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Tim watches Seth’s retreating figure with a frown, he does not trust him for second, he looks across at Lucy and he knows she’s thinking the same thing.
“Do you think he…” her voice is still deep and raw from the smoke but the uncertainty evident.
“We’ll look into it,” Tim promises. He warned Seth if something happened to Lucy it will be his neck and Lucy almost died in Tim’s arms today. Granted they both almost died, but it’s not just that, who knows who else was in danger because of Seth’s mishandling of the emergency situation.
“Officers, those masks were supposed to be on until I came back for an update.”Their nurse, a young woman with curly red hair pulled into one, her face round and young and Tim swears she should still be in high school.
She has an iPad in her hand and a singular portable nebulizer in her other. The fact that she only has one has Tim concerned immediately.
She then turns her attention to Lucy, “Officer Chen, I’m switching you to a higher dose of oxygen.”
That immediately has Tim on high alert, his own mask forgotten as he sits up and pays closer attention. Lucy glances at Tim briefly, the concern evident on her face as the nurse helps her with the nasal cannula.
“Okay, this needs to stay on for at least another 4 hours. Your lab tests came back normal, but your blood oxygen levels were much lower than we expected and we just want to err on the side of caution for both you and the baby.”
Baby?
Tim’s world stops at those words.
Lucy’s pregnant?
“I’m not pregnant!” Lucy stutters out as she sits up, she looks from her vitals monitor then back to the nurse, her eyes never once flickering over to Tim. “There is no baby!”
“Oh.” The young woman squeaks out and Tim just knows this is what happens when they have fetuses working important jobs. First he and Lucy almost get burned alive and now this. “I’m so sorry. Umm.. I saw your hCG levels were so high I assumed you already knew. From the numbers it could between 8 to 12 weeks but…”
“Valentines Day.” Lucy remarks quietly, but Tim hears her loud and clear. Her eyes are downcast and she has not made eye contact with the nurse once, nor has she looked across at Tim. “So about 8 weeks.”
“Oh! Um fun.” The nurse remarks with an uncomfortable laugh, and Tim rolls his eyes not at all surprised the younger woman is not reading the room or Lucy’s closed off demeanour. “It’s actually not calculated that way we look at it from your last period.”
“End of January into the first two days of February.” Lucy prattles off her voice still low but void of any emotion. It worries Tim to say the least, even more than she won’t even glance at him, she knows he’s listening.
“Okay so, about 10 weeks or so. I’ll add that to your chart.” The nurse says happily as her fingers dance across the iPad in her hand. “So, like I said nothing to worry about, but we would prefer to keep you and the baby on oxygen for a few more hours. Get your blood drawn again in three hours. We also have the on call OB come and check you out and do a full work up if you would like. Or you can schedule with your own OB.”
“Oh.” Lucy replies, finally looking at the nurse, Tim can see her shift uncomfortably on the bed, fixing the cannula in her nose and one hand hovering over stomach until she moves it to her side. “Yes, thank you. I’d like to make sure nothing is wrong to….um…either of us due to the smoke inhalation and to check that…um…everything else is okay with…um…the baby.”
“Oh of course! I’m going to have you admitted, unfortunately we may not have a room for you given how hectic things are. If there is one available we will get you moved there or at least it is an exam room when the OB comes down for rounds.” The nurse says brightly. Her fingers swipe across her screen, “I can give your emergency contact a call to let them know, I have here a Timothy Bradford…Oh! Well that makes it easy uh?”
The nurse looks across at Tim with a big smile of acknowledgment and Lucy still hasn’t looked across at him. The nurse completely oblivious to the tension building between the two and looks back at Lucy, “someone will bring you a gown and take you to one of the bathrooms so you can clean up. No dawdling, ten minutes tops off the oxygen for that. They will also bring a pair of scrubs for after your exam with the OB, if you are unable to get a clean pair of clothes. Sit tight, Mama. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Mama
Tim’s heart ceases at the woman’s words and for the first time since the news he sees Lucy react. Her body goes rigid for a brief moment before she place a hand on her stomach. He watches as she reaches up and quickly swipes her eyes before she turns on her side, her back to him. Her hand still resting on her stomach.
