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It was late. He wasn't sure what time exactly but he knew it was late. So when his phone started ringing with Tamara's face lighting up the screen there was nothing but concern that filled him. He knew that she moved out of Lucy's apartment at least a month ago but due to their breakup he hadn't heard anything new on that front.
He answered the phone confused and tired “Tamara? What's going on its,” He finally checked the clock by his bed and sighed “it's 3a.m”
She sounded like she had been crying when she said “can you please come get me” He'd never heard her cry this much, it also didn't help that he could tell that there was clearly some sort of party going on around her.
“Tamara, where are you? Are you hurt?” Lucy already hated him, if something happened to Tamara now she would surely want him dead.
“Im, im at a party, and some guy was, he was, he cornered me in a room and i just i need to leave” She was stumbling over her words and he heard her sniffling in between each of her words. He wondered where her friends were, if they left her alone with some guy who clearly was not trying to be nice.
He got out of bed and started to grab his keys, badge and on a whim his gun. If there was a guy meaning to cause Tamara harm he would risk his job. “Tamara, are you someplace safe? Are you away from him?” He managed to wake Kojo up in his haste. The dog started whining and following him around expecting some sort of treat. He gave the dog a pat on the head before leaving the house and getting into his car.
“I got away, I'm in the bathroom. He's waiting outside. I'm really scared Tim.” She was whispering now.
He started the car and pulled out of the driveway. “I'm tracking your phone right now, i'm gonna be there in ten minutes, you stay in the bathroom and don't open the door for anything” He only heard a small whimper on the other end of the line. “Stay on the line, you're gonna be just fine, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you.”
If he ran a few stoplights while trying to get to her that was not important. She was silent for most of the time he drove other than a few sniffles. When he finally got to where Life360 told him her phone was, he had no doubts. It was very clearly a college frat party. There were guys on every side of the porch drinking, red solo cups littered the ground, girls in tops that the weather was not agreeing with.
When he went up to the door some guy with a backwards hat, blue tank top and the ugliest pair of jean shorts tried to stop him. “Are you somebody's dad? Did somebody call their fucking dad? Man I can't allow you in here.” The guy placed his free hand on his chest as if that would stop him.
Tim leaned in real close to his ear “I could arrest you right now for several offences because im not just “somebody’s dad” im a fucking cop. Now if you move I'll let you continue this underage drinking fest while I get my kid and be on my merry way.” He said as he flashed his badge to the guy.
The dude seemed to sober up slightly “yeah man whatever” He moved away from the door.
Immediately Tim was overwhelmed by the loudness of the music playing, the amount of college kids screaming there lungs out while dancing in a house that was way too small for the sheer amount of people in it. He started to push his way through the crowd asking if anyone had seen a girl named Tamara or knew where the bathroom was.
After entirely too much asking and pushing one girl pointed him to the staircase, saying she'd seen her go up there with a guy.He wasted no time and took the stairs by two. He started to call out for her name but got nothing in return. He opened each door and eventually got to the one at the end of the hall.
There was a skeevy looking guy blocking it with a beer in his hand and he already looked wasted. He was swaying on his feet and just by the look of him he knew the beer in his hand was not even his fifth.
Completely ignoring the guy he knocked on the door “Tamara? You in there?” He asked.
The door opened just enough for him to see her tear stained face. She also got a glimpse of the guy and cautiously stepped out the bathroom and wrapped her arms around Tim in a tight hug. He could feel her trembling as he put a hand on her head. “I got you, you're ok” he told her quietly.
The drunk guy seemed to finally understand what was happening. When Tamara was free from Tims hug he grabbed her arm. “Awh cmon baby we were just about to have a good time.”
With no hesitation Tim ripped his arm away from her and backed him up into the wall. They were pretty evenly matched height wise but Tim could tell he wouldn't be hard to fight if it came down to that. “You touch her again and i throw your ass in a jail cell”
The guy scoffed in his face “Once im done with her you can have her”
If he was planning on saying anything after that it was a lost cause as Tim punched him straight across the face. And once he was down on the ground just for good measure he kicked him in the ribs. While the man was writhing in pain Tim kneeled down to him and flashed a small piece of his gun “Like i said, if you touch her, look at her or even think about her again. I will make it my personal mission to see you in the ground.” He watched the man try to nod but fail miserably as he passed out.
