#chenford song of the day

[sgtbradfords]

Chenford + Love Confession ❤️

Lucy pulled the blue cotton sheet higher over her chest, holding the fabric there as she sat upwards on the bed. Suddenly, she felt undoubtedly exposed.

"You're leaving."

A stillness fell over the bedroom, while her thoughts ran freely. The silence was deafening, maddening, and done nothing to help the pounding sensation that was currently happening inside her head.

She found a scoff falling past her lips, an odd mixture of shame and disbelief before she pulled her mouth closed, rolling her tongue along the inside of her cheek.

It seemed as though that was all the man, who stood at the foot of her four-poster bed needed.

Hastily he tucked the grey t-shirt that had once been on her bedroom floor, back into the waistband of his jeans. Normally Lucy would have found herself staring unabashedly, but this time, it was different.

"What else did you expect?"

Last night when he eased her back on the couch, she had drunkenly hoped that something had changed, that he had changed. Even when he had whispered, 'Nothing's changed Luce.' against the curve of her neck.

She had been an idiot for ever letting him through her front door.

Humorlessly she released a laugh, removing her hand away from her chest as the sheet pooled around her waist. She gestured animatedly in front of her, "I expected us to finally talk about it!"

His ministrations faltered, his hands pausing with his black leather belt mid loop. Not once did his stare waver from her own, giving her every bit of the non-answer she needed. They were never going to talk about it, certainly not now anyways.

Lucy turned her head towards the window, ignoring the pain that was spreading like a wildfire inside her chest. She could see that dawn was rapidly approaching outside, the early morning light casting her room in a paleness that matched the mood inside the room.

"You lost the right to show up here and fuck me when you broke up with me, Tim."

Had her stare been turned towards the man in question, she would have seen him flinch.

"That's not-"

"Then what was it?" Bitterly she laughed with the turn of her head. "What was last night? This morning? A drunken mistake? A lapse in judgement? Why did you even come here?"

Silently she pleaded for the tears that were welling in her eyes to hold off for just a minute longer.

Tim done nothing more than gape at her, his mouth wordlessly opening and closing as her words rendering him speechless, tilting his world a little further off its axis.

"Did you mean it?" Her voice was low, roughened with traces of sleep and the weight of holding back a dam of emotions from cascading over the top.

Her question brought him out of his stupor.

He tried hiding the shift of weight from one foot to the other. He tried hardening, schooling his features into one that hid his emotions. He tried containing the clenching of his jaw and the flexing of his hands.

He may have tried, but he undoubtedly failed.

"Mean what?"

"What you told me last night."

She blinked once, a rogue tear sliding down the slope of her cheek but she never made the motion to swipe it away.

The look Tim had been projecting, fell away within the blink of an eye. It was once again every bit of an answer, but she needed to hear him say it again.

"Of course I do, Lucy." His voice was as soft as the look he was giving her, soft yet firm. Almost as though he would vehemently deny ever being told otherwise. "I'll always love you."

"But?" She whispered, bringing her knees up to her chest as he moved around to what had long since been her side of the bed.

Lucy knew what he was about to do when he bent at the knee, the fingers of his left hand becoming entangled in her coffee colored strands. She could have stopped him, should have stopped him. But she couldn't find it in herself to.

His lips pressed against her forehead softly, lingering for a second. Two. Five before he pulled away to look at her in earnest. His thumb swiped across her cheek as he tenderly told her to, "Get some rest."

The tears began to fall more freely as he walked out of the room, but her sobs only start after hearing the soft click that came from the front door.

Lucy thought she knew heartbreak but this... this was worse than any stab wound or gun shot. This was something that permeated itself deep into her heart, her soul, her mind, and the only cure had readily sealed their fate.

Read part 2, here!

#thanks for the ask! #anon #chenford fanfiction #chenford fanfic #chenford #em answers #not at all inspired by a song I've had on repeat the past two days #i am in an angsty mood forgive me #fanfic

[dylanconrique]

i know i asked you all to send me possible slow dance songs for tim and lucy to dance to at nolan's wedding over the holidays — (and boy did ya'll come in clutch with some incredible recommendations) but it has just occurred to me that if "dream a little dream of me" isn't the song playing in the background for their first "i love you" then what is even the point??????????????

#*carly catalogs #HOW DID I NOT REALIZE THIS SOONER????? #*SMACKS MYSELF IN THE HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN* STUPID STUPID STUPID #of course that's the only song they should be dancing to during that scene #specifically the doris day verison i mean duh it's the best one (imo) #the rookie #s6 wishlist #tim bradford #lucy chen #chenford #otp: you know me so well

[chenfordspiral]

ChenfordWeek23 - Day 2: TV Tropes Day

option 1: spin the wheel and pick a random trope + fic type -> trapped in an elevator + song fic

when you're by my side

TW: mentions of trauma, TW: panic attack, TW: enclosed and dark space, TW: DOD mention

starts below the cut because of TWs

One moment she’s fine, talking about the case and even smiling with Tim and Aaron, and then suddenly she can’t breathe. Suddenly, she’s back in that barrel, buried somewhere in the ground in the middle of nowhere, no way of escaping unless someone finds her in time. Suddenly, the feeling of running out of air, of suffocating, consumes her entire body, clogging her throat, and has her lungs constricting painfully in her chest as she tries to just breathe.

She just needs to breathe and force the images of that awful day from her mind, but it doesn’t work. Her eyes snap closed, trying to will the images away but still.. nothing. Nothing but all-consuming pain.

Everything around her fades away, so she doesn’t notice as Tim turns his attention away from grumbling about why the elevator stopped, toward her when he notices her labored breathing. Doesn’t see how his face goes from as relaxed as can be while on the job to absolutely terrified and concerned for her.

“Lucy? Hey, what’s- hey, breathe,” he says as he’s reaching for her in the semi-darkness of the elevator.

She doesn’t pull away from him, which is a good sign, but the physical contact and his encouraging words don’t help. She’s already in too deep to be pulled out quickly. She whimpers, subconsciously reaching for the collar of her shirt with a shaky hand, trying to get it out of the way but it won’t budge, while the other wanders to her side where the tattoo is.

Tim doesn’t even think about what he’s doing when he reaches for her body cam, turns it off, and then takes it off, letting it disappear in one of his pockets. Nobody should ever be allowed to see such a private, vulnerable moment. It really doesn’t need to be broadcast to the world.

He doesn’t care about any protocol, or rules, or whatever, or that Aaron is right there next to them; his only concern is Lucy.

keep reading on ao3.

#chenford #the rookie #chenfordweek23 #day 2 #chenford fanfic #chenford fanfiction #the rookie fanfic #welp #i did not fulfill the 'song fic' part of the trope #most of the words of the lyrics are in here somewhere just not in a way that would qualify this as a song fic #i'm sorry #hopefully it's still acceptable haha

[firstdegreefangirl]

Baby It's (not) Cold Outside

Theme: Day 11 - Music/Songs @12daysofchristmas

Fandom/Character(s): Tim Bradford/Lucy Chen (The Rookie)

Word Count: 1668

Ao3 link here!

It’s 11 p.m. sharp when Lucy shifts her head where it’s resting against Tim’s shoulder.

