Work Text:
Chris walks across the bullpen of Mid-Wilshire station, studying his notes for his upcoming meeting with a criminal who might be able to provide valuable information in exchange for a plea deal. Out of nowhere, someone calls out to him. He looks up to see Tim Bradford standing next to Lucy. He and Tim haven’t spoken much. He’s had more interaction with Lucy so he’s a little confused as to what the man could possibly want.
Though he doesn’t have to wonder long because Tim gets right to the point. “Lucy and I have tickets to a fancy dinner and need a fourth. You want to join us?”
He is surprised by the invitation. He thought he and Lucy were flirting this whole time; well, he was flirting anyway. But he wasn’t entirely sure about her. She could have just as easily decided to be nice to him after their initial disagreement. That seems to suit her personality. However, Lucy does insist having dinner with them will be fun. Making his decision, he answers, “Okay, yeah, I’m in. Text me the address.” And then he walks away to get to his meeting.
He isn’t expecting tonight to lead to anything more, but still a fancy dinner could be nice. At least he’ll get a free meal out of this. And who knows? Maybe something could happen with him and his date.
***
When Chris gets to the popup restaurant on the beach, Tim and Lucy are sitting next to each other with a pretty blonde woman sitting across from Tim. Lucy introduces him. “Ashley, this is Chris. He’s the newest Assistant District Attorney.”
Tim is the one to introduce Ashley. “Ashley is responsible for our presence here tonight.” He can’t tell if Tim is happy about this fact or not, but Chris is already intrigued as he takes the seat next to her.
As the unknown quantity among these friends, he figures he should ask the questions. “So how did you meet Tim and Lucy?”
“My dad was a cop who recently retired from Mid-Wilshire. He spent his last couple of days working a case with Tim. And Tim made it really special for him.” She smiles warmly at the man in question who seems a little ill at ease by the attention.
Lucy also smiles at Tim when he looks up at her, and there is some kind of secret passing between them, but Chris can’t imagine what it could be. Probably something only meant for the two of them. Deciding to keep the conversation flowing, he mentions, “I told a foodie friend I was coming here, and they flipped. And they said it sold out in like thirty seconds. How the hell did you get tickets?”
Ashley smiles bashfully, and then explains in amazement, “My friend won them in a raffle.”
At the moment, Chris is thankful for her lucky friend who then to his good fortune couldn’t make it. He’s about to say as much when Tim cuts in, “I’m sorry, but who puts a restaurant on the beach? You’re just asking to get sand in your food.” He laughs at his own joke, and Lucy rolls her eyes like she expects nothing less from him. Ashley, however, smiles tightly. She’s not amused at all.
Thankfully for everyone, the first course arrives; cutting the tension for now. Small portions of different kinds of food is what he expected when his friend told him about this place so he is not confounded, but Tim doesn’t appear to be excited. Lucy kindly explains why Tim wouldn’t like the appetizer anyway and offers to take it off his plate which he allows. It’s nice how they are comfortable sharing food. Or in this case taking and giving food.
Chris isn’t sure why or how Ashley would know Tim didn’t like mushrooms. Or if that should even matter. He assumed Ashley would know more about Lucy than Tim. Didn’t women like to share all kinds of information? He doesn’t know Tim very well, but even with his limited interactions he can sense that the man isn’t one to easily reveal himself to others.
Wanting to remain present in the conversation, Chris mentions how he once ate curry goat in Jamaica.
That prompts Tim to ask the strange question if the goat’s name was Gerald. Lucy quickly turns her attention away from Chris to smile at Tim. “God, shut up!” she exclaims. “Don’t!” She warns him, but that only causes Tim to laugh.
Turning back to Chris and Ashley, Lucy tells them, “It’s nothing.”
“No! It’s something!” Tim insists. Clearly, there is some kind of inside joke between them. And Chris is actually curious to know what. That’s when Tim and Lucy launch into a cute story about a goat at a petting zoo jumping into Lucy’s seat. They are both really animated when telling the story, and it’s obvious that Tim is enchanted by Lucy as much as he’s amused by her attempts to get the goat to exit their vehicle.
Chris has to admit it’s really quite a charming tale. Maybe he would understand the humor of it better if he had been there, but regardless the point is that Tim and Lucy have an amazing connection. He can see why they work so well in every aspect of their lives. He doesn’t think anyone would begrudge them their joy; but when he turns to look at Ashley, he can tell she isn’t impressed by the story at all. She looks rather annoyed to be honest. Maybe she is just uncomfortable being around two people who are as close as Tim and Lucy are with one another. Some people can’t handle it.
