Archive of Our Own

Maybe the heat had messed with her head more than she realized, but Angela was having fun. She and Wesley had just wanted a cool refuge for a few hours after how unbearable it was at their own home, then Lucy had come into Nolan’s house frantic and on a mission. Playing God for LAPD officers, with sticky notes even? Sign her up. 

Plus, it was all for her best friend, which was a bonus. His empty expression at his court liaison desk when he thought no one was looking was not lost on her, Detective Extraordinaire. She knew this new position had to be eating away at his sanity. 

She also had a strong suspicion that she knew exactly why he was in this position in the first place, but she had yet to get 100% confirmation. He was so squirrelly, but always had an excuse when she pressed further.

His counterpart in question had also hemmed and hawed earlier this evening when asked why she was going to all this trouble for Tim’s career. “Oh, you know, he’s a good friend, and he’s always supported my career. I’m just returning the favor.”

Uh-huh, okay, Lucy.

Yet Angela chose to ease up a bit, not that patience was her strong suit. But she knew sometime soon, one of them was going to give themselves up, and when they did, the gloating was going to be glorious. 

Just as they concluded that Lucy would need Smitty’s help to pull this off, the doorbell rang, with Nolan's surprised greeting of “Tim!”, causing a flurry of flying colors as everyone tried to pocket the sticky notes that had been adorning the window. 

Angela’s radar went up once she heard Tim’s voice. Showtime, she thought gleefully. She quickly stepped back into the living room, straining to hear all of the conversation at the door.

“Is that Lucy’s car?” Tim asked, stepping into the foyer.

She held back a cackle at Tim’s poor attempt to feign innocence in order to not arouse suspicion. If there’s one thing that lovesick man knew, it was what Lucy’s car looked like. Many mornings she’d spotted him waiting for her to arrive, sometimes with an extra coffee in hand. 

Looking back at the window, she realized that her stepping away meant they hadn’t quite destroyed all the evidence of their activity, leaving the rest of the group to look like deer in headlights, Lucy most of all. 

Oops.

Tim stopped just as he reached the living room. “It’s a party. What’s going on?” His tone sounded casual, but she could tell he was trying to suss everyone out. 

Angela tried to stall. “Nothing. Just enjoying the A/C.” No lie there. It was a frosty haven in here.

Everyone had started backing up from the window, yet Lucy was still yanking off the last few sticky notes that remained. 

“Okaaay, so what’s really going on?” Tim asked again.

“You know, I should check on Leah,” said Nyla, James on her heels.

“Does anyone need more wine?” Bailey asked.

“We’ve still got more shrimp, guys,” Nolan stated.

Tim had moved past them, turning his attention to Lucy. “You okay?”

With a flip of her hair, she responded, “Yeah, couldn’t be better.”

“Great, then you can tell me what’s with the notes in your hand and why you’re acting like it’s a surprise party gone wrong.”

“We were just brainstorming.”

“Lucy,” Tim prodded.

Angela watched their exchange in fascination. Tim had obviously gotten a whiff of deception. Years as a cop had him well trained. But he also seemed genuinely curious. Lucy had her head held high, ready to defend herself. 

Yet there was not one indication that they remembered they weren’t the only ones in the room. 

Testing the waters, Angela held up her hand to the rest of the group to halt their flustered movements. As soon as she got their attention, she motioned for them to join her on the couch quietly. As they all crowded around, Tim and Lucy remained oblivious, still locked in a staredown.

If only I had some popcorn, she thought.

Lucy sighed. “Ok, I’ll tell you. We were trying to figure out a way to get you out of your Court Liaison job.”

“You know there isn’t anything else available,” Tim stated.

“In Metro,” she clarified. “But to make that happen, other officers would have to transfer departments. I was trying to facilitate a five-player trade.”

Hurt washed over Tim’s features. “Behind my back? Why didn’t you talk to me about it first?”

“I was going to tell you eventually,” Lucy replied, looking slightly abashed, “But I didn’t want you to get your hopes up if it didn’t pan out. I just wanted to get the ball rolling and see what could be done, because you’re miserable.”

“I’m fine!” Tim protested, his voice rising an octave. It reminded Angela of his obvious denial months ago when she’d asked him point-blank, “Timothy, do you have feelings for Lucy?”

“You’re not. And you would be amazing in Metro.”

“Lucy, I don’t like doing it this way– sneaky and underhanded. These are people’s careers you’re dealing with, and if word got out, it could come back to bite you, and your career is too important to mess up for my sake.”

Lucy’s nostrils flared as she stepped closer to Tim, pushing a finger into his chest. “Oh, really? But you had no issue stalling your career for my sake? When you went to Grey without talking it over with me first?”

Angela quietly pumped her fist. She knew it! She knew that was why he was at that boring desk job. She continued watching, amazed by their level of tunnel vision. They were completely lost in each other, a fiery, entertaining mix of frustration and affection. It reminded her of her own tunnel vision during the early days of her relationship with Wesley. How she would get so wrapped up in him, it was hard to focus on anything else. Other than the struggle to keep her cop eyes active on the job, it was one of the best times of her life.

Need to call Patrice to watch the kids soon. Wesley and I need a proper date night.

It had gone deathly silent all around the living room, everyone caught up in disbelief at the unexpected show unfolding before them.

“That’s different,” said Tim.

“How?” asked Lucy.

“Because that didn’t affect half of the LAPD!”

Both of them were standing even closer now, breathing heavier. 

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Tim,” Lucy said softly.

“I know. I appreciate all of this, I do. But, Lucy, you need to understand…I would remain Court Liaison until retirement if it means I get to be with you.”

