The Door She Never Opened

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Five years.

That was how long Lucy Chen had been with the LAPD.

Five years since she had walked into Mid-Wilshire as a rookie with more determination than confidence.

A lot had changed since then.

She wasn't the nervous rookie who second-guessed every decision anymore.

She had become one of the most respected officers in the station—someone people trusted, someone Grey relied on, someone victims immediately felt safe with.

She had earned every bit of that respect.

The station was already buzzing with its usual morning chaos when Lucy walked through the bullpen doors, a coffee in one hand and a neatly organized case file in the other.

"Morning," she greeted with a warm smile.

"Morning, Chen," Aaron answered from his desk before immediately going back to whatever ridiculous video Celina was showing him on her phone.

Angela looked up long enough to smile.

"You actually look awake today."

Lucy laughed softly.

"I had coffee before coming in."

"Smart woman."

For a few peaceful minutes, everyone settled into the familiar rhythm of another workday.

Phones rang.

Printers hummed.

Grey disappeared into his office carrying another stack of paperwork.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing exciting.

Just another morning.

Or at least it had been...

until a familiar voice interrupted the silence.

"Chen."

Lucy didn't even bother looking up from the report she was reading.

"Yes, Bradford?"

Tim stopped beside her desk, coffee in hand.

"How long have you been staring at that report?"

Lucy turned another page.

"Long enough to make sure it's perfect."

Tim raised an eyebrow.

"So... procrastinating."

Lucy finally looked up, pretending to be offended.

"I prefer the term 'being thorough.'"

Aaron snorted loudly.

"I think Bradford's right."

Without missing a beat, Lucy grabbed a crumpled sticky note from her desk and tossed it at him.

Aaron caught it effortlessly.

"See? Workplace violence."

Angela laughed into her coffee.

"I've been saying it for years."

Lucy frowned.

"Saying what?"

"You two argue like you've been married for twenty years."

"I do not," Lucy protested immediately.

Tim answered at the exact same time.

"We don't."