#3x14 Threshold

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Saturday Lovely Fandom. We’ve reached the S3 finale. I can’t believe it. I thought it would take forever to get to this point tbh. But here we are ha I mean the extended hiatus helped me get here since we've got non season time to fill lol Why I started these. Anyways LOTS of goodies in this one. After last couple of desert eps it is most welcome. We all know why this one is so damn good and iconic. So let’s not delay off we go.

3x14 Threshold

We start the ep out strong. Watching Lucy getting settled into her persona Nova Lin. It’s a great cold open. Harpers V.O paired with all these shots of Lucy. The V.O. is of her meet with Nyla before she went under. Going over her character and her current situation with Nova. Nyla saying her backstory will be fully papered. They won’t be a need to question where she’s been and why.

Having her camp at the grossest and most sketchy hotel in the city. This adds to her financial desperation she needs to sell. That she’s deep in student loan debt and recently released from prison. Needing a cash flow infusion ASAP. Harper asks Lucy what the number one rule is for UC? Lucy tells her no case is worth her life. She will always have the option and opportunity to pull the plug if needed.

If things go sideways to defend herself or run away. Then with some hesitance in her voice she says ’There is no shame in running away…’ her voice betraying the words she is saying. That no quit becoming very prevalent. Lucy very much does not like this option. Harper reminding her of what her objective is. That she must ignore misdemeanors around her unless it advances the case.

Harper also adding policy, procedure and the law are her objectives. She can use deadly force to defend herself and others. But it’s best to talk her way out of a sticky situation. Also letting her know that it’s possible nothing ever happens from this. That Salonga may never make contact. That she just got a paid vacation to the Hep C motel. That waiting around is tough, but even when she is bored and nothing is happening she can’t ever let her guard down.

I do love these shots of Lucy. She goes from adorable blanket burrito, to bored, to bad ass keeping up on her training, back to adorable Lucy. These were such a good set of flashes of her time waiting. Harper reminding her that if it ends up happening she will need to do everything right. One wrong word or look and she’ll be dead. How our cold open ends. Heavy but in the best way.

Lucy arrives back at her room and sees her safety tape has shifted. Someone is in her room. Looks like they’ve watched her long enough to know she’s legit. She enters the room and 3 men are there. Clearly Salonga’s men waiting in the wings. The main heavy is his brother Dahrio. Lucy tries to play it off like she doesn’t need them. That whatever their reason for being in her room is that it's a hard pass.

Smart of her to pretend like she doesn’t want to be involved again. That it isn’t worth the risk to her. Tells them she doesn’t want to be apart of the leaky operation. It got her arrested before so she’s good. They let her know the leak has been plugged. One of them spilling the beans it was Sato that was killed. Eesh ..Lucy keeps up the avoidance game saying she doesn’t want to know that…or them.

Dahrio says she most definitely wants to know them. Looking around the room noting the financial state she’s in. Knowing Nova needs the money after her arrest. Their backstory working beautifully for her. They’ve been watching her making sure she wasn’t a rat for the cops. Cooking for them will at least get her paid. Lucy doesn't budge much with her answer. They don’t give her much choice in the matter after that. Saying she’s going for a ride with them for business.

Lucy asks where? A tinge of nervousness in her voice. Dahrio doesn’t disclose where or what. They just point a gun at her and make her leave her own. Lucy being the smart human she is asks to grab a coat. It's in the closet where she has hidden her secondary piece. She pulls off hiding her second gun. Unfortunately her phone is taken. Her only contact to Harper is confiscated. Lucy tries to talk her way into keeping it. Sadly it doesn’t work. It’s turned off and left behind in the room. Leaving Lucy’s only contact to her life behind….

She is driving them to the undisclosed location. Letting them know how not ok this is. Dahrio telling her to relax. They’re only picking up what they need for the cook. Lucy knows that really means stealing it. She wants no part of this. Even tries to say she has a contact who can get them right stuff. It’ll just take a few days… They turn her down saying they don’t have that kind of time. Lucy is smart and speeds and makes a car swerve when she sees a shop. Begging for them to pull her over.

She has no idea it’s Tim and Jackson. Only that she knows it’s a fellow officer who can help. Once they're pulled over she see's it's Tim/Jackson. Her anxiety shooting through the roof for their safety. The worry is written all over Tim's face when they pull behind them. The way he says her name. *heart clutch* The instant worry in that sexy jawline is prevalent. Jackson asks what they’re gonna do? Tim says treat it like any other stop. But they’re not gonna run anyone in that car. Except we all know this isn’t going to be like any other stop.....

Some beautiful things about this scene other than the glorious touching and flirting (It’s shameless really and I LOVE it) First we get to watch how damn good Lucy Chen is under pressure. It’s flawless really. She assess's the situation really quickly. Then deescalates the gun happy psycho to her right. He wants to pop Tim and Jackson in broad daylight. Lucy tells them before they start shooting cops let her try something first. That she's never gotten a ticket with flirting. Lucy commands this moment. Has absolute control.