“I should … get going,” she says, chin digging into his bicep. But she makes no effort to get up, or even stretch her legs out. “It’s getting late.”

“It is,” Tim agrees. He runs his hand up and down her arm. “And if you really need to go, I won’t keep you. But I’m not sending you away either. This time of year, you know,” he grins. “It might be cold out there.”

“Tim, we live in southern California.” Lucy laughs, her whole body jostling against him. “It’s like 55 degrees out.”

“Eh, I’ve seen warmer Decembers.”

“Seriously.” He can hear the eye roll in her voice. “We both work in the morning. My uniform is at home.”

“Alright,” Tim pauses for a moment, considering. When he speaks again, it’s with a playful lilt. “But if you stay … I could start a fire, see what’s left to make of the evening.”

“A fire? In what fireplace?” He feels Lucy’s head turn as she looks around the room. In response, he slides his hand from her arm, down far enough to toy with the waistband of her leggings.

“Not that kind of fire …" He dips his head down to nose at her hairline, smiling against her skin.

Lucy laughs, turning her head and squirming. She reaches down to smack at his wrist.

“You are insatiable!” She giggles. Her head lands more squarely on his chest now, and she’s lying halfway across his lap. He relents, wrapping his arm loosely around her waist to slide her closer into him. Just when she’s settled in, he wiggles his fingers along her side, across the patch of bare skin where her T-shirt has ridden up. Lucy squeals again, and he tugs her the rest of the way across, until she’s leaning between his side and the arm of the couch, thighs stretched across his. She tucks her toes underneath the edge of a throw pillow and sighs.

And still, she doesn’t even try to get up. He’d let her, if she did. But they both know what she’s after, and he wants it just as badly, even if neither of them are willing to say it outright.

“Well don’t rush yourself,” Tim says, adjusting his hold so one arm wraps around her belly and the other drapes down her leg. His hand fits perfectly over her kneecap; they both smile when it lands there. “You’re right, it is getting pretty late.”

“Mmm, maybe just a few more minutes.” Lucy tips her head back and tucks her face into his neck. He kisses the edge of her temple lightly, then starts humming in her ear. He’s not sure what song it is, but it’s been stuck in his head all afternoon. Some festive jingle or the other, playing over the loudspeaker at the gas station where he’d spent three hours investigating a burglary. “But then I really do have to get home. Tamara will worry.”

“Last week she asked me if I was planning to ‘put a ring on it’ anytime soon, so I don’t think that’s true.” When Lucy’s shoulders go stiff at his words, Tim squeezes one gently and tacks on, “Not anytime soon. Right now I just want to enjoy the way things are.”

He doesn’t say any more than that, just lets Lucy relax again. She doesn’t need to know about the pretty emerald that caught his eye over the weekend, while he was shopping for earrings to give his sister. Not yet, not anytime soon.

Just … someday.

“Things are good,” Lucy whispers. Her breath tickles his jaw in hot puffs, and he kisses the side of her head again.

“They are.”

They sit like that, all tangled up, basking in each other and together, for a few minutes. Lucy only stirs enough to reach for her highball glass, dripping condensation onto Tim’s coffee table and return to her previous position.

“What’s in this again anyway?” She takes a sip of the cocktail, watered down from the melted ice, and leans her head against his shoulder. “It’s delicious.”

He could rattle it off easily, give her the secret to his spiced rum cider. It’s not even a secret, really; Genny had sent him the link in an email several years ago after a friend of a friend forwarded it on to her. There’s a printed out copy stuck in the cover of a bar guide he inherited from his grandfather. He could show it to her, sometime when she’s not sitting on top of him.

But where’s the fun in that?

“I could pour you another,” he offers instead. “If you … won’t be driving for a bit.”

It’s not his fault that the rum cider is strong.

Lucy sits up just far enough that she can turn around and look at him. From this angle, her eyes twinkle with more than just her amusement. He can see the reflection of the Christmas tree lights, the tree she’d insisted he needed for the back of his living room, countless little white dots sparkling beneath her eyelashes. They remind him of the dark night skies he’d stare at during his deployment days, the only source of beauty in a war-ravaged world.

Her hair is pulled into a loose knot on top of her head, and she’s wearing leggings and a faded-out college T-shirt. She’s nowhere near drunk, but a glass from his bar set hangs from one hand while the other trails a line up his shoulder. She reminds him of those skies, a bright spot in a year that needed more of them.

He’s seen her every which way: in uniform, pajamas, casual wear, dressed for a night out, in her finest formal attire, with longer hair and pointed nails, not wearing anything at all …

But this might be his favorite version of Lucy, he thinks. The Lucy that’s soft and comfortable in his space, pliant against him, with stars dancing in her eyes.

“What?” She asks, smiling fondly at him, and he realizes he must have been staring.

“Nothing.” Tim shakes his head. “Just … thinking about how beautiful you are like this.”

The easy honesty sends a flush up her face, visible even in the dimly lit living room.

“You are …" she trails off, and he hesitates for a moment before meeting her eyes. She sighs. “Something. You are something, Tim. I just want you to know that.”

She leans forward before he can say anything in response and fits their mouths together. He slides the glass out of her hand, groping blindly for the end table so they’ll have their hands free to hold onto one another. It’s his favorite kind of kiss too, slow and easy and endless feeling, until they break just far enough apart to breathe.

“I don’t want to leave,” Lucy murmurs into the space between them. Tim isn’t sure he was meant to hear it; other than how closely together they’re sitting. It feels like the sort of thing she’s saying to herself more than to him. He wants to tell her that she doesn’t have to, that she never has to leave unless she wants to, but that feels like too much for 11:30 on a Friday night, when she’s trying to convince herself to stay behind some line in the sand.

As if there’s a line they haven’t crossed together.

“I really should …" Lucy says again, loudly enough for him to hear.

“If you’re sure you’re good to get home,” Tim replies, meaning the late hour and the long day more than the alcohol.

“Yeah, I’ll be good.” Still, she doesn’t get up. “Of course, if we’re worried that it might be … cold …" She reaches for one of the drawstrings on his sweatshirt and twirls it around her fingers. “Maybe you should make sure I have something warm to wear.”

“Yeah?” He’s already reaching back to pull the sweatshirt over his head. Lucy laughs as she helps him untangle his T-shirt underneath it and keeps laughing as he tugs the sweatshirt down onto her shoulders. Her head pops through the opening at the neckline and she grins at him until he’s laughing with her.

When all is said and done, even sitting across his legs, the sweatshirt pools around her hips. He knows when she stands up that it will reach her knees. There’s something intimate and thrilling about knowing that even if she does go home tonight, she’s taking some physical, tangible part of him with her.

He traces his fingertips across her knuckles. Her skin is soft and smooth, and he knows that if he drew her hand to his lips, he’d be able to smell the floral hand lotion she rubs on every so often.

“It’s been a good night,” he says quietly. It’s an out, if she wants it to be, the beginnings of a goodbye. Or, it can be an invitation to let the night run on between them and keep a good thing going.

The choice is hers.

“It has been. It always is.” Lucy snuggles back into him. “If I stay … I have to get up early to go home before shift.”

“I’ll make you coffee,” he offers. “Carpool?”

“Sure.” She wraps both of her arms around one of his, holding it against her chest. “Probably better than driving home tonight anyway. Y’know, because you say it’s so cold out.”