“Okay, your turn Officer Bradford,” the nurse greets brightly. “You are free to go, but the doctor prescribed you a nebulizer and recommends for the next 24 hours you use this every 4 to 6 hours for at least 30 minutes. More if you start to feel winded. If at any point you develop shortness of breath, increase heart rate or any of the symptoms listed on your discharge you are to come straight back.”
She hands him the nebulizer and his discharge papers, “ I know you two have already handed over your guns to your colleagues but I’m not sure if anyone is still around. I would ask if you want me to call your emergency contact but…yup Lucy Chen!”
The nurses at Lucy and back to him questioningly, and Tim rolls her eyes, the woman is far too nosy. He really hopes she doesn’t make things anymore awkward for thin “We got it from here. Thank you for all your help.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours, Lucy!” The nurse says brightly. She points at button behind the bed and Tim is surprise to see Lucy now flat on her back looking at him with an unreadable expression, her hand still resting on her stomach. “Call if you need anything. Congrats you two!”
Tim holds back a groan, and he can see Lucy close her eyes at the woman’s words. He takes a tentative step towards her bed. He wants to reach out, but unsure of what to do, what to say his own mind still reeling.
“You didn’t change your emergency contact.” Lucy says her voice still raspy. It’s more of a statement than a question.
Tim shrugs, “neither did you.”
Lucy rolls her eyes with a huff and Tim knows deflecting with an argument is not going to help him this time. “Lucy…”
Lucy holds up her hand, stopping him in his tracks, her brown eyes never wavering from his. “Not here…not yet.”
Tim nods, he expected as much and he’s not even sure what to think himself, “okay. I’m going to look for Nolan or anyone that can give me a ride back to the station. I can pick up your bag from your locker.”
Lucy bites her lip, and her eyes fill with tears and Tim reaches for her hand immediately, all hesitation from earlier complete disappears with her distressed look. “Or I can stay with you, if you want get someone to bring our stuff whatever you want.”
He’s probably said the word ‘want’ far too many times in one sentence but he doesn’t want to assume and he does not want to pressure her either.
“What if something is wrong with the baby?” Lucy whispers softly, her fingers curl around her shirt at the same time he feels her grip tighten around his hand. “There was so much smoke…and I’ve been breathing it in all day and…”
“Hey. Hey. You heard bubbly Betty there. Her lack of patient confidentiality aside. They are just being cautious. Look, your oxygen levels are already in the 90s. You…you’re both going to be fine.”
Lucy nods and then quirks an unimpressed eyebrow at him, “bubbly Betty?”
“I was gonna go with Nosy Nacy, but I was trying to be nice.” Tim remarks dryly. “Foolish Phoebe would work too.”
“Phoebe starts with a P.” Lucy counters and he can see her fighting back a smile.
“I was aiming for an alliteration.” Tim remarks unnecessarily but the knowing smile Lucy sends him warms his chest and he will never stop making dumb jokes if it gets him that smile in return. “Annoying Anya.”
“Stop!”
Their exchange earns a small chuckle but then another coughing fit stars and Tim grimaces guiltily, already contemplating pressing the call button but Lucy’s cough eventually stops. He hands her the glass of water that was sitting on the side table from earlier. Her hand slipping out of his to take it, her other hand still resting on her stomach.
“My throat is gonna feel like sandpaper for days.” Lucy rasps as she takes a sip of water and nods in thanks.
She places the cup back on the table and then interlocks both hands to rest on her stomach. Tim takes that as his cue and moves to the foot of her bed to stand and wait.
“Okay. No. I can’t have you hovering over me for the next four hours, watching my stats like a football score..” Lucy says firmly.
Tim rolls his eyes but nods in understanding, truth is if he sticks around any longer he’s going to end pushing her to talk before she’s ready. It will only do more harm than good.
They are having a baby.
He still hasn’t wrapped his mind around it and he’s not the one carrying said baby. He doesn’t even know if Lucy wants to carry the baby.
