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Lucy doesn’t think anything of it at first, she thinks it’s a cold. She has a runny nose, and nasal congestion but that’s it. She has a slight cough but she thinks it will go away in a few days. And she had this for the last few weeks, a normal cold. That’s all it is.
She knows Tim is concerned and can feel his eyes on her as she moves around her room getting ready for work.
“Luce,” He says his tone serious. “If you don’t feel well please stay home.” Lucy shakes her head at him and pulls a shirt out of the drawer. She slips it on and then turns to face him.
“I’m fine.” She says and winces when she hears how plugged up she sounds. Tim raises his eyebrows at her and before she can say anything else she lets out a loud cough. She stops and then comes over and takes a drink of the water by her bedside.
“I’m fine Tim. I promise.” She says. Tim narrows his eyes at her, and looks her up and down.
“Okay if you aren’t sick—kiss me.” He says. Lucy freezes as she turns to face him. She squares her shoulders at him.
“What?”
“Kiss me if you aren’t sick.” He says. Lucy shakes her head at him, knowing this was a ploy to get her to admit she was sick.
Which it was just a cold—
“It’s a cold Tim.” She says. “I am not giving that to you.”
Tim hums a little and studies her some more. “Fine.” He says. “But if you feel like this anything other than a cold I want you to come home.”
Lucy nods and that’s all she can do because she is suddenly coughing again. This time longer than last time.
She could do this. She could get through the day.
***
Lucy keeps up the act, all throughout roll call and then climbing into the shop with Aaron. Aaron for his part is concerned as he sits behind the wheel and looks at her.
“Are you okay?” He asks. She nods her head, and wishes she could just tell him not to worry about it but the truth was she was starting to feel worse. She was drinking water to keep from coughing but it didn’t really work.
She wipes her nose and stuffs the tissue in her pants, feeling her eyes burn a little. She feels herself getting worse and she knows what she told Tim but—
There’s a call on the radio and Aaron answers it. He pulls over to where the suspect is but just as they are stepping out of the shop, he takes off.
Lucy immediately goes after him, and she is doing fine until she starts coughing uncontrollably and it feels like she’s out of breath. She slows down, her vision getting blurry. She hears Aaron yelling her name.
And then feels someone pulling her off the sidewalk. She’s still coughing and she feels her chest tighten between every breath she’s trying to take.
“Lucy!” She blinks up to see Aaron staring at her.
“The suspect.” She manages to get out. “We have to—”
“Nolan and Celina got him.” Aaron replies. He hands her some water and she takes a sip, its ice cold and feels good against her throat.
“Oh.” She says. She breathes in and then starts coughing again and she feels the tightness in her chest and everywhere else tighten.
“You need to go to the doctor.” Aaron says. “This isn’t normal to be coughing this much.”
“It’s—just a cold.” She mutters although she knows Aaron is right, she can hear Tim’s voice in her head.
Aaron sighs and shakes his head. “I will let Tim deal with this.” He mutters. Her chest tightens even more as Aaron pulls the shop back onto the road.
Tim would be furious that she broke her promise of going home if she got worse and she definitely was worse. It felt like she couldn’t breathe.
She doesn’t say anything on the way back to the station and just closes her eyes, someone pulls her from the shop. And presses a kiss to the top of her head.
Tim.
“Lucy.” He says sternly but then stops. “Let’s go to the doctor.” She doesn’t protest this time, just lets Tim lead her along. Once settled inside his truck, she closes her eyes again and takes deep calming breaths.
“Lucy, you could have been hurt.” Tim says. She doesn’t say anything and she hears him sigh. She feels his hand on her leg and then one reach for her hand.
It’s comforting and she feels a little better with just his touch.
***
“Whooping cough.” The doctor said. “You ran while you were coughing?” Lucy winces a little at the look on Tim’s face but nods.
“You fractured your ribs in doing so.” The doctor says. “That’s why you are having difficulty breathing.”
Tim sucks in a deep breath and Lucy hangs her head a little.
“They will heal and the cough will go away but I need you to be careful.” The doctor says. “We will put you on antibiotics and you will probably be on desk duty for awhile.”
Lucy sighs and Tim rubs her back a little, she just wants to get better and not feel like can’t breathe every time she coughs.
“Okay.” She mutters. Tim rubs her back some more and he presses a kiss to the top of her head. And he’s not scolding her like he should be, he’s not shaking his head in disappointment because of her stubbornness.
He’s just being a comfort and her support and she loves him so much for it.
They get her antibiotics and then they drive home, Tim helps her in. And settles her in on the couch before he’s going to get water so she can’t take the antibiotics.
“You really scared me Luce.” Tim says as he sits down. He pulls her into his side and nuzzles his nose into her hair. “Aaron called me.”
Lucy normally would roll her eyes at that and retort but she didn’t have the energy or willpower to do that.
“I’m sorry.” She mutters. He nuzzles his nose into her hair again and breathes deeply. “I thought I could do it.”
“I know.” He says. “But next time don’t push yourself as hard.”
“Okay.” She agrees because he’s right. And she loves him for it. “I love you.”
“Hmm.” Tim hums and there’s a beat of silence as she listens to his breathing and his heartbeat. “I love you too.”
And she’s just really grateful that she has some as loving and caring as Tim to take care of her—for the rest of her life. Because she knows she will do the same for him. And in the moment that’s all that matters.