn’t want me to propose.

Lucy: Did you ask me what I wanted?

Tim: I wanted to, but there was no time, Lucy. After lunch with your parents, I didn’t see you again until the end. And I didn’t want the world hating you for turning down my proposal,

Lucy: So, you broke up with me instead.

Tim: Yup. The ring I gave Isabel that day, I had originally planned on giving to you Lucy

Lucy: You should have given it to me Tim.

Tim: I'm sorry I didn’t.

Lucy: Me too. What happened with Isabel? Captain Anderson said that you two split up.

Tim: You didn’t know?

Lucy: No, after the show ended and everyone kept bashing you for the way you treated me, I couldn’t stand to listen to them talking about you like that, so I deleted social media.

Tim: I did have feelings for Isabel, but I wasn’t in love with her the way I loved you. After the show ended, I was a rookie, and she was an undercover narcotics detective. We saw each other when she wasn’t on assignment and in the beginning it worked. We did get married as per the contract with the show, but as I stood there saying I do, I wished with all of my heart that it was you walking down the aisle to me.

Lucy: What do you want to do now?

Tim: I just want you to be happy Luce, it’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. So, I’m okay with whatever you decide.

Lucy: Tim, one part of me wants to hug you and kiss you right now, tell you how sorry I am and make up for all the time we’ve lost.

Tim: And the other part?

Lucy: Is still angry and hurt and wants to tell Captain Anderson that I will need a new training officer.

Tim: But then I will get fired.

Lucy: Yeah

Tim: Which part is going to win?

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Tim and Lucy sat in silence as he drove the car back to the station. Tim was nervous as he watched Lucy get out of the shop and walked straight to Captain Anderson’s office.

Angela: What's going on with your new rookie?

Tim: Sorry, Lopez didn’t see you there.

Angela: Clearly, what’s going on with you and Lucy?

Tim: I wish I knew.

Angela: What does that mean?

Tim: It’s complicated between me and Lucy.

Angela: What happened with you two?

Tim: Did you ever watch my season of My One and Only?

Angela: No, why?

Tim: Lucy was one of the girls in my season.

Angela: Ouch, that’s awkward.

Tim: There's more?

Angela: I'm all ears.

Captain Anderson: Officer Lopez, a word please.

Angela: Coming. Tim, I still want to hear what happened.

Tim: Just go. You don’t want to keep the captain waiting.

Angela left Tim standing there and walked upstairs to the captain's office. She was surprised to see Lucy, Sargent Grey and Captain Anderson all sitting in the office.

Captain Anderson: Officer Lopez, thank you for joining us.

Angela: What’s going on mam?

Captain Anderson: We have a slight problem, and we were hoping you could help us come up with a solution.

Angela: Okay.

Captain Anderson: Officer Chen would like to be assigned a new training officer.

Angela: I can train her.

Captain Anderson: In a different station

Angela: Oh. So why do you need me here then, if you don’t want me to be her TO.

Sargent Grey: Your close with Officer Bradford?

Angela: We’re friends, yes.

Sargent Grey: If word gets to the chief that his latest rookie requested a new TO, Tim will be fired no questions asked.

Angela: So, you need me to convince Officer Chen to work with Tim for the next year?

Lucy: Captain Anderson, like I already explained, it would not be so simple for me to just say yes, and for you to let me stay here.

Captain Anderson: Than explain it to me again Officer Chen.

Lucy: I can't.

Sargent Grey: If we do switch you, Tim will lose his job, his pension, everything that he has worked so hard for here in the department.

Lucy: I know that sir. But Tim and I. Look, this just won’t work.

Sargent Grey: As your training officer, Tim would have to sign off on the transfer.

Lucy pulls out a pink slip from her pocket and hands it to Sargent Grey.

Lucy: He already did.

Sargent Grey: I swear to God, I just don’t understand what this man is thinking anymore.

Angela: Captain, Sargent, can I please have a word with Officer Chen in private?

Captain Anderson: Okay.

Sargent Grey: We’ll go to my office. You can come there when you are ready.

Angela: Thank you.

Angela waited until they both left the room before talking to Lucy.

Angela: Hi, I don’t believe that we have been formally introduced yet. I’m officer Angela Lopez, Tim Bradford’s best friend, and you are?

Lucy: Officer Lucy Chen.

Angela: Tim Bradford’s?

Lucy: Ex-girlfriend.

Angela: Tim didn’t tell me much about you, actually before today he never told me anything about you, so I’m sure you can understand my surprise when he told me that you are the love of his life.

Lucy: He said that?

Angela: He did. He said that he met you on his season of My One and Only, which I didn’t watch by the way.