The thought alone terrifies him, but one thing he does know is that he’s going to be there and support her as much as she will allow.
“I didn’t know!” Lucy blurts out suddenly. “I didn’t know. I didn’t suspect a thing. Nothing was out of the ordinary my period is sporadic at best. I didn’t think…I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t think you did. You were as shocked as I am.” Tim says calmly, his eyes moving briefly to her vitals monitor to back her face. “But I wouldn’t hold it against you if you wanted…needed time to think about it.”
“I didn’t know.” Lucy repeats this time her voice is full of defeat. “How could I not know? I tackled a guy twice my size two weeks ago! I’ve been running around inhaling smoke for hours. Oh god I had wine with Celina a few weeks ago. I had sushi! Twice this week! Remember, I told you if I ever got pregnant giving up sushi would be the worst part? But I had it I…I didn’t…”
She’s spiraling. He glances at her vitals and can see her oxygen levels decreasing.
“Lucy, hey look at me.” He takes her hand pulling her focus back on him. “Breathe slowly. That’s good. Why don’t you write down your concerns and you can ask the OB? You had no idea and that’s okay. But you know now and you can make proper decisions going forward…whatever you want to do.”
Lucy nods, and Tim glances at the monitor happy to see than things are moving in the right direction. He goes to release her hand but Lucy tightens her grip around his fingers.
Tim nods in understanding and tugs the nearby stool closer so that he can sit closer to her. He sits at the head of her bed, their fingers entwined resting between them Lucy’s shallow breaths becoming longer and deeper. She sends him a sheepishly smile, “sorry I went off the deep end there.”
“Understandable, not the best way to find out.” Tim remarks lightly with a shrug of his shoulder. “Not how we….”
He stops himself short, not wanting to overstep, or to push her down that path just yet.
“Not how we would have wanted to find out.” Lucy finishes softly. She bites her lip and closes her eyes briefly, her grip on his hand still firm. “It‘s not how I would have planned it…to tell you.”
“You thought about that?” Tim can’t help but ask, but realizes belatedly he pushed too far.
Lucy tenses and releases her hold in his hand, she places them back on her stomach. She looks down at her entwined fingers and sighs. “It doesn’t matter now.”
He nods and leans back slightly on the stool, his eyes never leaving hers. They sit in uncomfortable silence as the hospital buzzes around them.
He has so many questions he wants to ask her. He wants to know the next step. He needs to know if he should be getting his hopes up.
“Why is it that whenever I feel like I have some semblance of control of my life, something always manages to put a wrench in it?” Lucy suddenly exclaims in exasperation. “No one is gonna hire a 5000 months pregnant sergeant! I won’t be able to tie my shoes when the results are out!”
Tim has to bite back a smile at the image because he knows Lucy would not appreciate it in the slightest. He also tries to hide his elation that this is something she clearly wants. She wouldn’t be grumbling this much if it was something she didn’t want.
So instead he focuses on practicality and rationality which he hopes she will appreciate. “Actually, as sergeant you will mostly be supervising calls and advising officers. You spend more time driving from one place to the next and rarely in the line of fire unless needed. So unless you can’t reach the steering wheel it’s very much doable. If they don’t hire you for any other reason it would be an ethics violation.”
Lucy narrows her eyes at him, and he braces himself at being shut down, yelled at or just completely ignored all of which have a high probability of happening. “You’re not wrong and when I come first they can’t overlook me for someone else.”
Tim grins at her overconfidence, “Exactly, though Grey needs at least two more sergeants so the job would be yours first or not.”
“That’s true too.” Lucy says thoughtfully, her eyes still locked on his. “I’m still gonna come first though.”
“Of course.” Tim agrees automatically and he can’t help but smile when Lucy sends him that brilliant smile of hers.
“With…um both of us on leave, Grey will need even more coverage.” Her voice is low and tentative as she speaks but her eyes never his.
“Yea? Yea…he’s going to hate us for that.” Tim offers with a tentative smile.
“No doubt.”
Tim nods and flexes his fingers in his own lap, he is itching to reach out to her. Itching to ask her all the questions on the tip of his tongue.