This is incredible to watch. Because both of their lives are at stake in this moment. Tim has no idea what he’s walking into. Only that it’s Lucy and he’s being as alert as possible. That's how put together she is. Tim doesn't even realize they want to hurt him. I talk a lot about how Tim has grown and he has. I’m so proud of him. I want to also commend Lucy and the growth she’s made as well.

To watch her go from an unconfident indecisive person to the calm bad ass in this scene is phenomenal. How making a decision under pressure used to send her into a tailspin of epic proportions. To this moment now. Lucy is calm through out the entire interaction. Communicates to Tim everything she needs while the two dopes in the car are none the wiser. Hell they're even a little impressed. Just so proud of our girl and how far she has come. Not only as a kick ass cop but as a person. Wonderful to watch her beautiful growth.

The second beautiful thing about this scene is the glorious silent communication going on here. It’s their go to. A default function between them. The one thing no one else can touch let alone understand but them. This beautiful bond they’ve built to this point saves them both. Lucy is communicating everything she needs through looks, touch and her double speak. Tim is understanding everything she’s throwing his way.

No confusion or him trying to catch up to her. It’s immediately understood what is going on and he rolls with it. Doesn’t miss a damn beat in this interaction. He is out of his mind with worry though. The jaw clenches he’s doing alone scream that. But don’t tell me he wasn’t enjoying this flirting of Lucy’s. Just like Lucy’s confession in 3x09 his replies here have a kernel of truth attached to them. The way she touches his hand and he looks down. Catching her play. I can not. This scene will always make me squee.

It’s that glorious smirk of his that is so telling to me. Like yeah if they gave into their attraction not a doubt in his mind they would have "Fun." Tim is totally ok rolling with flirting to keep her cover. He just has no idea him flirting back is saving his life. Just a natural reflex if you ask me. They flirt so much as is it's really second nature to them. So effortless and smooth.

I do love how he studies her every move in this scene. The way his eye flick to her hand on his. How he’s communicating right back with his own replies non verbally. If you needed further proof of the amazing chemistry Eric/Melissa have it’s right here. Soak it up and enjoy people. We could not be luckier they are our couple.

You can tell how much it’s killing Tim to leave her with these men. They can't drag this out any longer. So he tells her he's going to let her off with a warning. Look at the way he refuses to break eye contact her as he starts to leave. It's so intense and full of worry. The way he glares into that car afterwards. Phew lord. If looks could kill they’d all be dead. That wasn't gif'd but hot damn he wasn't happy about this situation. Lucy gloats to Dahrio after saying 'See Cops are easy. Just have to know how to play them.'

Tim immediately calls Nyla afterwards. Reporting exactly what they saw and who she was with. Harper deciphers Lucy’s code for Tim. Saying she was telling him she was with Salonga’s brother, the supplies clearly the ingredients for the cook. They have to let them rob their ingredients without interfering until it's done.

Tim finds out Harper has lost Lucy after the robbery at the warehouse. The airship arrived too late to track her. They even switched cars and left the other one behind. Nyla has to calm Tim down. (well she tries) He is in full panic mode with her missing. Harper attempts to calm him down with some logic. Letting him know if it's too much she'll pull the plug. Tim doesn't buy that logic for one moment. He knows Lucy too damn well.

Telling Harper even if she is in over her head she won’t quit. It’s not a gear she has and he knows it. Nyla tries to quell his panic again saying she will take her temperature at their check in. Tim telling her to call him right after. Not in a bit RIGHT after. Man is beyond worried and won’t let his anxiety rest till she calls him. I love him staying up till midnight just to hear about her check in. Not like he's going to sleep with all the worry/anxiety anyways. What either of them don’t know is her phone is gone…

We get us some more worried Tim and I’m here for it. Plus he’s in plain clothes. Please sir can I have some more? Mm mm. He is in full freak out mode now. Lucy missed her check in. No amount of logic is going to help. Not even Nyla can slow his roll now. He’s so very worried she’s dead and if not she’s cooking which isn’t good either. Meaning if they don’t get to her before it hits the streets she is in trouble. Breaking the law trouble.

Which Tim knows she won’t let happen. Which worries him further. Because Lucy is going to try to stop it herself then. Or die trying... You can see the worry and panic has now spread to Nyla too. Look at her face. Harper doesn't scare easily. Both of them are worried about Lucy. Even though she is a BAMF, that will only get her so far without resources or backup. Tim’s biggest UC fear for her. To be alone in a fight like this. Death breathing down her neck and having to battle her way out without him.

Lucy is trying to elongate the process of cooking. Buy herself some extra time for them to find her. Dahrio isn’t having it. Tells her to have product done by sunrise or she’s dead. Unfortunately that means she has to deliver. She’s in an absolute panic the next morning. She watches her product get loaded. Trying to find another way out. She reaches for her gun then sees a phone left out.

She grabs the phone but is interrupted by Dahrio. He complains the batch isn’t big enough. Lucy sasses him and says the lab he provided her with wasn’t big enough. He gets aggressive and asks why she’s telling him this now? Lucy continues to be mouthy. Telling him she didn’t feel like having this conversation. Then he hits her and I wanna straight kill him for it. Tells her he’s done with her. She back tracks and apologizes.