Lucy: I guessed as much when you didn’t know who I was.

Angela: Anyway, Tim hasn’t really said much about what happened between you two but I’m guessing it didn’t end well?

Lucy: It’s complicated.

Angela: Tim said the same thing. You able to elaborate and explain what complicated means?

Lucy: I’d prefer not to.

Angela: Lucy, you can’t expect me to say the right thing here to help both you and Tim if I have no idea what happened.

Lucy: I don't need you to say the right thing. I need you all to accept that Tim and I can’t work together.

Angela: Is there anything he can do, anything I can promise you that will change your mind?

Lucy: Angela, it's not my mind that you would need to change.

Angela: What are you talking about?

Lucy: I've already said too much.

Angela: You hardly said anything.

Lucy: If you want to know anything else you will have to ask Tim directly.

Angela: Are you serious right now? You really think Tim will answer my questions?

Lucy: Why not?

Angela: Tim doesn’t share his feelings with anyone

Lucy: Then I guess you’ll never know why this won't work.

Angela: Lucy, I didn’t know Tim before he joined the department, so the only version of Bradford I've known is the one who was in a loveless marriage and overworked himself to avoid dealing with his feelings. I do not know what happened or how he got to this place, but he was different today, something about you being here changed him. I know I'm asking a lot from you, and you have no reason to do anything for me, you don’t know me. But do it for Tim. Changing Training officers, moving stations you will ruin his career.

Lucy: Don’t you think I already know that?

Angela: I didn't

Lucy: Look, Tim and I, it's complicated, very complicated but I never stopped loving him and despite everything that happened between us, I would never want to hurt him, ever. But I don’t have a choice here and I'm begging you please to just accept it. If there was any other solution, a different way around the problem, I would take it, gladly. But Tim and I spoke about this at length and for right now there just is no other solution. I’m sorry.

Angela: I just don’t understand

Lucy: That's okay, I’m not asking you to understand it Officer Lopez, I'm just asking you to respect it.

Angela: Would it be okay with you if I spoke with Tim?

Lucy: I'm okay with it, but I don’t know how much more he will tell you.

Angela: That's okay. But I wouldn’t be a very good best friend if I didn’t even try.

Lucy and Angela both got up and left Anderson’s office. Angela wanted to find Tim so was surprised and taken aback to see Tim waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.

Tim: What happened? Are you switching stations?

Angela: Tim, hi.

Tim: Hi Lopez

Angela: Can we talk in private?

Tim: Why? Lucy, what's going on? Are you okay?

Lucy: I'm fine, but they want me to reconsider and stay here under you.

Tim: What about you? Because if you stay

Lucy: I know. Tim, I told them that I need to leave, that I want to go

Tim: Okay, good. So then what’s the problem?

Angela: What’s the problem? Tim seriously? If she leaves you will get fired.

Tim: That’s not a guarantee.

Angela: Grey said that if the chief finds out Lucy transferred you will be fired, no questions asked.

Tim: So then make sure the chief doesn’t find out.

Angela: Tim! That’s impossible, she’s the chief, she knows everything.

Tim: Look I don’t know what else to say Angela. Lucy cannot work under me. It’s not an option.

Angela: Why not?

Tim: It’s complicated.

Angela: What is it with you two and complicated.

Lucy: Maybe we can talk to Grey and see if there is another option

Tim: Officer Chen, we spoke about this earlier. Policy is policy and there is nothing we can do to change it. So, unless you are having second thoughts and you do want to work under me

Lucy: No, Tim. I’m not. Having second thoughts. I want what we spoke about earlier.

Tim: Than the only way to make that possible is for you to leave Mid-Wilshire.

Angela: What am I missing here?

Tim and Lucy: Nothing.

Angela: Doesn't sound like nothing.

Tim: Lucy, I’ll talk to Grey. Meanwhile you can go home for the day.

Lucy: Are you sure?

Tim: Yeah.

Angela waited until Lucy was out of ear shot before grabbing Tim’s hand and turning him to face her.

Angela: What the hell is going on?

Tim: Nothing.

Angela: You can't seriously think I will believe that.

Tim: We can't work together Ange, it's just not possible.

Angela: You keep saying that, but you still haven’t told me exactly why it’s not possible.

Tim: Let’s just say that I made a huge mistake on the show, and now I'm just trying to make it right for Lucy. If she says she doesn’t want to work with me then that’s how it will be regardless of the consequences it will have for me.

Angela: You really love this girl Tim, don’t you?

Tim: I do.

Angela: Then tell her, she might surprise you.