Are they going to alternate taking care of the baby? Are they going to do it together? And most importantly what about them?
Does he even stand a chance of getting her back or has he ruined the best thing that’s happened to him.
Lucy does not offer anything further and Tim is at his wits end. He is just about to speak when he catches a movement in his periphery.
An orderly walks up to Lucy’s bed with a wheelchair, a gown, a pair of scrubs and blanket resting on the seat. “Lucy Chen? I’m here to take you up to OBGYN. They have an available bed while you wait for Dr Montgomery, our on-call OB.”
Lucy looks at Tim worriedly, but he only takes her hand and squeezes it in reassurance as the orderly removes all the wires attached to her.
A few minutes later they are coming out of the elevator and onto the labour and delivery floor.
“It’s so very pink in here.” Lucy whispers, “I feel like I just wheeled into a bottle of pepto bismol.”
Tim has to hold back a laugh because that was the exact same thing he said when he visited Angela in the hospital when she was having Jack.
“We typically get cotton candy, but that works too.” The orderly says with amusement.
He ushers them into a private room pushing Lucy almost to the bed, “Alright, Mama I need you to change into this gown. No underwear, then I can get you hooked back up to oxygen and everything else. I’ll be right back.”
He takes the wheelchair and disappears through the door. When Tim looks back at Lucy she’s already on her feet grabbing the hospital gown.
“Thank god. I hate these things, but I’m so tired of smelling like a shishkebab.” Lucy mutters as she tugs off her tshirt.
Tim quickly turns around to give her some privacy, he wonders if he should step out but he can already hear the sound of zipper being under.
“All my clothes are ruined. Every single layer.” Lucy laments, “I loved this sports bra. Well it’s not going to fit in a few months anyway.”
Tim coughs at her words, and also to remind her that he’s still standing here. He hears a soft thump and assumes she’s getting into bed and turns around only to be greeted by Lucy’s bare ass, barely concealed by her hospital gown as she gathers her fallen clothes. He quickly spins around again coughing again.
“You should use that nebulizer while we wait.” Lucy says with concern, completely oblivious. He can hear her shifting on the bed and he waits a beat before turning around.
When he turns around Lucy is sitting in bed with a blanket on her lap smirking at him. She knew exactly what she was doing. “You know, you’ve seen it all before. It’s why we ended up on this floor in the hospital in the first place.”
Tim narrows his eyes at her, but is saved from retorting when the orderly comes back into the room sans wheelchair. “Alright, Mama let’s get you hooked up and back on the oxygen. Dad, I need you on the left as all the wires and machines are on the right side.”
Dad.
Tim falters at the word, not expecting to be addressed that way. It’s true of course, but hearing it, is starting to make everything feel more real.
He silently makes his way to the left side of Lucy’s bed and when he takes a seat it’s only then he realizes that Lucy is watching him. Her face is unreadable, but her eyes never leave his. Her hands are in her lap and she plays with the blanket nervously.
Once the orderly leaves, Lucy surprises him by speaking first, “I guess we no longer have names once we’re in pepto land.”
Tim tries to laugh but it only comes out as a painful gasp.
Dad.
His chest feels tight, he looks at Lucy who is smiling at him in understanding, “kinda feeling like you just can’t catch your breath?”
Tim silently nods, she gestured to the nebulizer in his hand, “deep slow breaths.”
He follows her instructions, his eyes trained on her and she breathes with him until he feels much calmer. He removes the nebulizer and moves a little closer to the bed, resting his hands on the mattress. “Thanks.”
“At least we took turns freaking out.” Lucy says with a light laugh. “The kid stands a chance if one of us is thinking straight at a time.”
“We’re a bit of a mess.” Tim says with a laugh.
“A little.” Lucy agrees.
They share a small laugh before they go quiet again, this time the silence is less awkward but equally foreboding.
“Seth lied about the fire.” Lucy says suddenly.
“Most likely,” Tim says tensely as he thinks about the fact that not only could he have lost Lucy but also the baby as well. “I will request his body cams for the day.”