Says been a long night. That she’ll make him more if he needs it. He tells her fine but it’ll just be her and his right hand here. The rest needs to hit the street. Lucy says it should all go out together. He questions why? Before she can answer they hear gun shots. One of his men stumbles in and dies. Lucy grabs his phone uses Face ID to get to open. She gets ahold of Harper and lets her know her location. Tells her La Fiera is there before her men arrive.

Lucy holds her own really well with La Fiera. Telling her she has skills she will need. La Fiera is bemused by Lucy’s confidence. Asking her if she wants to work with her? Lucy replies it’s clearly her best option…She isn’t sold yet until Dahrio tells her Lucy is capable to make the rest.

La Fiera then looks at Lucy closer saying she recognizes her. Lucy tries to play it off. Saying she’s a nobody. They hear cavalry arrive and Lucy dispatches of her guard quickly. Such a bad ass god I love it. Tim is apart of the rescue effort. Love him saying ‘ I thought you said she needed to be rescued?’ LOL Trying to pretend he isn't worried.

When they arrive Lucy has her gun pointed at La Fiera. Her man incapacitated. Fantastic. She doesn't need rescuing but them showing up made it easier haha Lucy asks know they got to her so quickly? Not that she is complaining at all. Tim adds in when she didn’t check in they contacted the chief. 400 cops spent the night looking for her. Amazing.

We end our episode at Angela's wedding. Lucy comes up to Grey and Harper at their table. They both compliment how pretty she looks. Grey tells her triumph suits her. She thanks them both for believing in her. Harper tells her worst part is coming. The adrenaline crash. That Monday morning she’s back to patrol. Transients and noise complaints. Lucy says she kind of missed it. We then see her eyes pan to Tim. We all know he is part of what of she really missed. Let's be honest.

What cracks me up is how she bee-lines to Tim the minute she see's him. Abruptly leaving Grey and Harper in the dust. He takes top priority. Their reactions are the best part. Harper isn't in the least shocked about her shooting over to him. She's even a little amused. Grey seems a little confused then realizes where she is headed. These are the moments where EVERYONE knew before they did haha Straight bailing on her boss and mentor the minute she spots her person. She is in search of the tall drink of water that is her former T.O.

Can’t say I blame her look at that man. He is oozing sex in that black tux my god. He can wear the hell out of a suit and even more so out of deliciously fitted black tux. *fans self* Imma need a cold shower just looking at him. Love to climb him like a damn tree. Swing around up there. Sinfully handsome in black. *ahem* Anyways… They lock eyes and make their way over to one another. That raw magnetism they have for each other activated. Always drawing them to one another. Crowds be damned.

We then see the most blatant and obvious elevator gaze from Tim. I love that this flirtatious look was all Eric’s idea. Makes me so happy. Oh captain my captain. Doesn’t even bother hiding his attraction. Subtle as a hammer. The man is checking her out completely. Takes his time drinking her in. Has no shame in the game. This is a family event sir LOL Also your boss is mere feet away from you all. You’re literally having eye sex with Lucy in front of everyone Timothy. Everything from their looks to their dialogue is just dripping with innuendo and I'm here for it. Just look at them above.

You know part of his attraction is how damn impressed he is with her. Lucy being everything he always knew she could be is everything to him. Also we all know how attractive he finds her being a strong kick ass woman. It's a turn on for him he won't dare admit to. Lucy breaks his gaze and the flirting begins. Telling him nice suit. Nova would approve. Tim saying Nova was a little thirsty HA Yes she was but Tim you are looking mighty parched yourself right now.

Tim doesn’t miss a beat in his praise her of. (how far we've come with this kind of thing) Commending her for not only her first op, but taking down two major traffickers in the process. The sheer reverence in his tone. Goodness. The amount of heart eyes he is throwing her way while he says this. Phew lord. Once again you two are not alone Timothy. The amount of UST in this moment is unreal. They are both projecting it so much right now. The loaded looks and smiles I'll never be over it.

The ‘Not bad’ encompassing so much. Lucy takes it in stride for the most part. Also throwing massive heart eyes in reply. Telling him 'Thank you.' with a minor blush on her cheeks. Lucy is flushed by his compliment and walks away before she implodes with glee. Tim is clearly not done with her yet. Or this flirt of theirs. I love him being the one to go for it. Which we all know he does later on as well in s5.

He almost doesn’t say something then musters up the courage. You watch him take a beat first. Contemplating if he should. Tim represses himself for a moment then fights against it. He’s slick af asking her to save him a dance. Making sure to make eye contact with her. Then walks away leaving her giddy and stunned. Her smile when he asks is EVERYTHING. She’s not expecting it but is delighted about it. 🎵Started from bottom now we here 🎵 haha

Tim must’ve been riding high off this wedding, her accomplishments and that dress. Kinda like how I was when he was in plain clothes last ep. Made me compliment Nolan for god sakes LOL It’s making Tim bold af. Asking for her to save him a dance with that smoldering look. oh my. Setting up that electric hug in 4x01 with some flirty foreplay beforehand. Sweet lord. She’s so cute in her smile when she walks away. Melissa's expression is perfection. She's in shock at first then excited about the prospect. Fully accepting his flirty energy before rejoining the crowd. Gah SO GOOD. Quite the tease to end the season for them. Good precursor to S4.