Tim: I did.

Angela: And?

Tim: She's waiting for her boyfriend to propose to her.

Angela: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize she was seeing anyone.

Tim: Yeah well, I guess I told her I loved her 8 years too late.

Angela: Why didn't you tell her that you loved her while you were still on the show?

Tim: It’s complicated.

Angela: I swear to God Tim, I hear you or Lucy say that word one more time.

Tim: Complicated

Angela: Tim!!!!!

Tim: Okay, okay. I’ll try not to use but I'm serious it's really too hard to explain what happened back then.

Angela: I'll take your word for it. And Tim

Tim: Yeah?

Angela: I'm rooting for you.

Tim: What does that mean?

Angela: That I hope you get both your job and your girl.

Tim: Me too Lopez, me too.

Tim turned around and went to talk to Anderson and Grey who were still both waiting in Grey’s office, and from the looks of the conversation Angela believed that it wasn’t going very well for Tim. But hey, at least she tried, she just wished there was something else she could do to help these two be okay with working together every day. But it wasn’t her life or heart on the line and so she stopped watching Tim and went back to continue filling out her paperwork.

Lucy drove home quickly and was surprised to notice Tamara’s car in her driveway. Lucy parked and then knocked on her front door before putting in her keys and opening up her door.

Lucy: Tamara? You here?

Tamara: Hi sorry, yeah. I came to drop off some food for later, figured you might need it after you first day on the job.

Lucy: Thank you, that was really sweet of you.

Tamara: What are you doing home so early? I thought you weren’t off until 8 pm.

Lucy: My training officer sent me home early.

Tamara: What why?

Lucy: He didn’t want to work with me.

Tamara: He, wait. No? Really?

Lucy: Yup.

Tamara: Your training officer is Tim Bradford?

Lucy: Yeah

Tamara: Tim Bradford, the guy who dumped you on TV, Tim Bradford.

Lucy: The one and only

Tamara: My one and only

Lucy: What?

Tamara: Never mind. So, what are you going to do?

Lucy: Get a new training officer

Tamara: Not about your TO. What are you going to do with Tim now that he’s back in your life?

Lucy: I told him I’m with Chris.

Tamara: Wait, you two got back together?

Lucy: No.

Tamara: So, what am I missing here?

Lucy: Nothing. I lied to him, told him that we were happy and about to get engaged.

Tamara: Why would you say that?

Lucy: I was mad at him. Shoot me.

Tamara: Okay, fine so he thinks you're with Chris, but why did he send you home?

Lucy: I told him that I was willing to give our partnership a chance and he said he didn’t want that.

Tamara: Why not?

Lucy: He said he doesn’t want to be my TO

Tamara: What does he want to be?

Lucy: My husband.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

The following morning Lucy woke up and saw that she had gotten a text requesting her presence at Mid-Wilshire and she was to report directly to Sargent Grey’s office. Lucy got dressed ate breakfast, went on her morning run and then drove straight to the station. As she had yet been assigned a locker at the station, she walked directly into Sargent Grey’s office and was surprised to see Captain Anderson, Angela and Tim standing in the office as well.

Lucy: I was unaware that this was an official meeting.

Sargent Grey: It isn't.

Lucy: With all due respect sir, what am I missing here?

Captain Anderson: I spoke with Chief Coleman and regardless of your past, or should I say that because of your past history with Tim the Chief told us that if you transfer from being Tim’s rookie she will fire him, no questions asked.

Tim: I told them to fire me.

Lucy: There has to be another way.

Captain Anderson: Unfortunately, it does not look like there is another option, Officer Chen.

Lucy: Either I train under Tim, or he loses his job?

Captain Anderson: Correct.

Lucy: And there is nothing else we can do? No excuse we can give as to why I’m transferring?

Angela: The truth

Lucy: Come again?

Angela: Officer Chen

Lucy: Please, call me Lucy.

Angela: Okay, Lucy. I don’t know you very well, but I’ve known Tim for quite a while now and something here is just not adding up.

Lucy: I'm not sure what you are hinting at Officer Lopez

Angela: What I'm saying Lucy is that I believe that you can work with Tim, that a part of you would even love to have Tim as your training officer but that there is something else going on here, something that is forcing you not to work with him.

Lucy: Is she for real or did you say something?

Tim: She’s for real. I kept my mouth shut; I promise.

Sargent Grey: Someone care to fill me in because I am really confused right now.

Captain Anderson: I think that Officer Lopez here has just explained that Tim and Lucy want to work together but due to department policy, they are being forced to work in separate stations, did I understand correctly?

