Chapter Text
Tim hated these formal things. He hated having to wear a suit. He hated having to hire a babysitter for the night. He hates having to leave Josie on a school night, but he also wanted to move up. He wanted to become a sergeant, and if that meant showing up to a silly ball, he would play dress up.
“Josie.” Tim called out while trying to center his tie.
“Yeah?” His daughter walked into the room. She was a perfect mixture of Isabel and him. Tim’s smile, Isabel’s hair, a mixture of their blue eyes. Tim slightly smiled at her and slightly rolled his eyes.
“Is your homework done?” He asked while finally managing to straighten it. He looked at himself in the mirror and fixed his watch.
“Yup. Can we order pizza tonight?” She asked while leaning against the door. Tim sighed and faced her.
“Why not, just be in bed early please.” Tim pleaded with her while walking over.
“Okay. See, I don’t know why I need a babysitter. I’m practically an adult.” Josie said with a small shrug. Tim grimaced and hoped that time wouldn’t come for a long time.
“Far from it.” Tim said deadpan. “How do I look?” He asked while slightly posing.
“You look…like you are going to a work event.” She said before sighing. “I’m eleven, I don’t need a babysitter.” She continued to argue.
“I won’t be home till later, yes, you do. End of discussion.” Tim said while leaving the room. Thankfully the doorbell rang and he opened it to find the babysitter. She was a senior in high school who lived across the street from them and needed some cash on the side.
“Brooklyn, come in. There’s money on the counter for pizza and I should be back home a little after midnight.” Tim said with a small nod and let her in.
“However long you need Mr.Bradford, my first two classes of the day got canceled so I can stay for longer if you need.” She assured him.
“That’s alright, I’m sure it won’t run long. Anyways, I have to get going. Josie, I’m leaving.” Tim called out.
“Whatever.” She called out. Tim sighed and lightly shut his eyes, the joys of a tween.
“I should get going then.” Tim sadly said before turning to leave.
“Have a nice night.” Brooklyn said before going to join Josie. Tim left and began his drive to the stupid event. He was already slightly ticked off that Josie had been acting out. He parked and walked into the event fully intending to stay in the corner but at least show his presence. He reached for the door at the same time as someone else and immediately felt a shock. Not like an electrical shock but more of a connection shock. It was hard to explain. He quickly took his hand back, so did the other person. They’re eyes slowly moved to look at eachother and Tim was met with a beautiful woman.
“S-Sorry.” She muttered out nervously.
“N-No, I’m sorry.” He nervously said while shoving his hands into his pockets.
“You go ahead.” She said with a small smile. Tim quickly took a hand from his pocket and opened the door for her.
“Ladies first.” He said smoothly. She gave him another small smile and walked into the venue. Music lightly flowed through the room and chatter was even louder. They awkwardly and simultaneously both walked to the bar. Once again they exchanged another small smile and went to order at the say time.
“Sorry, you go first.” Tim awkwardly said.
“Can I get a tequila sunrise?” The woman asked. The man nodded and began her drink while looking at Tim.
“Whiskey on the rocks.” Tim orders with a small smile towards the woman. She was very beautiful, and that was odd coming from Tim. He’d hardly dated, and if he did, he’d barely like them.
“Whiskey guy.” The woman says while trying to hide a smile.
“Tequila girl.” Tim states while looking into her brown eyes. She had a red dress on with red lipstick. She had brown curly hair and had smooth honey like skin.
“Lucy Chen.” She said while holding her hand out, a small smirk on her face.
“Tim Bradford.” Tim introduced himself.
“I’m a p2 from north Hollywood division, you?” Lucy asked while accepting her drink from the bartender.
“Uh, p3 from Mid-Wilshire division.” Tim said with a small smile, soon accepting his drink too. He watched as the woman smiled and nodded, she was so fascinating to watch. “What brings you to this event?” Tim asks her.
“To play dress up and to play nice.” Lucy honestly admits. “I want to become a detective, in order for that to happen I need to woo the right people. Coming to events like this means meeting more people higher up in the food chain. What about you?” She asks. Tim chuckles and takes a sip of his drink.
