The disadvantages of the LAPD

As soon as backup arrived, the sound of sirens filled the air, signaling the arrival of reinforcements. Lucy's vision swam as she lay on the cold pavement, struggling to stay awake. The world around her was still chaos, but at least now, there were others here to take over.

Jackson West was the first to reach her, crouching beside her, his face twisted with a mix of concern and urgency. He knelt down, checking her vitals. "Lucy," he said softly, almost too softly for her to hear over the ringing in her ears. "Stay with me, okay? Help's here. You're gonna be fine. Just stay with me."

But Lucy couldn't find the energy to respond. Her body felt heavy, each breath shallow and labored. The pain from her shoulder and leg was almost unbearable now, but she couldn't focus on it. All she could think about was the fact that she was still alive—and that Tim hadn't been there yet.

More officers swarmed the scene, securing the area, detaining as many of the assailants as possible. Some were handcuffed and dragged to the patrol cars, while others were held at gunpoint, kneeling on the pavement with their hands above their heads. The warzone around them was beginning to subside, but the chaos had left its mark.

Sergeant Grey arrived just moments after the reinforcements, his authoritative presence cutting through the confusion. He took control of the scene immediately, barking orders to the officers and making sure that the perimeter was locked down. His eyes darted around, ensuring that every last threat was neutralized.

Meanwhile, Tim Bradford's patrol car screeched to a halt near the chaos. He was out of the car before it had even stopped moving, his heart pounding in his chest. The moment he saw Jackson kneeling by Lucy's side, his stomach dropped.

Tim pushed past the officers, his hands already moving toward her. He crouched down next to her, his eyes scanning over her wounds, his heart nearly stopping when he saw the blood seeping from her shoulder and leg.

"Lucy," Tim's voice was hoarse, full of emotion. "Lucy, come on, look at me."

Her eyes fluttered open, though it was a struggle. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. A faint smile tugged at her lips as her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, the pain seemed to subside.

"Tim... you're here," she whispered, her voice weak, the words barely audible.

Tim nodded, a soft breath escaping him as he reached for her hand. "Of course I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Jackson stepped back, giving them space but not leaving her side. He exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Tim before turning to assist the other officers in detaining the remaining suspects. Tim, however, couldn't focus on anything but Lucy.

"I got you," Tim murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "We're gonna get you out of here. Just hang on a little longer."

His heart raced in his chest, the fear threatening to swallow him whole. He could hear the sounds of paramedics approaching in the distance, but it felt like they were miles away. He couldn't shake the image of Lucy lying there, her body wounded and fragile.

Lucy's eyes closed briefly, as if she were fighting to stay awake. The effort made her face contort in pain, but she opened them again, focusing on Tim. "I'm okay, Tim," she whispered, though she didn't sound okay at all. "I'll be fine."

Tim shook his head, his expression soft but firm. "Don't lie to me, Lucy. I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever."

Before she could respond, the sound of the ambulance's sirens grew louder, and within moments, paramedics arrived at her side. They immediately assessed her injuries, and Tim had no choice but to step back, though it hurt to do so.

One of the medics glanced up at Tim. "We need to get her on the stretcher, now."

Tim nodded, stepping aside just enough to let them work. As they carefully lifted her onto the stretcher, Lucy's eyes locked onto his once more. The intensity in her gaze made his chest tighten. She was fading, but she wasn't gone yet, and he needed her to know that he was still here.

"Tim," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't let go... promise me."

Tim took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I promise, Lucy. I'm not going anywhere."

The ambulance doors were slammed shut, and Tim immediately moved to the front, climbing in after them. The doors closed with a heavy thud, cutting off the rest of the world. Inside, the lights flickered as the paramedics worked on Lucy, their voices a blur as they tried to stabilize her.

Tim hovered over her, his eyes tracing every detail of her face. Her breathing was shallow, but she was still fighting, still holding on.

"I'm right here," Tim said softly, his voice barely audible over the hum of the ambulance. "I'm not leaving. You hear me? I love you."

Lucy's eyelids fluttered again, and a faint smile appeared on her lips—fragile, but real. "Love you, too," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Tim's heart clenched as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Just hold on, Lucy. Please."

But as he pulled back, he saw the familiar signs of her slipping. Her breathing was becoming more erratic, and her eyelids fluttered one last time before closing fully.

"No..." Tim's voice broke as he watched her go still. The paramedics worked frantically, but Tim couldn't take his eyes off her. He reached out for her hand again, holding onto it with everything he had.

"Stay with me, Lucy," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Please stay with me."

For a brief moment, it felt like the world stopped. Everything, all the chaos of the last few hours, seemed to fall away as he focused entirely on her. His chest felt hollow, and his stomach twisted with fear and desperation.

But then, a faint breath. Her hand twitched in his.

She wasn't gone.

"Come on, Lucy," Tim whispered, his voice full of hope. "You're gonna make it through this. You're too strong to give up."

The paramedics worked quickly, but Tim couldn't tear his gaze away from her. He needed her to be okay. He needed her to wake up. He couldn't lose her—not after everything.

As the ambulance raced through the streets, heading to the nearest hospital, Tim clung to her hand, refusing to let go. The love he had for her—the fear of losing her—burned in his chest like a fire, but he held onto the hope that, somehow, she'd pull through.

She had to.