Lucy: You did mam

Tim: Lucy, can I talk to you for a moment in private?

Captain Anderson: I think we should take this conversation up to my office and Officer Bradford and Officer Chen should go first. We will come to join you shortly.

Tim: Thank you.

Tim and Lucy left Sargent Grey’s office and silently walked up the stairs to Captain Anderson’s office. Sargent Grey waited until the door closed behind them before he started talking.

Sargent Grey: So, what are we going to do now?

Captain Anderson: I'm not sure.

Angela: Is there anyway the two of them can date if he is her training officer?

Captain Anderson: No. They would both be fired for that.

Angela: Okay, and if they were to wait until after she makes P2 to start dating.

Captain Anderson: It would still be complicated as he was her training officer. One of them would have to transfer stations but there is also the possibility that she would never be allowed to be promoted.

Sargent Grey: Which is why they are asking for her to be transferred now. Let her become a cop and they get too date.

Angela: The problem here is Tim’s career.

Captain Anderson: Correct

Angela: Okay, so how can we get around that problem? How can we give them both everything they want?

Captain Anderson: Unfortunately Tim’s career is pretty much over, and the only reason why he still has a job right now is because Sargent Grey has been fighting for him for months.

Sargent Grey: True, but the only reason they are in this specific predicament where they are facing the idea of never dating or Tim losing his job is because of you.

Captain Anderson: True, but that doesn’t change where we are right now.

Angela: Maybe not, but it does mean that we have to at least try to fix this somehow.

Captain Anderson: I'm open to any and all ideas.

Sargent Grey: I have nothing.

Angela: Same

Captain Anderson: Great, just great.

Tim opened the door for Lucy and waited until she was sitting down before he closed the door behind him, shut the blinds and sat down next to her.

Tim: Now what?

Lucy: I'm not sure.

Tim: What do you really want to do here?

Lucy: I want to get married, to finally be with you

Tim: But

Lucy: No buts

Tim: Come on Lucy, I know you. That sentence ended with a silent but

Lucy: You know me? Tim it’s been 8 years.

Tim: 8 long and torturous years that I have had to live without you and I don’t want to waste any more time apart but Lucy, 8 years ago I made a decision for us that I thought we both wanted, a decision that I had to make without talking to you, one that has led us to where we are right now. And as happy as I am that you and I somehow found our way back to each other I never ever want to lose you again, but that’s what I want. Back then I didn’t get to ask your opinion to include you in the decision that affected both of our lives for many years. Lucy, right now I am asking you to please tell me exactly what it is that you want

Lucy: You, Tim. I just want you.

Lucy got out of her chair and walked over to Tim. She looked at him lovingly before she sat down on his lap and kissed him. Tim kissed her back with all the passion in the world before pulling back from her to catch his breath. Tim moved a strand of hair away from her face and curled it behind her ear. He looked at her, smiled and then started talking.

Tim: Lucy, that was amazing, and I’ve really missed that, I’ve missed you so much but that doesn’t help us decide what we are going to do next, it only makes me more confused.

Lucy: Tim, I do not know how to solve this in a way that we both get what we want

Tim: But?

Lucy: I know this will sound scary to you and maybe even unfair

Tim: You still want to go through with the transfer

Lucy: I just want to be with you, and you and I can’t date if I'm working at Mid-Wilshire. I just really don’t want you to lose your job because of me Tim

Tim: Lucy, this is just a job. What you and I have is everything.

Lucy: Tim!

Tim: Lucy, I'd rather take my chances in losing my job than lose you again, ever.

Lucy: But you love your job

Tim: I do, but Lucy. I love you more.

Lucy: So we are really going to do this?

Tim: Yes

Lucy: You sure about this? I don’t want you to wake up one morning and resent me for losing your job.

Tim: Lucy, I’m just lucky I still have a job, me getting fired has nothing to do with you

Lucy gives Tim a side look

Tim: Okay, not true. It has everything to do with you, but not because you want to get transferred but because I hated myself for not being able to be with you. Lucy I want this Lucy, I really do and if the sacrifice I have to make to be able to be with you is to give up my job than that is what I do.

Lucy: Okay, I’ll tell them I still want to transfer.

Angela: That wont be necessary

Tim: Lopez, hi. I didn’t notice you there.

Angela: Clearly.

Tim: What’s going on? Why doesn’t Lucy have to transfer?

Angela: We found a solution

Tim: To what?

Angela: We found a way that Lucy can be a police officer and you can keep your job

Tim: But then I wouldn’t have my girl Angela

Angela: Tim, that's what I'm saying. We found a way that you can both keep your jobs and you can still date at the same time.