“Yeah,” Tim kicks one foot up onto the coffee table. They should go to bed soon, if Lucy is staying, but he doesn’t want to make her move just yet. He hasn’t actually checked the weather, knows that what passes for ‘cold’ in LA is hardly a breeze in other parts of the country.

But he can’t imagine anything warmer than this, wrapped up in comfort and devotion and love.

And Lucy.

Compared to this, whatever the temperature is beyond his front door?

Baby, it’s cold outside.

#katie writes #kw22 #chenford #lucy chen #tim bradford #the rookie #baby it's cold outside #but like ... not creepy and weird #12daysofchristmas2022 #12daysofchristmas #day 11: music/songs

[tinderbox210]

CHENFORD WEEK 2023 - Day 7: free day

-> Out Of The Shade - a Chenford playlist

#the rookie #chenford #lucy chen #tim bradford #tim x lucy #lucy x tim #chenfordweek23 #fanmix #playlist #my fanmix #the list might expand down the road if I decide to add more songs #sadly i wasn't able to create anything for the other days due to a lack of time

[lovingmoose]

Day 10! Today’s song is “Love Remains the Same” and it’s Chenford! I think they’re at he point where they’re done pretending they’re doing only partners.

“Half the time the world is ending

Truth is I am done pretending”

#the rookie #chenford #song of the day #Spotify

[chenfordsource]

Welcome to CHENFORD WEEK 2023!

In collaboration with @chenfordsource, @sgtbradfords, and @theawkwardanglophile, join us from July 11th-17th in celebrating dating era Chenford and Chenford Week 2023! 

All content is welcome, whether it's gifs, fanfic, graphics, moodboards, playlists, videos… anything, as long as it's of your own making! There are 3 options per day - you can focus on one or mix 2 or 3 together. Remember to tag us in your creations using #chenfordweek23

Click “keep reading” below to see a list of all prompts for each day - if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see your creations!!

Day 1: Inspired by Canon Day

Favorite s5 moment or episode (can be canon compliant fic)

Canon quotes (taken out of context, favorite quotes, etc.)

Inspired by a season five song 

Day 2: TV Tropes Day

Spin the wheel! Pick a random trope and fic type from the wheel (click here)

S5 tropes / s5 parallels (can include other seasons)

Future tropes (engagement, wedding, pregnancy, kid fics)

Day 3: Something’s Missing Day

Incorrect dialogue (tumblr posts, tweets, etc.) or scenes you wish we’d seen

Missing moment or underrated moment

Amnesia, missing pet/person, missing object/ring, etc.

Day 4: Happy Hawley-Day

Inspired by a song that came out in the past year

Holiday themed (either canon or in fic)

Relationship milestones/firsts

Day 5: Love Languages Day

The original love languages (physical touch, words of affirmation, giving/receiving gifts, acts of service, quality time)

Create your own love languages, Chenford edition (ex: “pranking as a love language”, “sparring as a love language”)

Hands, hugs or kisses (or choose all three!)

Day 6: Get Creative Day

Inspired by a poem or quote

Chenford + ________ (significant person/place/thing/theme)

Any AU or alternative take on their relationship (canon compliant or totally unique, ie. secret service au) can also be social media/text aus!

Day 7: Free Day

Free choice! Create whatever you’d like or take today to catch up on one of the previous days’ prompts.

#chenfordweek23 #the rookie #therookieedit #chenford #chenfordedit #lucy chen #tim bradford #chenford week #usercalidreams #tuserjen #tuserlena #usertimlucy #admin

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Chenford Week: Day 4: Happy Hawley-Day : Inspired by a song that came out in the past year (I Can See You)

#chenford week 2023 #chenford #chenfordedit #tim x lucy #tim bradford #lucy chen #melissa o’neil #eric winter #the rookie #gif #gifs #gifset #i can see you

[makeitastrength]

What are your top 5 cold opens??

Do you mean Rookie cold opens, or just for any show ever? Because this is probably my favorite cold open of all time:

Just kidding, obviously you mean The Rookie.

You know, for as many times as I’ve watched this show, you'd think this would be easy. Instead, my brain immediately blanked on most of the cold opens and I just spent 2 hours looking through all the episode transcripts and then rewatching a bunch of them and struggling to narrow it down.

(I couldn't find gifs for most of these so I decided to just use images; image sources are linked)

Top 5

2x06 Fallout I’m such a sucker for simple comedy, and this one is that for sure. Nolan’s steadily growing horror combined with the guy’s cheeky smile when Nolan realizes he has a dick piercing? Perfection. It cracks me up so much!

4x17 Coding Don’t get me wrong, I love a good short, comedic cold open. But this one… holy cow. It punches me in the heart every single time. It’s so intense and so sad, and just a really moving scene. I’m listing these chronologically, but if I was going in order, this one would probably be at the top.

5x09 Take Back Grey is such an underrated character, and I always love when he gets his own storyline. He’s typically so stoic and professional, so to see him completely out of his element is just endlessly hilarious to me.

5x13 Daddy Cop This is another one that just makes me laugh every time. It’s such an annoyingly catchy and hilarious song. And Celina singing along at the end is really just the icing on the cake.

5x16 Exposed I mean… isn't it obvious? We start off with Chenford in bed together, with Tim curled towards her and his head basically laying on her pillow. Which is just adorable. And then we immediately transition to Lucy being just an absolute badass. This cold open encapsulates the softness of their relationship, Lucy’s UC skills, and Tim’s unwavering support for her so well.

Honorable Mentions

Because there are so many other good ones!

1x13 Caught Stealing This one makes the list because it's the first time we ever really see Tim mess with Lucy. Like... the fact that he could get mad at her, but instead he takes a picture of her and makes t-shirts? I love it!

1x19 The Checklist Again, simple yet funny. And Talia’s reaction to meeting Will.I.Am is probably the funniest moment we ever saw from her.

2x14 Casualties This one just cracks me up. That’s really all I can say.

4x02 Five Minutes The only reason this one didn’t make the top five is because the boot prank is just one tiny piece of the entire cold open. Which is also a good scene… just not quite top 5.

4x22 Day in the Hole It was hard for me to push this one out of the top five because this scene has so much. Chenford bickering like an old married couple. Tamara’s awful driving. She and Tim joking with each other. The fact that he gave her the name of his mechanic. And, of course, let’s not forget the fact that this scene sets up the entire Dim/Juicy storyline.

5x10 The List I mean. Do I even need to explain this one? If it was just the deciding what to wear scene, 100% this would be top five. But I get a lot of secondhand embarrassment from awkward scenes, and that date has some great moments but overall it’s just so awkward.

#asked and answered #this one was harder than I expected #but I also enjoyed going back through all the cold opens #the rookie #chenford #tim bradford #lucy chen #john nolan

[centralperkchenford]

Chenford + Tim had to stay late to finish paperwork and Lucy decides to hang with him but ends up falling asleep on the couch in his office

Chenford + Tim had to stay late to finish paperwork and Lucy decides to hang with him but ends up falling asleep on the couch in his office

This one definitely could have a part 2 🤣🫣

Say that you wanna be with me too 'Cause I'ma stay through it all

Tim is just starting his paperwork for the day and yesterday, Lucy had convinced him to leave early and come home with her. And while Tim didn’t regret last night one bit, he did kind of hate the pile of paperwork on his desk.

