Work Text:
Tim did not see himself in this situation like ever and yet here he was. Officer Chen, Lucy, was fast asleep in his bed wearing his clothes.
How did one Sargent Bradford, Tim, end up with a sick Lucy snuggling with him in order to find the closest form of comfort.
So here goes, the story of how Lucy woke up out of her fever to find herself wedged into her friend/crush/boss's chest.
Lucy Chen did not feel well that morning, like not at all. Like been throwing up so bad she convinced herself to take three pregnancy tests (all of which were negative, she was very careful, bad). However, she still willed herself to work because she wouldn't dare give Tim ammo against her for something. So seeing she doesn't have a fever she goes to work, but she can barely stay awake during roll call. Lucy can see Tim give her a concerned glance during his morning spiel, but he doesn't say anything to her afterward.
It's Nolan that says something first, cause of course it is.
"Hey Lucy, are you feeling alright?" He asked, patting the younger woman on the back.
"Yeah," Lucy huffed out. " Must have eaten something bad last night. I felt better after puking my brains out this morning though, so I should be good to go." She gives John a strained smile, and he's about to say something else but he gets pulled away by Angela about the latest case.
Surprisingly though not really, Tim approaches her next.
"Go home, Chen," Bradford orders sternly but still gently.
"No, I'm good I promise." Lucy gets up to show him just that and when she does the room gets a little spinny. She pauses to regain her balance before looking back up to Tim who only had an 'I told you so' look on his face.
"Go home, Chen. Actually scratch that." Tim grabs her arm and drags her towards the locker room. " Go change, I'm taking you home."
"Wha- Tim you don't have to do that." Lucy insists whilst still shuffling into the room.
"You can hardly stand straight, it'd be a disservice to Los Angeles to let you onto the street." Tim is deadpan, lots of love and care for Lucy behind that statement for sure.
So Tim takes her home, or he would have if Lucy didn't throw up all over herself and the car.
"Sorry," Lucy whines as Tim helps her out of the car and into his own home.
"It's alright, Lucy let's just get you cleaned up." Tim points her in the direction of his bathroom. " Just leave the dirty clothes outside the door, I'll put them in the wash."
"Ok." She mumbles as she shuts the door. Tim goes to his room to find Lucy something to wear, he finds one of his favorite hoodies to wear when he's feeling under the weather. So maybe it'll make Lucy feel better too.
The blonde goes to check on her, picks up her dirty clothes, and replaces them with the hoodie, tank top, and a pair of Ashley's shorts she left a few weeks ago and has yet to get back.
"Chen, you good in there?"
"Yuh-huh." She shouts back, making sure she can be heard over the water.
"OK, Well um, I left some clothes out here for you. I'm gonna be in my room if you need me."
*****
It's been ten minutes. Ten minutes since Tim left Lucy in the shower. Which is ten minutes too much when you add it onto her already long shower, so he goes to check on her.
He goes back to the bathroom and finds the clothes he left for her gone and the shower wasn't on.
"Chen, you alright in there." He puts his ear to the door to listen but instantly opens it when all he hears as a reply is a faint whine.
Please have clothes on. Please have clothes on. He thinks as he opens the door, and thankfully she does. Lucy's leaning against the tub barely conscious.
"Christ Lucy, what happened?" Tim asks as he goes to scoop the small woman off the floor. He lifts him towards his chest with ease because of course he does and she leans into it.
"Got dizzy after getting dressed. I'm sorry if I scared you." She muttered. "I'm sleepy."
Tim's heart squeezes when she says this.
Why did Lucy look so cute? He thinks as he brings Lucy into his bed. Tim had imagined her laying there many times, granted in a very different way but he'll take what he can get.
"You alright?" Tim asks and the brunette snuggles under the covers visibly sniffing them and relaxing
"You know, you always smell soooo good." She sighs, sinking deeper into the blankets.
"I did not know that," Tim says as he sits on the opposite side of the bed.
"Yeah, I mean like really good. I had to stop myself from asking you what colognes you wear so I can get them for Chris so many times. Is it weird that I want my boyfriend to smell like you?" Lucy sighs on the verge of sleep.
"I-um. I mean maybe a little." Tim admits scratching the back of his head.
"I knew it, that's why I didn't do it." Her eyes are nearly fully closed now, and her voice is only a little higher than a whisper. "Tim, come closer, I gotta tell you a secret."
Because of the position Lucy's in, Tim has to lay down right next to her in order to hear.
"Yes, Chen?"
"Every- everyone, who doesn't know you. You know how Angela and I know you." She pauses as if she forgot what she had to say before continuing. "They think that you're like this mean gruff tough guy, which I guess that's kinda true; but not really."
"Oh yeah, and how's that Chen?" Tim asks, starting to feel a bit tired himself.
"I mean I thought that you were kinda an asshole when I first met you and that was true in a few ways. But now, you're just like Koji. This big scary-looking dog, who's been hurt in a lot of different ways and is actually really sweet and loyal and kind." Lucy sighs, eyes fully closed now. " I mean hell, you cleaned up my vomit and invited me into your home. Not a lot of guys would do that for their just a friend co-worker."