“What if he wasn’t wearing it because he was station bound?” Lucy asks, it’s clear all the scenarios have been running through her head as well.
“Then I’ll request the call logs from the national weather service, they have to have verbal confirmation from the station with a name and badge number attached to receiving the call. We will catch him in this lie.”
He’s about to say more when his phone begins to ring he pulls it out to see that Angela is on the line. “Hey, you okay?”
“Jesus you sound like you smoked half a pack a day.” Angela quips lightly, but then her voice sobers “I heard what happened to you and Lucy. Are you okay?”
“I got cleared. Lucy is fine, but has to be monitored for a bit long with some extra oxygen. We should be out of here in an hour or so. We’re just waiting on the doctor now.” Tim glances at Lucy briefly before looking back at the phone.
“Okay, good. I’m in the hospital with Nyla. James was shot. He and another person at the shelter. Celina found them. It’s not looking good.”
“Oh god.” Lucy mutters in horror, her hand reaching for Tim’s
“We’re in St Stephen’s where are you?”
“Us too.”
“Okay, I’ll come find you, what room are you in?” Angela asks and Tim knows there is more to this story and she doesn’t want to discuss it via phone.
“Actually, I’m not sure. We kinda got moved around a lot as they freed up some beds.” Tim lies easily. “We should be finished here soon and we’ll meet you. You should be on surgical by then but I’ll text you.”
There is a brief pause from Angela, all three of them know there is no way they don’t know where they are, “okay, let me know if you need anything.”
“I figured you didn’t want to tell people yet.” Tim explains at Lucy’s questioning look as he ends the call.
“I just want to know that everything is okay,” Lucy says weakly.
“It will be.” Tim insists, there is no other alternative for him.
Another silence takes over the room as they are both lost in thought. There is so many things Tim needs to say.
“Lucy.” He calls out to her tentatively can see her walls going up again, and he quickly speaks before she can shut him down again. “I meant what I said earlier on Eagle Rock Road.”
“Tim…”
“Wait, just hear me out. I need to say something, and I won’t bring it up again.” It’s a lie, and Lucy’s skeptical expression shows she knows he’s lying too, but she doesn’t stop him so Tim takes it as a win.
“I meant every word of it. I know you’re not ready to talk about us and you might never be and after what I did to us, I deserve that. But, I want you to know I’m going to be here at your side through all of this. Unless you say otherwise… no matter the outcome. I know my word may not mean much to you right now, but trust me when I say this. I love you and this baby and I am not going anywhere.”
“Tim.”
But whatever she is about to say is interrupted when there is a knock on the door and a tall slim woman in a white coat comes walking into the room. She has an iPad in her hand and a stethoscope around her neck and Tim can see the name Dr. Emma Montgomery etched across her front pocket.
“Officer Lucy Chen?” She confirms with a bright smile. “I see here you had an incident in one of the fires and you’re roughly about 10 weeks pregnant?”
Lucy nods as she sits up, “yes, I was not aware I was pregnant. I had no symptoms.”
“Not to worry most women don’t at this stage. We will get you and the mini me all checked out. All your vitals are looking good. I’m going to listen to your lungs check your airway and then we will do a transvaginal ultrasound and double check to make sure everything is okay. Have you had any pain or discomfort any time today?”
Lucy shakes her head in the negative, “only my throat and I don’t feel winded like earlier.”
She nods in the affirmative typing a few things in her iPad. She puts it down on the foot of the bed and then begins to examine Lucy. As she does she asks various questions about Lucy’s cycle, birth control and Tim watches on silently.
Lucy starts asking her concerns about the food and drinks she’s consumed in the last few weeks all her concerns easing with each answer from the doctor.
“Okay, Dad scooch back a bit I need to fix the bed for an exam.” The doctor addressing Tim suddenly pulls him from his thoughts but he quickly gets to his feet and takes a step back, he watches in fascination and the exam bed folds into a chair with Lucy still on it. “It’s like a transformer.”
He realizes belatedly that he said it out loud when both Lucy and the doctor laugh, “yea all dads are impressed with that trick.”