He takes a paper and starts filling it out when there’s a soft tap on the door. He looks up to see Lucy already changed out standing at his door nervously.

“Hi.” He says tilting his head at her curiously usually she would come right in and make herself at home. “What’s wrong?”

She shrugs and steps further into the office. “Do you have to stay late again?” She asks. Tim sighs and looks at the pile of paperwork and then at his beautiful girlfriend who he much rather be with tonight.

He nods and motions for her to come over. She does and she steps in between his legs. “That’s too bad. Last night was really fun.” She says chewing on her lip for a minute before smirking at him. He groans and reaches up to kiss her softly.

“That’s just mean.” He says. She shrugs her shoulders again and backs away turning his chair towards the desk.

“You have work to do.” She says. She walks away and sits down on the couch across from his desk. He stares at her.

“What are you doing?” He asks her curiously.

“I don’t like when I can’t see you at night.” She says. “So I will stay here until you are done.” Tim sighs and looks at her. “It’s going to be really boring.” He says. “And I can’t get distracted.” He points his pen at her. She pouts a little bit then shrugs.

“I would be bored at home too.” She says laying down on the couch and taking her phone out. “Really bored.” Her voice has a teasing lilt to it and he glares at her waving his pen around.

“You will not pull me in with you being all charming and sexy.” He says firmly. She laughs a little bit and he has to bite his tongue from smiling.

“So you think I’m charming and sexy?” She asks. He doesn’t answer and she giggles. He watches as she looks at her phone. Every once in a while she shoots him a look. He does his best to ignore her, although he does look up and admires her for a brief second. He hears all the videos she’s watching and her singing along to some of the songs. He shakes his head as he continues to work.

After about an hour though he doesn’t hear anymore songs or videos. He figures Lucy got bored with it and went on to something else but when he looks up he sees Lucy’s head to one side her phone on her chest and one of her arms hanging over the sofa.

He smiles to himself and gets up to see if she’s actually sleeping or just being quiet. When he gets over to the sofa he sees that she’s fast asleep. He smiles softly and grabs the blanket he has over the sofa drapes it over her. He gives her a soft kiss on the forehead and dims the lights a little and gets back to work.

He hears Lucy flip over in her sleep, her phone sliding off her chest on onto the floor. He looks up and sees she’s curled up now. Her feet are sticking out from the blanket, he shakes his head fondly.

He loves her so much.

But he hasn’t exactly said those three words yet. But he feels them more than he ever has before.

He glances at his sleeping girlfriend and then at the shorter pile of paperwork. He sighs and puts his pen down and flexes out his hand.

He just wants to go home climb into bed with Lucy and be all wrapped up in her until morning. He glances at his smaller stack, he knows he needs to get it done but he can always come in early in the morning to finish. He glances Lucy again and smiles. That sounds like a good plan.

Decision made he puts his pen down, and heads over to his girlfriend and kneels down. He kisses Lucy softly and gently shakes her shoulder.

“Baby wake up.” He mutters. “It’s time to go home.” Lucy opens her eyes slowly and blinks at him.

“Are you done?” She asks. He shakes his head and helps her sit up.

“No. I am going to come in early tomorrow morning.” He says quietly. But Lucy shakes her head and reaches out to grab his shirt.

“So you will leave me in the morning?” She asks. “No. Just finish it now Tim.” Tim chuckles and moves himself so he’s sitting next to her.

“Do you want to come with me in the morning?” He asks her. She makes a face but shrugs her shoulder.

“If it means being with you then yes.” She says. “I don’t really care.” Tim kisses her on the cheek and turns to face her.

“Tell you what. We both have Friday off, so I will come in early tomorrow and then on Friday we can sleep in and we can do whatever you want.” He says. Lucy nuzzles her nose into his neck.

“Whatever I want? Breakfast in bed, you joining me in the tub?” She asks. Tim nods.

“Whatever you want baby.” He says. “Is that a deal?”

She nods and stands up pulling him with her. “Yeah it’s a deal.” She says. He grins as he follows her out the door.

The paperwork could wait till tomorrow morning.

#chenford #the rookie #chenford fanfic #tim bradford #tim x lucy #lucy chen #chenford fic #anon answered

[theflyindutchwoman]

You know me so well. Too well.

| ANATOMY OF A SCENE - CHENFORD EDITION 2.11 - Day of Death

This scene is like a balm to the soul… It's pure softness and just what these two needed after such a harrowing experience.

Tim spending the whole night at Lucy's bedside, guarding over her, making sure she would feel safe by waking up to a familiar face is exactly the type of thing a husband would do… This is after all what he did for Isabel after she was shot. His face when Lucy actually wakes up is so soft. Almost boyish. He looks both hopeful and relieved. Especially since she immediately starts teasing him on his choice of reading material. There's something precious in the way he's trying to make her laugh, in the way he's denying staying all night, looking all bashful… Or how she is looking right through him, clearly knowing better, and letting him get away with his little white lie. It's as if they're sharing a secret. She's gazing at him with such fondness here. Both of their defenses are down : they're simply basking in each other's presence.

The fact that he knew what she would want to eat and had the foresight to get it in advance just highlights their closeness. It's how he says it too - like he has to think about it for a second even though he already has her order ready with him. It's a dorky move but so sweet. Again, he's trying to bring some levity and coax her into smiling and it works. But what adds another layer to this moment is that he's taking a page from her own playbook : she sent him meals when he was recovering from the quarantine house, to make him feel better and less alone. Now it's his turn to do it for her. And let's not forget the song that can be heard in the background at that instant : I'll come and find you. It couldn't be more apropos.

The way they are looking at each other the whole time… The fondness, the caring… The heart eyes. They stay gravitating towards the other, even after Grace, Jackson and John join them in the room. Just like when he pulled her from the barrel, where it felt like it was just the two of them. And that last exchange couldn't be more true. You know me so well, she says with her teasing tone… Too well, he answers with his biggest fondest smile. They both finally found someone who takes the time to get to know them, the real them. It's all those little moments that just show the depth of their care and love (maybe not romantic, but love it is) and cimented their bond… That changed their dynamic and relationship fundamentally.

#the rookie #chenford #chenfordedit #lucy chen #tim bradford #2.11 #1.09 #Anatomy of a scene - Chenford Edition

[sgtbradfords]

Chenford Week 2023

day four -> inspired by song - Love You a Little Bit

I ain't gonna lie it's a real weird time for stars to align Last place I would think I would start to fall I guess I'll call it lowkey meant to be

#chenfordweek23 #chenford #chenfordedit #therookieedit #tim bradford #lucy chen #tim bradford x lucy chen #the rookie #mine #tuserbecca #usercher

[dylanconrique]

idk maybe i'm delusional but i think a chenford kitchen dance to dream a little dream of me would do wonders to my damaged, rotting soul.