Side notes-non chenford

Sad they don’t get to really have their wedding due to La Fiera.

Also VERY sad this is Jackson’s last ep. Will not be fun writing his departure.

Still can’t believe we’re done with s3. What a trip. Shall head into s4 next week. I love that season so very much. Thank you to all who support these reviews means the world to me. Every like, reblog, and comment bring me so much joy. Shall see you all in 4x01 :)

#Caitlin Rewatches The Rookie #chenford #chenford hiatus #fall rewatch #waiting on s6 #s3 #3x14 Threshold #the rookie 3x14 #otp: doing my job #otp: you know me so well. too well. #otp: some things matter more #otp: you did good #tim x lucy #lucy x tim #the rookie #tim bradford #lucy chen #eric winter #melissa o'neil #tim bradford x lucy chen

[renegadesstuff]

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE WEDDING EPISODE AND THEIR WEDDING SOON (I HOPE) ❤️

#the rookie #lucy chen #chenford #tim bradford #tim and lucy #lucy and tim #tim x lucy #lucy x tim #the rookie series #the rookie rewatch #the rookie edit #the rookie season 3 #3x14 #threshold #the rookie season 4 #4x18 #backstabbers #the rookie season 6 #eric winter #melissa o'neil

[lucylessons]

#30DAYSOFLUCY for PRIDE 2023 THE ROOKIE (2018) – 3x14 "Threshold"

#the rookie #therookieedit #chenford #chenfordedit #the rookie s3 #the rookie 3x14 #lucy chen #tim bradford #melissa o'neil #30DAYSOFLUCY #mine.gif #lucylessons #do not repost #preserving her brownness is rly hard

[chenfordsource]

CHENFORD HIATUS CHALLENGE → DAY 03 Favourite Season Three Episode: 3x14 “Threshold”

#the rookie #therookieedit #chenford #chenfordedit #s3 #3x14 #ours #by becca #hiatusmeme

[silverflameataraxia]

Tim x Tamara Moments S3

3x2: In Justice

3x3: La Fiera

3x14: Threshold

#the rookie #lucy and tim #tim x tamara #lucy chen #angela lopez #the rookie abc #tim bradford #lucy x tim x tamara #lucy x tim #alyssa diaz #the rookie edit #timara #tamara colins #tim bradford x lucy chen #tim x lucy #dylan conrique #tim and lucy #lucy x tamara #tucy #chenford #dadford #chenford edit #eric winter #momchen #melissa o'neil #meleric

[chenfordspiral]

Tim and Lucy in every episode of The Rookie 3x14 || Threshold "Hey, Chen. Save me a dance."

#chenford #the rookie #lucy chen #tim bradford #lucy x tim #tim x lucy #chenfordedit #chenford edit #tim and lucy in every episode of TR #s3 #3x14

[queseraone]

Positivity time—

Your top 5 badass, confident Lucy moments.

Because it never hurts to remind everyone what our girl is made of ☺️

Ooooooh yesssssss!!! Our girl is such a badass!!

This is actually kind of hard, because there are soooo many to choose from!!

1. Pilot (1x01) - The very first scene, arresting that guy who was going to steal her car. Is this is most badass thing she's ever done? Of course not, but it's a wonderful introduction, truly setting the stage for her character. She doesn't take that guy's shit for one second, and the confident, proud look on her face when she brings him in? YES!

2. I can't make a list of Lucy's most badass moments and not include the entire DOD/Caleb/Rosalind arc. Is it cheating to lump this all together? Sure. But you only gave me 5 spots total, so I have to get creative here! Starting with Day of Death (2x11), from her bravery through this entire ordeal, to the way she sought out and seized every single opportunity to fight back (physically and psychologically), to ultimately saving herself. The most badass to ever badass. Moving past DOD and into the following episode, Now and Then (2x12), we see Lucy's insecurities. But it's the very fact that she pushes through that shows us what she's made of. Not many people would be able to go through what she did and come out the other side, let alone as a stronger person. We see this again in nearly ever other instance that Rosalind or the case is mentioned, and we know Lucy is haunted by it. In Consequences (3x01), when she dismisses Tim's unease about having her visit Rosalind in prison, in Coding (4x17) when she her sense of justice ahead of her own trauma, in Double Down (5x01) when we see her visibly shaken by the news of Rosalind's escape, but then pushing her own feels aside and putting the case ahead of it all, and even in The Choice (5x04) we see her using her trauma - she won't let Bailey be left alone, subtly acknowledging her trauma and using it for something positive.

3. And here I am with another sneaky way to include more moments in this list - every single time Lucy is undercover. These moments alone would have eaten up every single slot. No matter the scenario she's thrown into, regardless of the amount of time she has to prepare, she fucking kills it. As the chemist getting into the back of Salonga's car (Revelations (3x06)), to her stint with the Rowena Razors (Crossfire (5x07)), to her middle-of-the-night, spur-of-the-moment rescue of Noah (Exposed (5x16))... as Nova (Triple Duty and Threshold (3x13 and 3x14)), as Sava (Double Down (5x01)), as Jamie (Going Under (5x21)). She's the most badass of badasses.

4. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1x03) - The fact that she's willing to stand up to her asshole of a training officer? A man who most people are afraid of crossing? SO BADASS. Not only does she stand up to him, but she refuses to back down after.

5. Safety (2x07) - I loved seeing Lucy work with Nyla here (and every other time it happens), and seeing her tiptoeing through that bomber's house, knowing one misstep could make the place blow? Bow down to the queen. You know she's scared - the very fact that she threw up the moment the coast was clear proves that - and yet she persevered. Because that's what makes a badass - not the absence of fear. We're all scared of something. It's what we do in the face of that fear that shows what we're made of!

I absolutely guarantee I've left out so many great moments. Truly I'm listing more off in my head right now. This woman is SUCH a badass. She's confident (not insecure), strong, and frankly just the best.

#asked and answered #roguetwelve #lucy chen #the rookie #the rookie opinions #badass lucy chen

[starseneyes]

Chenford REWIND- Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 3 Ep 14 & Season 4 Ep 1

Hello, beautiful humans (and the random cat or dog who might be looking over someone's shoulder).

I had a request for 4x01, but it didn't feel complete without the context of 3x14, since they flow into one another. So, I hope you'll bear with me as we dive into both.

SPOILER WARNING: This is a spoiler zone. I will spoiler all of these two episodes, and reference past material. I do try to write these as though I'm watching them for the first time, but please bear in mind that I am up to date to 5x12.

Ready? Let's dive in!

Threshold

"You can never let down your guard. Never relax. Because if it comes, when it comes, you will have to do everything right. Because one wrong word, one wrong move, one wrong look, and you're dead."

Holy cold open, Batman! You may think, "Why is she starting a Chenford meta with Nyla's speech?" Because... these are the stakes.

This is what's at risk on this op, and everyone knows it... including Tim. His ex-wife did UC, so he's intimately familiar with the pang and anxiety of not knowing what's going down with someone you love when they're on assignment like this.

But I think it's important for the audience to be reminded of the stakes. Lucy Chen didn't chose a safe job to begin with, going into law enforcement as an officer. But UC is a totally different beast. Instead of heading into the lion's den armed with all your tools, you're going in often blind and alone.

Lucy Tips Off The Cops

Let's be real, Lucy spotted the car and decided to send a message. She has no phone, no way to contact anyone, and she needs to make sure that this goes clean.

Best way to do that? Tip off someone on the other side. She saw her opportunity, and she took it. Smart gal.

"It's Lucy." "What do we do?" "Treat it like any other stop, but we do not run anyone in that car."

Tim spots her face in the mirror before he even gets out of the car. Jackson is obviously worried, but Tim keeps his concern in check while they're in the Shop together. He knows from his years of experience that the only thing they can do is stay calm and not blow her cover.

"There's no way these cops are gonna let us go."

I love Lucy's glance back at the mirror and Tim's back at her. It's likely a trick of editing, but it gives us the feeling that they're in sync—they're looking for one another, in this moment, but for different reasons.

Tim wants to be sure she's safe. She wants to be sure he makes it out of this alive.

"Look, before we start shooting cops in broad daylight, just let me try something, okay?" "What?" "Flirting. I haven't gotten a ticket since I was 16. I know how to get out of them, okay? Just trust me."

She's looking in the mirror, again, at him. He's looking back. She's hoping and praying he'll play along.

And, honestly, he's the perfect person for this. There are so many other officers that this wouldn't have worked with. But Tim and Lucy have a very deep running trust and respect for one another.

Plus, Tim knows how UC goes better that most. He's already prepped Jackson on how to proceed, and he's going to take point.

"I'm sorry, officer, was I going too fast?"

Tim's clenching his jaw so often I'm afraid it's going to seize. While he's doing a good job of keeping his emotions in check, they're there. He can read from the situation that it's not a good one.

"Yes, ma'am. You almost caused an accident." "We're in a hurry. It's my brother's birthday and I haven't gotten any party supplies."

Clever Girl. (yes, that's a Jurassic Park reference. I AM nearing 40, so it's totally my childhood). Lucy's sneaking in information and hoping Tim's going to grab onto it.

"License and registration, please." "C'mon, you don't really need that, do you?"

Tim has leaned towards her, placing a hand on the car door. It's not a move he'd normally make, but it's Lucy. Lucy seizes the opportunity to place her hand atop his.

Tim glances down at her hand, putting the pieces together of what she's doing. Because, come on, Season 3 Lucy would not randomly place her hand on his.

He knows this is a message... I don't know if he understands the situation is fraught with mortal danger, but he knows he needs to stop what he's doing and pay attention to what she's doing.

"You should come to the party after work. We'd have fun." "Yeah, I bet we would."

Tim chuckles a little before his line, and the "yeah" to me is in answer to her. Because what she's just told him is that this party isn't happening, yet. She doesn't need him, yet.

And much as Tim hates this, he's going to follow protocol and he's going to walk away. Lucy holds his gaze, and while we don't see the reverse, I'm sure he's feeling her message.

"Alright, I'm gonna let you go with a warning this time. But slow down, okay?" "Yeah, I promise."