Sharp inhales filled the room, quiet enough to be unnoticed. Angela was stunned. Was that her best friend talking? She picked her drink back up to take a sip.

“Aww, babe….” Lucy grinned up at him, clearly moved by his words.

And with that, Angela choked on her drink, spewing out water while the rest of it went down her throat the wrong way, breaking any illusion of privacy those two lovebirds might have thought had existed.

Tim and Lucy slowly came back to reality, turning their heads to their captive audience, with faces red and eyes enlarged.

For a moment, nobody said a word. Angela’s coughing continued a moment longer, but she quickly got it under control, plastering a smirk on her face. “Timothy, is there something you want to share with the rest of the class…’babe?’”

Lucy giggled. 

Tim rolled his eyes.

Angela happily waited.

With a sigh, Tim said, “Ok, fine, yes. Lucy and I are dating.”

Nolan’s house erupted in cheers, everyone standing and coming over to the happy couple to offer congratulations.

“Finally!”

“Congratulations!”

“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming.”

“It’s about time!”

Angela watched them both as they accepted the group’s felicitations. She knew neither one loved being in the spotlight, but they handled it well. Tim was actually grinning every time his eyes found Lucy’s. 

When Angela’s turn came, she couldn’t help but throw her arms around him. They weren’t big huggers, at least with each other, but this occasion called for it. She’d watched from the sidelines for years, how broken he became after Isabel, how Lucy and her light slowly transformed him, and how Tim and Lucy always looked out for each other in a way she’d never witnessed with any other pairings at Mid-Wilshire. It had been different for them from the beginning, and they had finally crossed that threshold into something that could potentially last forever. She couldn’t be happier that they’d finally figured things out. 

Because, really, if she’d had to watch them stare longingly at each other across the bullpen one more time, she would’ve intervened herself, involving a locked interrogation room.

“You finally got a clue, Bradford. I already knew, of course,” said Angela.

“You did not,” Tim argued.

“What am I, an amateur? Have we met before? Of course I knew. As stealthy as you both are on the job, you have no idea how to keep your faces in check with each other.”

“Doesn’t matter now. Cat’s out of the bag, anyway,” Tim responded, looking pointedly at Lucy with a smirk.

“Yeah, because of you! Besides, it was going to get out sooner or later. It actually feels good.”

They stared at each other with lovesick smiles once again.

“Oh, so it’s going to be like that all the time? Both of you just being sappy around each other?” Angela couldn’t resist.

Tim's face grew serious. “No.”

“Too late. You’re busted. I know what you are now, and don’t think for a second we won’t be talking about this again,” Angela said, laughing. 

Wesley then walked out of the guest bedroom. “I just got Jack down and….” he trailed off as he took in the celebratory scene. “Uhhh, what’s going on, guys?”

Everyone returned to the seating area, as Lucy explained, “Well, Tim and I just told everyone that we’re dating.”

“Oh, congratulations,” Wesley said sincerely. “Angela was wondering when you would make it official. When did this happen?”

Tim had grabbed a seat in the leather chair, while all the other couples had squeezed onto the couch, Angela pulling Wesley down right next to her. Lucy, clearly emboldened by their reveal, casually sat on Tim’s lap, as if they’d already done this a hundred times in front of their friends. Though his face showed surprise for a moment, he quickly brought his arm around her waist to secure her. 

“A few weeks ago,” Tim answered.

“Our first date,” supplied Lucy, “But it had been building long before that.”

“Lucy!”

“What? Am I wrong?”

Tim shook his head with exasperated fondness and gently kissed Lucy’s temple. “No, you’re not wrong.”

“Aww, you guys are so cute!” Bailey gushed.

“Try working with them these past months while they kept flirting with each other and didn’t even realize it,” Nyla deadpanned.

“We didn’t flirt,” said Tim firmly.

“Sure, ok, and I got my golden ticket just for being nice,” said Nyla.

Lucy leaned further into Tim. “So, now that all secrets have been revealed, how are we going to get you into Metro? The closest thing to a solution we’d gotten to was asking Smitty for a favor.”

“Please don’t do that,” Tim pleaded. “He’ll cash in something crazy, like making you wash his RV or something equally terrible.”

Lucy shuddered. “The horror.”

“Plus, I don’t think you want to mess with Primm. I heard he’s easily offended and frequently holds grudges,” added Angela. She didn’t want to exacerbate the problem, but wanted Lucy and Tim to have all the facts.

She watched as Lucy deflated a little. “Well, I think I’m out of ideas. We’ve tried every possible scenario.”

“Except one,” said Tim. “I’ll talk to Grey and see if he can put in a good word for me to Lt. Pine. It’s a long shot, but who knows? There may not be anything available right now, but down the line could work, too.”

Lucy smiled, satisfied, pressing her forehead against Tim’s. “Ok, we’ll try it your way.”

Angela sighed contentedly as she curled up against her husband. This evening had turned out rather perfectly, blazing heat aside. Her friends were all gathered together, happy and bantering, and she had a smoking-hot husband, an amazing kid, and a flourishing career. For the moment, she could just bask in that.

While the hum of conversation continued around them, Wesley leaned in closer. “What’s got you all touchy-feely tonight?”

Angela answered quietly, “Mmm, what can I say, Wesley? Love is in the air. My best friend is happier than I’ve ever seen him, and it reminds me of our own early days. That time was so special, and honestly pretty hot.”

“Yeah, it definitely was. Maybe it’s time we put that old storage room at the station to good use again?”

That’s my man. Angela kissed his cheek. “You’re on! You free tomorrow?”

“I’m sure I can come up with a reason to visit Mid-Wilshire.”

It appeared that this heatwave was only going to get hotter.

That was fine by her.