However, Tim and Lucy don’t seem to notice anything is wrong with Ashley as they are too involved with each other. That’s probably a good thing for now, but could get messy later.
***
They’ve eaten through several courses of their meals, and it’s nearly the end of the night. Chris has tried to engage Ashley in conversation, but she doesn’t seem very interested. Only answering his questions in an overly polite, if not perfunctory answers; and she hasn’t asked him any questions of her own. She seems far more interested in watching Tim and Lucy, who after offering more stories about their work, have spent the last two meal courses talking about their current case. Mostly they’ve been in a debate with each other. Barely acknowledging their other dinner companions. Chris really can’t blame them. It makes sense they would be more comfortable conversing with each other. And maybe they expected he and Ashley would have start a discussion of their own.
Instead Ashley makes one more attempt to join Tim and Lucy’s conversation. “So then I guess you haven’t volunteered to be an organ donor when you die?” she asks Tim. Frankly, Chris would rather know more about Tim’s thoughts on cyborgs.
Before Tim can answer, Lucy cuts in. “Tim? No. He wants to be cremated and spread over Dodger Field.” Chris didn’t realize they’ve been together long enough to discuss burial plans, but in their dangerous line of work that makes sense.
“I was joking when I said that,” Tim tries to deflect. “My ashes would screw up the pH levels of the grass.”
“I can’t believe you actually called and asked!” Lucy laughs at his efforts.
Perhaps it’s feeling like he’s been left out of the conversation for most of the evening, and basically ignored by Ashley, that has Chris exclaiming that he likes the Dodgers too. He really just wants to be included, but it’s clear by Tim’s expression and the awkwardness in the air that he has only made things worse. Dessert can’t come quickly enough.
However, it’s that very dessert that seems to be the last straw for Ashley after Tim can’t believe people enjoy eating this kind of food. He quickly apologizes to her. Realizing perhaps too late that he should be more respectful when someone invites him somewhere. She excuses herself to use the restroom. While Chris does feel bad for her, he thinks he needs to make Tim and Lucy face some harsh truths.
He takes a moment to consider what to say before he launches into his speech, “I know it’s probably not my place to say anything, but it’s clear to me that Ashley is uncomfortable with your relationship.”
“There’s nothing...” Lucy starts to say as Tim speaks at the same time. “Lucy and I are just...”
However, Chris pushes through what else he needs to say by talking over them. “And that’s not your fault. Look, it’s obvious that Ashley has a crush on Tim, and I would hate for that to cause a problem for everyone. I can’t tell you to stop being friends with her; but if it were me, I’d let her know in no uncertain terms that she doesn’t have a chance. I might not know either of you very well, but one thing I do know after tonight is nothing and no one will ever come between the two of you.”
There is a beat of uncomfortable silence before Tim exclaims, “Wait, you got this all wrong.”
“Yeah, Tim and I aren’t...” Lucy tries to explain, but Chris interrupts her as he stands up to leave.
Clearly they’ve been in denial about what’s been going on between them and Ashley for months now, and that’s not helpful to anyone. “Thanks for inviting me tonight. It was…” He pauses to think of something polite to say. “Well, it was an interesting dinner to say the least.” As he starts to walk away from the table, he turns back. “I really do think you two make one of the best couples I’ve ever met. Maybe in the future we can try another double date again. This time with someone who actually wants to be on a date with me.”
He leaves them sitting there in stunned silence as they look at one another. Perhaps it’s rude of Chris to drop the bomb that a friend could be in love with Tim, but both he and Lucy need to realize the truth.
***
A couple of weeks later, Chris is back at Mid-Wilshire to make another plea deal. As he passes through the garage, he spots Tim and Lucy standing next to what must be Tim’s truck. She’s pressed against the door as Tim leans down to kiss her. Oblivious to anyone else in the vicinity. Chris quickly moves along without acknowledging them. Leaving them alone to their private moment.
He’s glad to know that the disastrous dinner with Ashley didn’t have any effect on their relationship. He would like to think maybe he helped bring the couple even closer together, but he knows that’s just wishful thinking. The two of them don’t need any help from him in that regard.
Truth be told, Chris is envious of them. Someday he hopes to find the kind of all consuming romance that Tim and Lucy have. One where even with others around them, they only want to pay attention to each other.