Chenford oneshots

Off the Clock

The moment Lucy stepped into Tim's house, the door clicked softly behind her, and everything shifted.

Out there, they were Officer Bradford and Officer Chen. Partners. Colleagues. Professionals with carefully measured glances and conversations that stayed just this side of friendly.

But here—behind closed doors, in the quiet hush of Tim's home—they were something entirely different.

His.

She dropped her duffel by the entryway and turned just as Tim emerged from the kitchen in a dark gray T-shirt and joggers, barefoot, damp hair pushed back like he'd just showered. Her heart did an undignified somersault.

"You're late," he said, voice low, teasing.

"Lopez wouldn't stop grilling me about Nolan's dating life," she replied, stepping forward and tugging off her jacket. "Apparently I'm the precinct's new relationship therapist."

Tim's eyes drifted to her waist as she tossed the jacket aside, then returned to her face with a flicker of heat. "Lucky for me, you're a very patient woman."

"Mm, am I?"

He crossed the space between them in two easy strides and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest. "Well, you've been dating me for two months. That takes a special kind of patience."

Lucy smirked. "You're not wrong."

He leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek—close, but not quite a kiss. Teasing.

"You hungry?" he murmured. "I made dinner."

"Starving," she whispered back, but neither of them moved.

It was like this, lately. This magnetic pull that started the second they saw each other and didn't ease until someone broke the tension—or gave into it.

Lucy tilted her head, brushing her lips just barely against his jaw. "How long until the food gets cold?"

Tim's voice was rough. "It already is."

She laughed, then pushed him gently toward the kitchen. "Feed me first, then we'll talk about what else is on the menu."

Dinner was simple—grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and Tim's favorite kind of bread Lucy always teased him for liking because it was "painfully plain."

They sat close, their knees brushing under the table. Every now and then, Tim would glance over at her like he couldn't believe she was here, and Lucy would smile in that small, secret way that said I know exactly what you're thinking.

Halfway through the meal, she reached for her water and caught his hand instead. She didn't pull away.

"So," she said, voice casual, "Lopez thinks you and I are secretly dating."

Tim blinked. "What?"

"She says I've been smiling too much. Apparently I only smile like that when I'm getting laid regularly."

Tim choked on his water. "Jesus, Lucy."

She grinned, completely unbothered. "Don't worry, I denied everything. Told her I've just been meditating more."

He gave her a skeptical look. "Meditating?"

"Mm-hmm. Deep breathing, full body awareness..." She trailed off as her foot slid across the floor and found his under the table, toe tracing the edge of his ankle. "Very calming."

Tim's eyes darkened slightly. "You keep that up and we're not finishing dinner."

Lucy popped a bite of bread into her mouth and shrugged. "I'm almost done anyway."