She puts some smile into her voice, but it drops from her face as soon as she meets his eyes, again.

"Thank you so much."

That was for Tim. Thank you for hearing me. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for not blowing my cover. Thank you for trusting me.

"Yeah. Have fun at that party."

The "Yeah" is for Lucy. Yeah, I hate this but I'm doing it. Yeah, I know you can handle this. Yeah, I've got your back and always will.

The second line is for the car to show that her ploy to flirt with him worked. And Tim holds her gaze a last second before he walks away.

"See? Cops are easy. You just gotta know how to play them."

But she's watching him in the mirror the whole walk back to make sure he's safe. He has no idea she just saved his life.

"She is clear that if she is in over her head, she can pull herself out." "She won't, and you know it. There's no quit in Chen."

Remember their conversation after DOD? It was the first time Tim pointed out Lucy's lack of "Quit", and I'm glad it comes back, here. Tim knows Lucy well enough to know that she will see it through to the end. Like him, Lucy Chen finishes what she starts.

Gosh, these two are such a match made in heaven. But, they're not there, yet.

"Look, she's due for a check-in at Midnight. I will take her temperature then. If I feel like she's in too deep, then we can go get her."

Why does this feel like a friend trying to calm a worried spouse? It does, right? Lucy is no longer his Rookie, but he's very concerned about her well being.

"Call me right after." "Alright."

We're still in the phase of other people telling Tim how Lucy's doing—but Tim needing to know. And I don't think he even knows why he needs to know. But some part of him needs to know that she is okay.

Because much as their relationship shifts over the years, I think this whole ordeal pulls a lot to the surface that was lingering beneath. Yes, I know as someone who is up-to-date with 5x12 that there are many new obstacles, issues, and arguments coming their way. But this episode is important.

Tim is worrying more than he should about a fellow officer. Yes, we have seen how fiercely loyal he can be to those who cares about. But Tim is taking the worried husband position, here. And it's so bloody inappropriate, but Nyla doesn't call him on it.

But the woman's not oblivious. She's known Tim a long time, and she knows well enough that it's not the time to argue with him. She's going to placate him and get him out of her hair.

"Lucy missed her check-in." "She's cooking."

Excuse me. Timothy Bradford, did you come all the way back to the station just to check on your not-Boot? Like, you didn't even trust Nyla to call you? Instead you're showing up at the station to check on your girl.

Tim, we see you!

"You don't know that for sure." "She's either cooking or she's dead." "She's not dead." "Then she's making product. From the chemicals she stole, we know it's meth. Alright. That takes four to eight hours. Look, you and I both know it's against the law for her to allow product she cooked to hit the streets. If we don't find her, she's gonna stop it by herself... or die trying."

And now Nyla's listening to him. Watch the wheels turn as she processes what he's saying (which is mostly for the audience because, as he pointed out, Nyla already knows all this).

Again, they're telling us the stakes. We have to understand what Lucy is willing to do. And why it's stressing Tim the eff out.

"You're not a nobody, are you?" "No, I'm a cop and you're under arrest." "You stole my line." "I thought you said she needed rescuing."

Tim. Look at you braggin' on your girl. We know he was worried about her. He wouldn't have driven all the way to the station in the middle of the night if he wasn't. But in front of her, he's bragging on her and her badass self.

We stan a man who doesn't fear a strong woman.

"How'd you guys get here so fast? Not that I'm complaining." "When you didn't report in last night, Sergeant Grey called the chief who called every law enforcement agency in Southern California." "400 cops just spent the night looking for you."

Including your husband, who hasn't slept all night knowing you were out here and needed help. Tim is already going above and beyond for Lucy. For all of his "not my job" talk, he's the one who's really there for her. He's the one checking in on her. He's the one worrying about her.

And, let's be real, Lucy's never had anyone like that in her life. Her parents haven't supported her, and non of the guys she's dated have stuck. But her former TO, hard-ass Tim Bradford is the guy who steps up to play husband when she's in danger.

"I need superglue, hair pins, and your badge."

First off, how on-brand is it for Tim Bradford to show up to a wedding and still have his badge on him? And how awesome is it that his future step-daughter already knows it?

"Thank you both for believing in me."

This line hits hard based on Lucy's background. Her parents have been un-supportive in her ambition. She hasn't really had people in her life who believed in her, but the more she's at Mid-Wilshire, the more she's finding a whole new family.

Found family tropes are my jam because I live in one. 20 years ago, one night at University orientation, I met the people who would be the best friends of my life. We are raising our children together. We vacation together. We party together. We mourn together.

Because, for whatever reason, sometimes we need more than our blood family. Found family is a gift, and I'm so thrilled for mine. And that Lucy Chen found hers.

"To tell the truth, I kind of missed it."

Lucy's eyes trail past Nyla and Grey... to where Tim talks with Officer Jan. Tell me she didn't miss Tim! While she was alone in that hotel room playing chess with herself? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

"Um, will you excuse me?"

Nyla takes a sip of her drink, going with the flow. Unsurprising that the woman who was missing is going to talk to the man who was obsessed with her being missing. But, Grey's, "Where the heck is she going?" cracks me up. He full on turns around to see why Lucy would cut off a conversation with her Sergeant. Of course, it's Tim.