He got up and wrapped and arm around Tamara's shoulder and in the softest voice he had said “cmon lets go home” He protectively guided her outside the house and into the front seat of his car.
When all the doors were locked and their seatbelts were on she finally spoke “im so sorry” He could tell just by her voice she was on the verge of tears.
“T what are you sorry for? You did absolutely nothing wrong” He reassured.
She sniffled “I made you come all the way out here for something so stupid. I know you and Lucy broke up, you don't actually have to deal with me anymore.”
He finally started driving away from the party “ Stop it. I will always come get you Tamara. Me and Lucy being broken up has nothing to do with your safety.”
“I swear I would have called her but she's undercover right now and i didnt have anyone else.”
“Kid stop it. Seriously, I'm just glad you're ok. He didn't hurt you or anything did he? Cause i can go bacK”
She shook her head “no he just grabbed me a bunch and creeped the fuck out of me”
He nodded and turned the radio on quietly for her. They drove peacefully back to his house and he could finally see just how tired Tamara was. Her eyes were barely open and she was swaying on her feet as she walked into his house.
Kojo barked happily at the sight of them and followed them to Tim’s room. Tim pulled out a shirt he knew was Lucy's and a pair of pajama pants and showed her where the bathroom was. “You can just or dressed or you can shower, feel free to use anything in there”
She yawned “Thanks Tim” as she headed into the bathroom.
While she was in the bathroom he started making her a small mug of tea. It was a tea that Lucy used to use when she was having a hard time sleeping or she was anxious. Given that it was almost four in the morning and the night Tamara had, he was sure the teenager wouldn't mind the hot drink.
He waited until he heard the shower water turn off before he started to make up his bed for her. He was not letting her sleep on the couch after this. He left the mug on the nightstand and grabbed a throw pillow and a blanket with him to the couch.
She came out the shower in the pajamas he gave her. “Thanks for the clothes.” She started walking towards the couch before he stopped her.
“Nope you've got the bed. I left you a mug of tea if you want it before sleeping. It's supposed to be calming.”
Tamara didn't speak for a little while, she just stared at him. Almost like she couldn't believe the words he said. Then to his surprise she hugged him “you didn't have to do that” Her words mumbled out against him.
He held her close “yes i did.’ He waited until she released him to say “now get to bed Kid it's way past your bedtime.”
He watched her roll her eyes at him with a smirk and he was just glad to see a part of her smiley personality returning. She walked off back towards his bedroom before shouting a little “Goodnight Dadford”
Tim smirked at her nickname and settled down onto the couch and went to sleep.
They didnt ever talk about that night again. It was a sort of unsaid agreement that they didn't need to. He didn't think much of it, he did drill it into her head that she could call him anytime of day whenever and he would answer and come. It took some persistence before she finally agreed.
Almost a week after that night after a long shift there was a knock on his door. He wasn't expecting anyone, especially at this time. Kojo got off the couch and followed him happily to the door.
To his surprise it was Lucy standing at his door. “Lucy” he cleared his throat “what are you doing here?” It wasn't meant to be mean or come across aggressive at all, he was just genuinely surprised that she would come by. They weren't exactly on good terms.
“I just wanted to thank you for looking after Tamara”
Still reeling from the initial shock of Lucy on his doorstep he stuttered over his words. “Oh yeah you didn't need to. Our relationship status doesn't change how I feel towards her.”
“Still, I know it means a lot to have her trust. I'm glad it was you she called.”
It was obvious the words were honest. Lucy had a way of making even the worst situations have a bright side.
“Yeah me too”
They stared looking at each other for however long. Maybe Tim was looking for a reason to invite her in, maybe Lucy was considering finding one. But they'd never know. Instead they would stare at each other. Look so deeply into the eyes of those they love and then. Tim would wish her well and Lucy would walk back to her car. And Tim would regret not saying more as she drove away.
He didn't deserve her. This was for the best. Lucy would find better. She'd find someone worth her bed head and smiles.
At least that's what Tim would tell himself.