“Same as you, I’m trying to make sergeant.” Tim admits before taking another sip. Lucy plays with the straw of her drink for a moment before taking a sip.
“Well Tim Bradford, it’s very nice to meet you.” Lucy says with a little mischievousness.
“It’s very nice to meet you too, Lucy Chen.” Tim says with a small smirk. This stupid event has quite quickly become one of his favorites.
“Tim Bradford at a LAPD event. Am I dead?” Angela says while approaching them. Tim quickly wipes the smile off his face and clears his throat.
“Angela.” Tim says before taking another sip.
“Oh right, I forgot that you're trying to become an even bigger pain in the ass by getting a promotion. Let’s just hope you pass the damn test.” Angela jokes, then barely notices the way Tim watches Lucy. She gives him a look and a small smile. “Sorry, where are my manners, I’m Angela Lopez. I work with Timothy.” Angela says while reaching a hand out. Lucy slowly goes to shake her hand and smiles at Tim.
“Lucy Chen. Timothy is it?” Lucy asks teasingly.
“No one calls me that.” Tim mumbles and blushes a little.
“P2?” Angela guesses.
“Uh, yeah.” Lucy says with a small nod.
“Well, actually, from all the information I’ve gathered so far, she’s trying to become a detective.” Tim eagerly says.
“Detective huh?” Angela asked intriguingly. Lucy blushes a little but nods. “You're young.”
“And ambitious. Big results require big ambitions.” Lucy quotes Heraclitus.
“I like you.” Angela says with a smile while staring between her and Tim. “Have you taken your test yet?”
“I take it in a couple of months, hoping for top ten.” Lucy admits.
“Now that’s ambitious. I’ll check the list in a couple of months.” Angela says with raised eyebrows.
“You're a detective.” Lucy states, it’s not a question.
“The best at Mid-Wilshire.” She says proudly.
“Equal to her partner, Nyla Harper.” Nyla introduces herself, catching everyone off guard.
“This is Lucy Chen, she’s hoping to make detective and score top ten.” Angela intrudes the two. Tim flashes her a look but is happy Lucy is making connections.
“Impressive. Tequila sunrise?” Nyla asks with a warm smile.
“Yeah, my favorite.” Lucy says skeptically. Her and Tim exchange a look but only for a second.
“One of my favorites too. What division are you from?” Nyla asks.
“North Hollywood division.” Lucy says.
“Wait, North Hollywood? Do you know Jackson West?” Angela asks excitedly.
“J? Yeah, he’s my partner on patrol.” Lucy says, but he’s obviously more than that.
“He was my rookie for a couple months until I moved up, well now he’s like family.” Angela admits.
“Right…his TO moved up and since there was no TO’s left he got reassigned to North Hollywood.” Lucy says while nodding. “And there he is.” Lucy says while motioning towards him. He has a confused look on his face and is tugging on his tie.
“Jackson.” Angela calls out. His face quickly changes to a happy one.
“This is weird, both my worlds are mixing.” He says while approaching them.
“Don’t be, you didn’t tell me that your friend Lucy was impressive.” Angela says with raised eyebrows.
“Don’t blame this on me, you guys almost met last year. You missed each other by a millisecond.” Jackson scoffs out. Now that everyone’s focus is on Jackson, Lucy and Tim are able to sneak a look at each other again.
“Well, it was really nice meeting you Lucy, I’ll keep an eye on the list for your name.” Nyla excuses herself. Both Jackson and Angela look back to Tim and Lucy who are staring at each other.
“Tim? A word?” Angela says while trying to hide a smile.
“Yeah, Lucy, can I talk to you?” Jackson asks.
“Y-Yeah.” Tim skeptically says.
“Sure.” Lucy agrees. They are both pulled to the side and given a good talking to.
“She’s pretty.” Angela whispers to Tim. He blushes and glances back to Lucy.
“Don’t you have a husband?” He asks.
“Not for me you idiot. She’d be a nice person to..I don’t know…have some fun with.” Angela teasingly suggest.
“Angela.” He yells in a whisper. “She is…not a..” Tim can’t even think because all he’s thinking about is him kissing Lucy.