#*and this is icarly! #the rookie #tim bradford #lucy chen #chenford #otp: you know me so well #it's sad to think that lucy probably has some sort of ptsd hearing that song now #but ik tim would do anything to make that a special song for her again #for some reason i imagine tim has an old radio sitting on his kitchen counter.... #and lucy's sitting at the table while tim is cleaning up and doing the dishes or something #and dream a little dream of me comes on #(the one by dorris day cause that's personally my fave version of the song) #like... tim catches her flinch from the corner of his eye when it's announced on the station #immediately putting his task on hold and pulling her up like 'come on dance with me' #singing along the words to her even though he knows he has a terrible voice and hates to sing #spinning and dipping her to the high note in 'stars fading but i linger on dear' #that way when she hears this song she'll associate it with a much happier memory #*DEEP INHALE* #okay i'm done #haven't gone off like this in the tags in awhile

[thesassywitchofthenortheast]

A HC thats currently making me giggle:

Lucy and Tamara drag Tim to the Eras tour (idk if they’re fans but for the sake of this hc they are okay? Okay.)

The dress up, maybe not as extra as some swifties but they do. Lucy puts Tim in a shirt that says “Heartbreak Prince”

They teach him the chants. He hates it

He continuously questions why he’s being dragged to the concert when they can just go together

Lucy just says “cause I want to go with you, too.”

Angela teases him endlessly, “if you just learned to say no to Lucy this wouldn’t be a problem”

Tim huffs. Cause she’s right but he literally can’t do that. Say no to Lucy? When she asks him with that smile and eyes? Never happening. He just needs to accept his fate.

When the day comes and they arrive at SoFi, he grumbles “Never thought I’d be here for anything other than a Rams game.”

Lucy looks at him with a smirk “Yeah well, you also never thought you’d be dating and in love with your former rookie, but here we are.”

Tamara laughs

He tries to he grumpy but seeing how excited and happy Lucy and Tamara are is making it hard

He takes a bunch of pictures for them

A tiny human comes up to him before the show, asks if he wants to trade friendship bracelets. He looks at Lucy who hands him one to trade. He gets down to tiny human’s level and trades bracelets. Lucy practically melts at the interaction

They talk with some officers they know who are there doing security or whatever you call it

When they get to their seats, Tim is adamant that if the, his, girls need anything — food, drinks, merch — he’ll go get it so they don’t have to miss anything.

That earns him a kiss from Lucy

And an eye roll from the puppy

The concert starts, and he watches Lucy the entire time. His heart hurting in that really good Lucy way as he watches how happy she is.

And then rolls his eyes when Taylor comes out and actually starts singing Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince — because now he understands his shirt.

Cruel Summer starts and Tim definitely does not scream the bridge like Lucy and Tamara, but he doesn’t not sing along either… but he’ll never confirm that.

Tamara takes a really cute candid of Chenford during Lover, their arms around each other and her singing softly.

By the end of the Evermore section, Tim is most definitely not having a good time. Nope he’s totally not enjoying himself lol

Idk what the surprise songs would be, but his does laugh at Lucy’s reaction

And again when she covers his eyes during Vigilante Shit.

He whispers to her “you can always do a performance like that for me later.”

Tamara fake gags

Lucy blushes

Come the end, aka Karma, he’s full on dancing with Lucy

He’s back to his grumpy self when they hit the seemingly never ending traffic to leave the stadium.

And the realization that all the glitter than in Lucy and Tamara’s hair is now all over his trunk

But he doesn’t really mind because they’re both happy and had a great time and it’s worth it

And when Angela asks Lucy the next day how it was, she smirks at Tim who just looks at his gf with the biggest heart eyes as she recounts their night

And then when he rolls his eyes and tries to deny he had a good time because she knows he did — but will never admit it.

Years later, when he and Lucy have a daughter, he takes them both to another concert but this time he’s a full swiftie dad and isn’t afraid to show it

#chenford #the rookie #I was thinking about this last night while watching a livestream lol

[firstdegreefangirl]

Now I'm gonna give her forever (x) Chenford Week 2023: Day Four - Inspired by a song that came out in the last year (this also works for relationship milestones and firsts!)

#chenfordweek23 #chenford week 2023 #lucy chen #tim bradford #the rookie #katie gifs #russell dickerson #god gave me a girl

[starseneyes]

Chenford - Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 13

Daddy Cop AKA "Friends Don't Let Friends Murder Board… Alone"

After watching 5x13, I really didn't think I could write the Meta until I had 5x14 for additional context. But after taking a step back and re-evaluating my hangups, I found a way. I do hope you enjoy it!

SPOILER ALERT: If you're looking for a nice, safe, spoiler-free zone... I'm sorry, this ain't it. I will spoil the entirety of the episode and perhaps the entire series to date. It's a LOT of fun, though, if you're up for it!

Ready to see what awaits our delightful duo now that Chenford Coitus has been achieved? Let's dive in!

Nobody Puts Timmy In A Corner

Lucy is sitting at the back of Roll Call so she can keep an eye on Tim. He doesn't even have to turn around for her to feel the misery coming off of him, even through the walls.

Tim hates this. But it's what he has to do for love, right?

My Chair is Moving

Like, this was so personal, and yet so sweet. She totally turned his chair toward her, and he was happy to go along because—let's be real—she's the best part of his day.

Seeing Tim without his set up for his camera on his chest is strange. I know it hasn't been there all along series-wise, but it really stood out to me watching this scene. No need for them to monitor what he's doing with the public because he no longer see the public. He sees... part of a window.

It's been one week based on Canon, so we know he's already bored out of his mind... no matter what he tells his girlfriend. (I will never get over getting to call Lucy Chen that! She's Tim Bradford's girlfriend)

"I thought we said we wound never lie to each other."

There are a million conversations happening between these two that we never see. We have fan fiction where we can speculate on it, but at first blush I really appreciated this glimpse into their shared code.

Now, they spend the entire episode going against said code (which I'll get into at the end of this Meta), but I do like that we have insight into what happens when the camera's not rolling between Tim and Lucy.

"That was a lie." "You're miserable."

She knows her man. I mean, anyone paying attention can tell that Tim's having a horrible time working at a desk. Now, he's got productivity up and whatnot, but he's miserable.

We saw him make the sacrifice play in 5x12, but now seeing him living it is akin to us hearing about the Monster that was his father and then meeting the man, ourselves. It's about as bad as imagined, in both cases, but there's something about seeing it that makes it more "real".

Desk work for Tim Bradford is bleak. But, he'll do whatever it takes to be with the woman he loves.

"No. It's not that bad. Nice people. Low stress. Wait, wait that reminds me... next week." "Thank you." "You're welcome. Be safe out there. I'll see you at the end of shift."

I'm reminded of 4x01 when Lucy asked Tim to be careful over the phone. "I always am," he said. This time, it's Tim who's staying in place and Lucy who's on the move.

And the face she gave him when he gave her the thumbs up? Like, "don't give me the bad baseball thumbs up!" She gives him an aghast look, but he follows up quickly enough to reference the end of shift—his happy place.

The same schedule means they can see each other every day, yes, but during the day it's bloody torture for Tim. There was a song in my youth about living for the weekends. Right now, Tim is living for end-of-shift. (originally I typoed to "end-of-shirt" and that kinda works, too, if ya know what I mean)

When she walks away, he exhales, thinking his charade worked. Hell, no, Tim, my boy. Your girl knows when you're hurting. ("I rode long enough with you to know when you are being you and when you're upset")

Lucy is in the best relationship of her life. No way she's going to stand still while he's struggling. This is the ultimate give-and-take. Tim steps back for Lucy, Lucy steps up for Tim.