He moves his chair back to Lucy and smiles when she reaches out for him. He curls his fingers around her hand and they wait for the doctor to pull the ultrasound machine closer to them. When he sees the ultrasound wand his eyes widen in horror.
Dr. Montgomery chuckles lightly as she pulls open the stirrups for Lucy, “All the first time dads are horrified by this too.”
She goes through the motions of prepping Lucy, but the moment the monitor comes to life and a loud fast swooshing sound echoes in the small room all thoughts leave Tim. He can feel Lucy’s fingers tighten around his both their eyes trained on the grey picture of a large black sac.
“Well your mini me certainly wants us to know that they are here.” Dr Montgomery says with a laugh, she looks at Lucy and smiles warmly, “You can breathe Mama that is a very strong good heartbeat. Now let’s see if we can find this one so I can get some measurements…there we go!”
And just like that a small white form is on the screen moving and shifting, Tim can make out the form of the baby.
Their baby.
They really did that.
“Oh!” Lucy squeaks her eyes filling with tears, she tugs on Tim’s fingers. “Tim look at her. You can see her head!”
The baby is fluttering on the screen and Tim is almost certain he sees a foot but then it disappears, and then the baby disappears all together. “What happened?”
“Your baby is a busy body.” Dr Montgomery says with a chuckle as she types in some information in her iPad. “They are just moving around, makes my job a little harder, but it’s a good thing. If there were concerns about oxygen restriction she wouldn’t be so active. Ah there she is! Would you like some pictures?”
“Yes!” Both Tim and Lucy say at the same time, Tim grinning sheepishly at the looks Lucy gives him.
“Alright, baby is measuring at almost 11 weeks. You’ve got a Halloween baby on your hands. Your due date is roughly October 31, 2025.”
Neither Tim nor Lucy can take their eyes off the screen as the doctor continues her exam. When she finishes and turns off the monitor, Tim almost protests in annoyance, but luckily catches himself.
“Okay Lucy, everything is looking good for both you and the baby. You’ll need to get a regular OB and have them request your file so they are aware. The nurse will come take your blood double check to make sure all your numbers are back up. You’ll be free to go once they take your blood, if there is anything of concern they will call you. Now do you have any questions for me?”
Lucy shakes her head and then gently tugs Tim’s hand getting his attention, “Tim, do you have any questions?”
Tim startles in surprise, not expecting her to ask him but he shakes his head, “Not right now.”
“We can always ask my OB. Thank you so much Dr. Montgomery.” Lucy chimes in with a grateful smile.
Once the doctor leaves Lucy gently tugs off the cannula around her nose, at Tim’s look she rolls her eyes. “I need to change.”
Tim nods and despite her teasing words earlier he still turns around to face the wall.
“I believe you,” Lucy says softly and Tim slowly turns around to see she’s now wearing pink scrubs. Her eyes trained on him. “ I still… I still need time…I’m not ready to talk about us just yet…but I know that you will be here for me and the baby. I believe you.”
“And that I love you.” He chimes in, deciding in this moment he will continue to remind her of this until she tells him not to. He can see the barest of a smile on her lips at his words.
“And that you love me.” She echoes with a nod of her head. She climbs back into the bed and allows him to help her put the oxygen back on. When he goes to sit back in his seat she grabs his hand stopping him in his tracks. “I..I love you too, you know.”
Tim heart swells at her words, he suspected as much, but he is happy to hear it. “I know but…”
“But love was never our problem.” Lucy concludes with a sad smile. Tim expects her to let go of his hand but instead she only squeezes it tighter. “We’ll get there.”
“Yea. We will.” Tim echoes softly.
He sends her a hopeful smile, grateful she even opened up the door for them to speak. He knows it’s most likely due to the baby, but he plans to ensure she never will doubt him again.
Knowing not to push his luck anymore, he glances at her pink scrubs and tugs on her finger gently to get her attention. “You look like a bottle of pepto bismol.”
Lucy gasps at his words and shoves him lightly, “Shut up! You smell like charbroiled chicken.”
Tim only laughs wholeheartedly and her insult, and she breaks out into soft giggles.
They are going to be okay, all three of them.