“Relax. Be a gentleman and ask her out on a date you idiot. I mean…getting laid would be a bonus.” Angela says before snorting. He makes a shocked face and looks around.
“I have a daughter, my only focus should be on her.” Tim says quietly, then slightly looking at Lucy.
“Tim, your daughter is a tween, soon she’ll be a teenager, then an adult. What are you going to do when her life moves on and yours doesn’t?” Angela asked, making him sigh. She was right. He had dated a few girls in the past but quickly ended things. She didn’t wait long for him to respond and opened her purse. She slowly and secretly handed him an object. He took it and looked down to see what it was. His eyes went wide and he looked at it as if it were a grenade.
“Angela!” He almost yelled.
“Relax, it’s not a bomb, it’s a condom. Just in case, I saw the way she was looking at you.” She says with a small smirk.
“You just carry these things around?” He asks and looks around to see if anyone saw.
“On special occasion. Just, have fun.” She says with a small smirk before leaving.
While Tim and Angela talked, Jackson talked to Lucy. “You're going to ask him out.” Jackson said to Lucy.
“W-What? I’m not.” Lucy said defensively.
“Yes you will, you promised.” Jackson said. “And you like him, he’s hot, I’ll give you that.” Lucy inhaled sharply and looked over to Tim again. There was no denying that Tim didn’t lack looks.
“I was drunk when I made that promise.” Lucy said a little more confidently.
“You promised you would go out on more dates and have more fun. You’ve only been in two shitty relationships since Ollie was born. He’s five now, you need to get out there. Tim is perfect for that. He’s smart, hot, nice-ish,….bossy.” Jackson said while trying not to laugh. Lucy elbowed him and he finally laughed. “Here.” Jackson said while digging into his front pocket. He pulled out his wallet and slid something into her purse. She went to look and quickly looked back at Jackson.
“I’m not going to have a one night stand.” Lucy said while looking around the room for listening ears.
“I’m not telling you to, I’m telling you to ask him out. Maybe have some fun…or not.” He said. He gave her a pat and wink before leaving. Lucy nervously turned back to Tim who also seemed to have the same attitude. She smiled slightly and approached him again.
“Jackson just wanted…to…something.” Lucy lied terribly.
“Y-Yeah, same with Angela.” Tim also lied.
“Why do you think everyone else comes to these things? I mean, Angela for example, she’s detective but she’s here.” Lucy curiously asked while going back to her drink. Tim slightly chuckled and shook his drink.
“Free alcohol and a child free night.” Tim said with a small smile, then meeting Lucy’s eyes. Her eyebrows seemed tense and she was moving her straw around again.
“A childfree night with free booze and a handsome man isn’t entirely bad.” Lucy quietly said, then nervously looking to see his reaction. She had been out of the game for a really long time, maybe she forgot how to flirt. Then she realized what she said, practically admitting she had a kid. Tim’s eyes flicked to her hand then back to her face.
“Agreed. I mean…not with a handsome man. With a beautiful woman.” He nervously continued.
“You have kids?” Lucy asked, then taking a sip of her already watering drink.
“Kid, one. She’s eleven. You?” Tim asked.
“One, he’s five.” Lucy admitted, a small smile forming on her face.
“That’s a good age, my daughter just likes to barely acknowledge me now.” Tim said with a small head nod. “So…are you married?”
“Uh..” Lucy chuckled out. “No, no. What about you?” She asked.
“Divorced.” Tim clarified. Lucy looked down at her drink and got really nervous for what she was about to ask.
“Do you-” They both spoke at the same time.
“Sorry, you go first.” Lucy quickly said.
“I was…Do you want to maybe…get some coffee together or something?” Tim asked. To his surprise Lucy sighed out a smile.
“Y-Yeah, I would love that.” She said through a smile.
“G-Good.” Tim also sighed out a smile. “My number.” Tim said while rooting through his front pocket. He handed her a card and their hands lightly touched again. They spent the rest of the event just talking to each other, it wasn’t really romantic but just getting to know each other. It was nice to have someone to be able to understand and relate to.