"I'm just trying to find a way to keep him from losing his mind." "Is there no other position he can move into?" "No. Everything's at a standstill."

Stripping away the "do they know" question (which I cover in the summary at the end of this Meta), I'm going to just talk about Nyla and Lucy watching out for Tim.

Lucy intervening on Tim's behalf is not surprising. She stood up for him against the Sergeant who wasn't taking the fender-bender case seriously. She recorded multiple books-on-tape for him so he could study for the Sergeant's exam. Heck, she helped renovate his home while he was dating Discount Barbie.

So, Lucy stepping up for Tim would never be what raised red flags on their relationship status change. Yes, I expected someone to comment on Tim being "punished" or something if they weren't aware of the relationship, but since they didn't, we work with what we've got.

And what we've got is everyone aware that Tim's in a job he hates and wants out of.

"Alright, well, then you're going to have to shake things up… create an opening... It means you've gotta get creative. Find a weak link and start a 5-player trade." "Say more."

"Say more" cracks me up. It's so smooth and welcoming.

Girlfriend is finally seeing an angle for her "find Tim a new job" plan. It reminds me of her telling him, once, that he's the king of coming at problems from a sideways angle. Looks like the student really has become the master!

"Metro would be a good fit for Tim... I mean, Hicks might be up for a transfer, a bit more family time... if he left Metro, Tim could take his spot."

The one part I skipped over here is the part that I think would be an interesting test for Tim and Lucy—can they navigate the brutal hours?

I tried to look up the LA Metro to get a little more intel (yes, I'm that Meta writer), but information's sparse online in terms of actual timelines for the teams and shifts. There's likely good reason for it ("Hey, coppers! When will you be off the streets so we can pilfer some golden duckets?"), but I had to check. It's the journalist in me.

It's not like we've never seen Metro before on this show. I was watching an episode the other day where they radio'd to call in Metro and we saw a bunch of folks we didn't know in tactical vests show up. They'll find ways to tie Tim in, I'm sure, but I'll be curious to see if/how it affects Tim and Lucy's relationship.

"What could go wrong?" "A lot for both you and Tim. If Sergeants feel like they're being manipulated, they will never trust you again. And they talk. So the next time you need a favor, and you will, the answer will be no. Forever. So, tread lightly."

Will there be any consequences for all this? I've seen the speculation, but I think all this warning did was encourage Lucy to be crafty. See Exhibit A below.

"Uh, listen, my roommate is an excellent babysitter and she's always looking for work if you ever need someone."

Never underestimate the power of childcare. Especially for parents of multiples. I only had twins, and I can still imagine the chaos of that poor man's house and life. It's a gift, yes, but I wouldn't wish twins on my worst enemy.

Every time I see a character on a show having multiples, I wonder who in the Writer's Room hated them, because it's a tough, tough road. I love my boys forever and ever. But it's a unique challenge raising multiples.

And Hicks is intrigued. Because finding people to watch multiples can be a nightmare, too. Trust me. I've been there and tried all the sites before I finally gave up on Brick-and-Mortar and started working for myself.

The Gang's All Here

This was my second favorite scene of the entire episode. I love the Found Family trope. I love that there is this core of people who have decided to not only work together, but to do life together.

I don't have that through any of my brick-and-mortar jobs (mostly back-stabbers and high drama, there), but I do have it from University. 20 years with the best friends in the world. So, I see these scenes and I see my own Found Family reflected there.

As each group files in (and someone over on Twitter noted quite brilliantly how each door opening coincides with a different method of announcement—knocking, ringing, walking right in), it's adding the layers to the scene. It's not convoluted or complicated or cachophonic. It's harmonious.

You can see how all these very different people work together, compliment one another, and fit together into a jigsaw puzzle of friendship.

And to know that Tim's friends band together to come to his aid means so much. But I hate that he doesn't know.

I understand the subterfuge of doing something great for someone you love—orchestrating a great something. My husband did it for me through a four-hour scavenger hunt marriage proposal that took me through several cities before arriving in the theater where we met. He had production meetings for that proposal.

So, I'm not frustrated at the fact that Lucy did this without taking credit for it. I've done things in secret for my loveyby and him for me.

However, I wish Tim knew how much he was loved. I don't think he fully comprehends that yet, and since this wasn't used as an opportunity to demonstrate that to him, I'm hoping that'll come down the line.

Look, when you grow up thinking you're unlovable, it's powerful when your friends come through for you.

My husband and I had to get a new fridge a few months back. Old one died. But we couldn't afford to go through a box store, so we went Outlet and had to transport it ourselves. One friend fractured a finger. Four others worked together to dismantle and reassemble it to get it into the house. It took 2 hours. They had come over for Matthew's birthday party and instead we moved a fridge.

And not one person complained. We all laughed. We took hilarious photos. We had an amazing time. Because, finally, we have people in our lives who love us without condition.

Tim has that, too, but I sometimes think he doesn't fully understand it. I do wish he knew how much they love him and how they all came together to help him as an act of love.

And if he doesn't find out about this, I do hope there's still a time down the line when Tim Bradford will fully realize how much his Found Family loves him.

"Oh, you look surprised. Wait, weren't you on the group text?"

I'm DYING. DYING that they have a group chat and somehow Nolan still missed it. I know he said that he unplugs when he gets home (which is a great thing to do, but I don't know if he'll continue to move up the ranks without being more easy-to-reach). But it really made me cackle.

And I have to say that the choice to put the post-its on the windows so they could shoot through was really genius. My favorite logistical decision of the episode. Credit to the writer, director, set designer, or whoever said, "This is the way".

But Tim's reaction to Nolan throwing up his arm to block his way cracked me up. Like, Eric Winter's physicality as Tim never fails to amuse and amaze.

And Lucy's "where the hell do I put these things!?" face had me rolling. Melissa O'Neil has had a lot of room for humor these past few episodes, and it's fun to see her show off her chops.

"Is that Lucy's car?"

Yes, Tim. And Wesley's, James'. It's a party! But, of course, the only one he cares about belongs to his love.

And how on-brand is it for Tim that he doesn't care about the air conditioning ("air conditioning makes you soft") but he was all about getting to watch the game? I cackled.

Tim clocks Lucy across the room and Angela clocks their interaction, casting knowing glances towards Bailey and Nyla. Hermana, never change. That choice was all Alyssa Diaz and I love it.

"You okay?" "Yeah. Couldn't be better."

It's not a lie! But, she certainly has a lot on her mind, and as soon as he walks into the room, Tim's forgotten the game. He's focused solely on her.

Smitty and Lucy

This is a tiny detail I spotted as Lucy walks into the room, but it made me laugh. The sign on the door has been switched to "occupied" but the door is wide open. Did Smitty set it to occupied but forget to close the door? Did someone else switch the sign to warn of Smitty? The possibilities are hilarious!

And Lucy Chen loves Tim Bradford so much that she's willing to make a blind deal with Smitty, of all people. And does Smitty know about Lucy and Tim? Is he writing fanfiction of the two of them at his desk instead of working?

"Nothing weird." "Nothing weird. I promise."