Officer Jan seems to know when to get out of the way of true love and excuses himself.

And Tim. Can't. Help. Himself.

Lucy is stunning in that green dress with the red lips, her hair pulled back, but still flowing, and that slit. Girlfriend understood the assignment and showed up to the wedding in style.

Tim's eyes trace over her with an abandon we've rarely seen from him. He's not over-thinking this moment. He's not in work-mode. It's very rare, at this point, that we see him and Lucy outside the structure of their status as Officers.

But here, in the ambiance of romance, Tim Bradford checks Lucy Chen out.

"Nice suit. Nova would be impressed." "Nova was a little thirsty." "I like to think of her as assertive." "Mm."

Flirty Banter Alert. Folks, we have flirty banter. And Tim smiling at her!? This scene took me out the first time I watched it. Because Tim's not a smiley person by default. He's a bit broody, grumpy, gruff, and non-plussed. And that's fine.

But there are situations that make him smile, and I love that Lucy Chen flirting with him is now on the list.

"First solo op and you take down two major drug traffickers. Not bad." "Thank you."

That's a huge compliment from Tim. And that's what Lucy wanted. Her little Praise Kink wanted to hear what Tim had to say, and she hoped it would be good. Lucy turns to walk away, but even as she's moving away from him, his mind is stuck on her.

You can see the wheels turning in his mind. He just spent the entire night looking for this woman, worried out of his mind for her. He hasn't felt that kind of attachment in a really long time, and something in him is seizing this moment.

And you know the circumstances are just right. Lucy made it through the night, proved her badass self, and now she's wearing that stunning dress and she's a few feet away from him. He doesn't want her that far away.

"Hey Chen." "Yeah?"

Lucy looks back, with zero expectations.

"Save me a dance."

He says it as he walks away to join another conversation. Because he's not ready to fully face what he feels, yet, but he also wants to make sure he doesn't miss this moment.

Saying it on the move means he doesn't have to watch her face to see how it registers... He's not ready to see her response, but he somehow knows it will be "yes".

And look at Lucy Chen. He's still framed in the shot, which I find fascinating. Like, what was the mentality behind it? To show he's not really that far away? Not really that unattainable? Just out of reach?

Lucy nearly twirls with the impact of those words. They stir something in her akin to her Praise Kink, which I really think also ties into her Tim Kink.

Because, come on, there's been something between them for ages. Like, they could have had angry sex and it been fiery and explosive but that flame never matured to a stable fire—one to be fed by love and dedication to one another.

They're not there, yet. But in the beauty of the wedding setting, Tim Bradford asked Lucy Chen to dance. And that can never be taken back. It's a part of their story forever, now. The veils over Tim's heart started to come down just enough to let a little light in.

Life and Death

"I almost got us all killed." "That trip wire was nearly invisible. I only saw it because I had the right angle." "That's not the point. I should have known to look." "Well that sounds like a failure in training. Perhaps you should bring it up with Tim." "Can you imagine?"

Let's be real... Lucy's best friend was killed. They were just at Lopez's wedding waiting for her to walk down the aisle, and now she's missing. Lucy's beating herself up for not being perfect, and the way Nolan tries to cheer her up is by ragging on Tim.

And, come on, we know they've done enough of that over the years. To Nolan's credit, he's trying to get her to chuckle, at the very least, and stop being so hard on herself.

And, no, I'm not addressing N*cy. Not ever. But they make good friends.

"I can't go back to the apartment. his empty room." "You don't have to. You can stay with me." "I don't want to impose." "No. Lucy, you shouldn't be alone right now." "Thanks." "Yeah."

"Lucy". Not "Chen". Lucy. At this stage, he doesn't address her as Lucy, often. But right now, they're all vulnerable and exposed.

Just a few days ago he was worried sick about Lucy. They got her back and had the emotional high of that combined with the euphoria of a wedding... only to be tossed back into uncertainty and heartache with the loss of Jackson and Angela's abduction.

Emotions are running high for all of them. And sometimes that necessitates stripping away formalities for the sake of survival.

Tim of a few years ago wouldn't have extended this to Lucy. But he knows her, now. She's a friend. She's someone who he cares about who is hurting. And he won't let her go through it alone.

That says so much about Tim Bradford. About how he can be so rough around the edges and yet so soft for those who he cares about.

"I'll take the couch." "Wait, I thought you were setting that up for me."

Lucy. In. Tim's. Clothes. I mean, we've seen her sleeping before and her shirt sleeves are nowhere NEAR that roomy. This implies she rode with him to his place, and that they didn't bother stopping by hers.

I know there's nothing sexual about it, at this point, but it's still so incredibly metaphorical. He's letting her into his world. Because, damnit, this former Rookie is already under his skin... even if he's not ready to face it, yet.

And she's wearing the moonstone ring. It was hers and now it's strangely theirs. She wore it. He found it. He carried it. And now she wears it, again. It's traveled with both of them, and its history is all the more complex for it.

"I'm not gonna have a guest sleep on the couch." "And I'm not gonna kick you out of your own bed. Come on. Get up."