Tim heartaches again because she's not just a friend and co-worker. He cares about her so much it hurts, hence the heartache.
He looks back at Lucy, and this time the woman is fully asleep. Tim starts to feel the lull of sleep wash over him, and he'll deserve a nap too.
He moves to the opposite side of the bed to keep things nice and just-friendly and settles into bed.
****
Lucy wakes up not only feeling a lot better but extremely comfortable, these are some of the amazing pillows she's ever slept on.
They are fantastic, soft, good smelling, normal pillows; until the move. It's only a slight movement which is why Lucy didn't notice at first. A small up and down motion and then she notices the thud. The light rhythmic thudding from within the 'pillow' continues and Lucy finally looks up. What she see’s is a fast asleep, drooling just a little Tim. Just then the brunette notices that his arm is wrapped around her waist and that their hips are kinda weirdly wedged, but also super comfortable.
That is until Lucy tries to move a little and feels it.
Ok, so little Tim is awake. That's ok that's perfectly normal, it happens to guys for a number of reasons. Doesn't mean he's aroused. Lucy thinks as she pulls herself from self-inflicted panic. She tries to pry herself off of the blonde, but his grip just gets stronger and he pulls her closer sighing as he does so. Damn, who knew Bradford was such a cuddle bug.
Lucy ends up deciding to just give up and allow herself to sleep for just a little longer, so she's enjoying being held in this man's arms, sue her. Lucy snuggles back into Tim's chest and falls asleep.
*****
This time when Lucy wakes up she's not on top of Tim, in fact, he isn't even there. She stretches and makes her way into the kitchen finding the middle-aged man making something in the kitchen.
"I'm making you brown sugar oatmeal, I know it's your favorite and you need something in your stomach after puking that much." Tim doesn't even turn around to look at Lucy, it's like he just sensed her presence.
"Listen, Tim, I'm sorry," Lucy says, sitting down at the table.
"What for Chen." He's splitting the oatmeal between two bowls now, putting a little more in the one that’s presumably for him.
"Hm oh, I don't know Tim. How about coming to work sick, nearly passing out at work, you trying to take me home." She pauses to take a breath. "Throwing up all over myself and your car, you than cleaning that vomit. Letting me use your shower, you washing my puke-covered clothes. "
"Um ok?" Tim hands Lucy her oatmeal and takes a seat himself.
"There's more. Checking on me after I got dizzy in the bathroom, carrying me into your room, letting me sleep in your bed." Lucy goes on as she pokes her food with the spoon.
"Lucy, you were sick. You deserve to be taken care of."
"Ok, true. But I also violated your personal space." Lucy spoons some oatmeal into her mouth to get herself to stop talking.
"Oh yeah, you kinda did, I guess. It was funny though." Tim chuckles and Lucy starts to feel a little worried. " I mean the things you said."
"What things?"
"You mean you don't remember?" She shakes her head.
"Oh God, Luce. Did your fever induce amnesia? Pretty much I fell asleep on the other side of the bed a little bit after you, I guess I was tired after cleaning everything up." He let out a bit of an awkward laugh.
"Anyway about two hours later I feel this weight on my chest, so I wake up and see that it's you. I did think about pulling you off, but the second I shifted you held me closer. You then smooshed your face into my chest, then you said and I quote 'I always thought you had the nicest titties, and now I know that my suspicions were correct.'."
Lucy's face is bright red, she's not sure what to say. Until she remembers the boner and her embarrassed expression turns into a devious grin.
"Well, Bradford, as embarrassing as that sounds and is. Nowhere near as embarrassing as getting a hard-on against a woman who's not your girlfriend's thigh."
Tim chokes on his oatmeal and now it's his turn to have a red face.
"I'm sorry, what!?" Tim asks not fully believing the woman in front of him.
"Yup I woke up laying on you and I felt it, I did try to pull away but someone had a death grip on my waist." Tim blushes even harder.
"Damn Lucy, I'm sorry.” The blonde man looks straight up distraught, and now Lucy feels bad.
"Tim, it's alright. I mean was it a bit weird to feel little Tim against me, yes. But I probably provoked it you know, with how tightly I was holding onto you; things probably rubbed. A natural reaction." Lucy says trying to reassure him. She's blushing again, damn it.
"Officer Chen, are you saying you dry humped me in your sleep? I am flattered." Tim teases. Well, that backfired on her.
" Well no I just, you asshole." Lucy stutters out, wanting to crawl into a hole and die.
Tim bursts out laughing, with a full smile, eye crinkle, and deep dimple laugh. That makes something flutter inside Lucy, which almost makes the embarrassment worth it. If it meant being able to see him smile and laugh like that forever, to sit at this table for breakfast with him forever, sleep in his bed and on his chest forever, to feel this loved by him forever.
But she knows how to take her losses and settles on just having that for this moment, and what a perfect moment it is.