Because with Smitty, you have to clarify. Still, she's braver than I am to make this deal with zero idea what he'll demand in return for this favor.

"Deal."

Taking your husband's words? I stan a couple who are so in love they pick up on one another's phrasing. I can think of two recent examples of Tim ending a conversation with "Deal" from my re-viewings. With Genny at their family house, and with Lucy when she told him to ask her out, again, after she dumped Dead-Weight-Chris.

So, Lucy's subconsciously picking up on Tim's words, and that cracks me up.

My husband picks up on my phrasing, but it's more obvious because I make up things. Like when our twins were tiny and complaining about random things, I'd call them "Complainababy" and if they were congested they were "Conjestababy". Yes, I understand normal people don't do that. I embrace who I am.

And watch how she flexes her hands as soon as she leaves the room to rid herself of the awful feeling of making a deal with the Smitty. Sorry, Lucy, but there won't be enough hand sanitizer in the world to save you from what he has planned for you.

"Hey." "Hey." "I just heard Lauren Fuji is retiring." "Really? That's surprising."

I have thoughts about this that are at the bottom of the episode notes, so skip there if you want my honest thoughts on this right away. Or you can keep reading the Meta and we'll get to that later.

"Don't you get it? It means there's an opening in Metro. Well, at least there was."

This is the first information to Lucy that's new, and she cocks her head at it. Because it is completely plausible that someone else swooped in and took the position she tried so hard to hand-carve for Tim. And that would suck, but it can totally happen.

And I love the way Tim (via Eric Winter) is punctuating his words, here. Tim is pumped up and excited, and it's so beautiful to see. He has been through so much heartache throughout the run of this show. We've seen Tim Bradford at his lowest.

But now we get to see him on the way up in a big way.

"Lieutenant Pine just called me 15 minutes ago, and I'm going over."

Timothy Bradford, you are gushing with excitement as you talk to your woman. I love how he leans forward toward her, like a kid with a secret that they can't help but share on the playground.

"That's great! Congratulations."

Lucy gives him a chest tap because she is truly excited for her man. I'm a tapper, myself, with my husband. So I think it's cute we share that, me and my fictional bestie.

But, she's also looking around the station to see if anyone noticed.

"Thanks. Grey gave me rock star review." "Well, he should. You're amazing."

Lucy's heart eyes and Tim's smile are sending me. He is smiling with all his teeth and every beautiful laugh line is alight with pure joy.

I'm also strangely excited to learn that Eric Winter's nose wrinkles like mine when he smiles big, sometimes, and that's so oddly comforting. My Eldest's nose does the same thing.

And how telling is it that we've had 5 years of watching Tim Bradford before I knew this little fact about his smile because we have never seen him smile like this before?

"I'm excited." *giggle* "I'm excited!"

There is something so sweet about excitement being such a foreign emotion to Tim that he has to verbalize it. Like it's bubbling out of him at a rate he can't control because he isn't accustomed to joy.

The last time he was happy, he was working the beat and was married to Isabelle. But, I argue, this is joy, not happiness bred of happenstance. Tim Bradford is bubbling with joy.

Professionally, his greatest fear has been advancing to the point that he's trapped at a desk. Tim likes to be on the streets, in the middle of the action, making things happen. Sitting might be great for Smitty, but not for Tim.

He took that hit for the love of Lucy. Now, everything in this episode implies that this was a waystation situation, where Tim was waiting for an opening to make a move. Grey tells him to "hang in there" and Nyla seems completely aware that they're waiting for something to open up to move him over.

His main goal in taking this desk job was to keep Lucy at Mid-Wilshire. The icing on the cake was that they got to see each other every day and didn't have to deal with syncing shifts.

Lucy knew before Tim took the job that he'd be positively miserable. The staging literally has him in a corner with his back to Roll Call, his back to the action, his back to what he loves.

Now, he's moving up to Metro, and it's definitely movement forward in his career, gets him back out on the streets, and keeps his relationship with Lucy from crossing any lines that might warrant an IA investigation.

The Tim Bradford we met in the Pilot was a man whose life was on pause. He was in a holding pattern with his job, with his wife, with his sense of self. Lucy entered his life, and it's like someone pressed "Play", again.

And it wasn't even romantic, at the beginning. Lucy is just this ball of light that stepped into his world. At first, it was blinding to him and he bit back at her as much as she snapped at him. But as she refined her glow, he softened his gaze, and they somehow met in the middle when the time was right.

Tim Bradford today is a man who has faced his trauma with his father head-on. Is there still healing to do? Hell, yeah. But he's on his way, now, instead of repressing and avoiding. He's working on his relationship with his little sister.

He's trying to be a complete human being—not only running from the image of his father, but embracing all the best parts of himself and owning them as his own unique identity.

Tim Bradford is closer to himself than he's been in a long time. Peeling back the layers of anguish, trauma, heartache, and abuse... it's taken time. And Lucy's been there for so much of it. For her to be the love of his life? Only fate (and the writers) could weave the tapestry so aptly.

Tim is excited. He has something to look forward to every day in his job. He has something to look forward to every night with the woman he loves. He's no longer looking back. For the first time in his life, Tim can truly look forward with excitement.

And Lucy's giggle!? I love her giggle. I doubt she's ever seen Tim this giddy and it made her giggle. And, yes, we know that she made that happen.

And, let me tell you, it's fun when you can make something happen for the person that you love. Puts a special warmth in your chest the bubbles out, sometimes.

"Let's go to dinner tonight and celebrate."

The cadence here reminds me of Tim telling Angela to proudly show off her baby belly while wedding dress shopping. It's a type of abandon we've heard in Tim's voice only when directed at other people and never at himself.

Tim wants to celebrate this amazing achievement. He wants to celebrate something amazing that happened to him. Before, he wasn't that jazzed about his award, except for how it could help with his forward momentum. Jackson built a shelf for his (with Nolan's help), and Tim probably has his in the back of his closet.

But Tim was excited about making Sergeant (remember his pride hanging up his new uniform before he opened his locker to see the booties?) and he's proud of this. But, it's amplified because Tim Bradford's life is finally coming together.

Career. Love. Found Family (even if he doesn't yet realize it). Sibling Relationship. Finances (he and Genny made bank on that house sale in the LA Real Estate Market). Tim's life is coming up Roses.

"Do you need any help?"

I have seen a few people disappointed that Tim didn't show up to help her at the end, but he asked her if she needed him and she said she had to do it alone.

He's not going to go against her wishes because he has learned to trust her and her judgment. He knows that if she truly needs him, she will ask. Lucy's far past not asking Tim for what she needs.

He talked out Emmett with her once he understood that's what she needed. He gave her a hug after Jackson's death.

"But tomorrow it is a date. We are gonna celebrate you. Congratulations. They're really lucky to have you." "Thank you."

Tim can't help himself. He reaches for her left hand with his right. He wants to touch her. He wants to be closer to her. Because he has never been this happy.

Lucy giggles as he briefly holds her hand before she separates herself. But, I swear, that man looked like he wanted to kiss her right then and there.

"Good Job!"

She taps his arm, again, as he goes. And, wow, I can't remember seeing Tim smile this much with teeth ever. He's beaming as he watches her go, his eyes trailing after her until the last second he can no longer see her.

He nods to himself. "Yup. That's the woman I'm going to marry." Not right this moment, obviously, because we're all enjoying the ride and there's no rush. But, someday. And he knows it.

I've seen folks worried about his face falling, but I think we're simply unaccustomed to seeing Tim's face resolve to neutral after a big smile. Something about his face threw me back to 5x02, so I went back and looked. And, yup, tears in his eyes, here, too. Tears of joy.

Tim Bradford is joyful, my friends. So full of joy that it's overflowing. And after all the heartache, heartbreak, and pure hell of his life... it makes it all the sweeter.

This man would do anything for her. She would do anything for him. In one another they've found their equal—that one person who meets them where they are in intensity and devotion.

One flame does not overwhelm the other, but they help each other's glow brighter and stronger. When one is dimming, the other provides the light.

This give-and-take is the culmination of years of long nights, early mornings, complex conversations, deep dives, flare ups, cool downs, in-jokes, and trust building. It's fictional, sure, but we're getting to see true love in real-time, and I am so thankful for this ride.

"I'll admit, I've been lax about cleaning it." "How lax?" "Either Clinton or Bush was the president." "Which Bush!?"

I laughed so hard at this line. It cracked me up so bad I didn't even hear the next lines. Of course, I went back and figured it out, but I love Smitty. In small doses, he really does add a bit of levity to the show.

Also, Lucy in a hazmat suit!? The things she does for love.

Because, even though we didn't see Tim and Lucy in a post-coital cuddle-fest, or a shirtless trek through Lucy's kitchen, or even a kiss between these two this week... we're getting to see sacrificial love. Not the kind that gives too much, but the kind that gives-and-takes.

Tim and Lucy are in love (even if they haven't uttered the words, yet). They're demonstrating it through how they treat one another, and it's such a beautiful reminder that relationships are so much more than sex and attraction.

It's about growing together, supporting one another, calling each other on your crap, and finding ways through the hardships of life together.

This is a place where The Rookie really excels. They show couples who work through life together, who love each other even when there is no cozy morning-after because they overslept, or the alarm went off too early, or a dog or kid needs something.

Love is complex and layered, and I love that we're not seeing Tim and Lucy in pound town every week. Like, sure, they're going there, but to see a healthy relationship? That is what both Tim and Lucy have lacked until now.

Tim and Lucy finally have a love that matches their souls. I'm grateful for every morsel of it that we get to see on screen. But just knowing that Tim and Lucy are this unbelievably happy and they're together? That's enough for me.

I used to watch Janeway and Chakotay touch once every 10 episodes and call it a victory. Mulder and Scully danced around each other forever and I was able to cope. So, the scenes we get of Chenford feel like four course meals, and I'm thankful to eat them again, and again, and again. The meals... I mean.

So, what were Rachel's hangups on this one? Lies, Clarity, and Metro. For separate reasons, I got a little stuck on these three.

Lies

I have a big problem with lies, as some readers know. When Lucy and Tim mentioned they promised not to lie to one another and then spent the entire episode lying, it got under my skin.

Now, I'm all for Loving Spousal Surprises. I've given them (my husband's 30th Nerf Battle Surprise Birthday) and received them (4-hr scavenger hunt Engagement).

But hearing the promise at the beginning followed by a whole episode of lying triggered my trauma.

I started writing the Meta and it was too colored by my own experiences. So, I stepped back, deleted everything I wrote, and started fresh with just the bones.

Sometimes, we have to be careful our past prejudices don't ruin our present experiences. At least, that's something I've learned.

Clarity

The ambiguity as to whether the team is in-the-know, oblivious, or pretending-to-be-oblivious regarding Chenford was frustrating. It made it really hard to write because I felt like the cues from the scenes shifted throughout the episode going in multiple directions.

I am not a person who minds that we didn't get a Morning After (plenty of time to see Domestic Chenford), or that we didn't get the DOD Tattoo (it's hers, not theirs), and I wouldn't even mind if we missed seeing everyone find out/announce they know.

From the first scene with Nyla, I thought they were obviously open about their dating. But, then at Nolan's, Angela was giving "knowing" eyes and Tim kept his distance. Then it was over to the final Chenford scene where Lucy and Tim both look guarded about who might be watching.

My take? I figured everyone knew but Chenford thought they didn't. But, that's a far bigger guess than most of my guesses, so I felt uncomfortable writing it. I like to draw from what I see, not try to draw over it. I'm a hapless fan sharing uneducated interpretations, not the writer of the scenes.

So, I tried to avoid talking about it with this Meta since I don't feel like I can yet speak with certainty on the matter.

Metro

"If you ever do consider Metro, give me a call."

If it was this easy, why did Lucy have to go through a thousand hoops? Sure, it was great practice for the inevitable Wedding Place Setting game down the line, but why was this line here if it wasn't an option for Tim?

And why didn't Nolan say anything during the brainstorming session? I know we like to talk about him being clueless, at times, but he's far from idiotic. It might've been pertinent information, or an "in" to help expedite Tim's ascension.

I struggled with the directionality of the scene. Watching it the first time, I was convinced it would feed into the quest to find Tim a new position. If it wasn't there for Tim, was it to show that Nolan isn't where he's supposed to be? Are we setting up for Nolan to pop over with Tim at some point?

And, again, why didn't anyone think to give her a call about Tim, an officer who is far more seasoned and qualified for the position? No shade thrown at Nolan, but that's objectively true, and I couldn't fathom why this scene was structured the way it was if it wasn't going to help Tim. Maybe it's planting the seed for another episode down the line...

EDIT: The amazing @wordgirl40 pointed out in the comments that all the moving pieces on the board were Sergeants, and that hadn't stuck with me when watching the scene. I still think Nolan could have put in a phone call to help with things, but even that tiny clarification makes it easier to follow. Thank you!

Enough of my hangups. Thanks for bearing with me.

I want to draw out one line that I thought was really interesting, considering the "Found Family" angle of the episode.

Grey told Celina, "You have a new family of brothers and sisters. Remember that."

It's true. Big Brother/TO Tim was the one to realize what was bothering Celina and call her out. And how soft was he with her once he assessed the whole situation (no, he's not single, Carla. Ay, dios mio!)?

Big Brother/TO Nolan ran into the building to retrieve Celina. They had her back professionally and personally.

And the team had Tim and Lucy's backs. Like, this really is a beautiful little Found Family.

When Lucy and Tim do get married, if her parents don't show up, Grey can walk her down the aisle. Tamara will be her Maid of Honor and Tim's Best Woman will be Angela, of course. They'll be surrounded by people who love them without criteria or constraints.

Found Family is often stronger than bio family, I've found. And for Tim and Lucy—two people for whom "family" is a bit broken—their Found Family will always be there for them. For Tim. For Lucy. For Chenford. And for the family they'll build together.

Because love is a gift best given freely and with abandon. That is what this ensemble of characters have. At the end of the day, they will never lack in love.

As always, thanks for reading and bearing with me on the delay on this one. It was the most challenging, thus far. But I'm still loving every second of this Chenford ride.

#Chenford #Lucy Chen #Tim Bradford #Melissa O'Neil #Eric Winter #The Rookie #Meta #Lucy x Tim #Tim x Lucy