First off, I love that Tim admits to thinking of Lucy as a "guest". This isn't a work-thing in any way. This is a friend thing. He's being here for her emotionally as a friend. Not so long ago, Tim would have denied the moniker, but there's no denying it, now. "We're friends".

Tim doesn't fight her any further. After all, he's doing all this to try to be there for her, to support her. They're friends. We saw how far he'd go for Lopez to make sure she had a dream wedding. And with this act of love, we can see he's done pretending Lucy is nothing more than his former-Boot.

"Um... do you need anything?"

Have you ever seen Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson? The late, great Alan Rickman's character, Colonel Brandon, is aching when the girl of his dreams, Kate Winslet's character, is ill. He asks for an occupation... for something he can do. And I feel like Tim is a kindred spirit.

When Lucy was taken in DOD, he couldn't sit still. He needed to do something. He's helping her now because he needs to give her more than words. He's more of a "show" guy, remember? He's showing Lucy that he cares, and he wants to make sure he gives her what she needs.

"The last 24 hours back?"

Ah. Another post-DOD parallel. Because Lucy's still looking for her time machine. This time, Tim feels less responsible for her pain... but he still would do anything to stop it.

"I'm afraid I don't have that power." "A hug?"

It's a long shot, asking Tim Bradford for a hug. At least, that's what Lucy thinks. But Tim Bradford would do anything to ease her pain. "Give me an occupation", his heart cries.

"Yeah, come here."

He crosses to her and pulls her close. Lucy sniffles as she leans against him, and his hand briefly goes to her hair, as it did in DOD when he first held her on the ground as she sobbed.

It's the first time since then that they've been this close. It's a terrible, sad reason, again, that brings them together. But proximity makes it harder to ignore the growing gravitational pull.

"It's okay." "Thanks."

He pulls away from her, not letting it linger. His eyes go back to the couch, where he was ready to sleep for the night. But it's his hands that have my attention.

His right hand gives her left forearm a gentle squeeze of encouragement. And his left rubs up and down her right. The short embrace is lingering. He doesn't want to stop touching her.

And this isn't the passion of two people looking at one another and thinking, "The one." There's a raw need here to feel something other than the heartache and pain.

Holding her in his arms, he feels it. That all he has to do is not break away to feel something completely different, and for her to feel it, too.

He looks down to her and sees this beautiful, vulnerable woman in his arms. There's a charge that passes between them as her eyes flick up to meet his. There's an openness there, on her part, looking for some comfort.

That's why she asked for the hug, right? Physical comfort. But there's something else now that's pulling him toward her as much as he's tearing himself away. Because he would never take advantage.

Lucy is hurting. Her best friend is dead. And no matter what Tim is feeling in this moment, he's not going to make a move. The last thing he wants to do is take advantage of someone who is hurting.

With a quick glance at her lips, he removes himself from the situation. And that's when Lucy realizes why.

Besides asking her to dance a few days ago, Lucy has no reason to think that Tim would have any interest in her. She hasn't seen the way he worries when she isn't there. She hasn't seen how his face softens when he asks others how she's doing. She hasn't seen him wrestling with what he feels for his former Rookie.

This is the first time she's seen it. He was right there holding her one moment, and with the briefest charge, he retreated. Yes, he did the right thing. But he left Lucy Chen standing there, speechless.

Did she imagine it?

Tim goes to his room and closes the door. He lays down on the bed he turned down for Lucy. I mean, come on, that's such amazing care! It looks like this is his side of the bed (closest to the door in case of emergency, furthest from the window), and he was giving it to her.

He lies down and tries to clear his head of the woman on the other side of the door.

Lucy heads for the couch, but her eyes trail back to his door. She didn't imagine it. Look, Lucy is confident in herself, sexually, and Comfort Coitus is not out-of-the-question for her. It would feel good to feel good.

And the bonus is that maybe it would allow her to explore whatever there is between her and Tim. Because even though neither of them would put a name to it, at this point, there's something there.

Tim closes his eyes, but opens them, again. Because when his eyes close, he sees her. His gaze trails back to the door. Because he's second-guessing himself. Maybe she would want it, too. Maybe he should have asked. Maybe he shouldn't have been so hasty.

And Lucy's on the couch looking back at that door. Because the more she lies there, the more she thinks about what it would be like to be with Tim Bradford. And if he's willing to be with her, too, why the hell not?

Tim looks away from the door and pumps his pillow up behind him, as if that minor adjustment will adjust his thoughts away from the gorgeous woman on his couch. He looks almost disappointed in himself. "What are you thinking?" Because Tim Bradford isn't ready for this, yet.

Would it be awesome sex? Hell, yeah. Would it be the best foundation for a relationship? No. There's still so much for these characters to unpack on their own and together. For Chenford to really work, it has to happen at a time when they're both emotionally healthy enough for it to work. We're not there, yet.

But, damn, Lucy wants to be. She finally can't take it anymore and throws off the blanket. She stands, taking her first steps towards Tim's bedroom. It's a risk, sure, but in this moment, she's willing to take it.

And, remember, I said all of this is a combination of the perfect circumstances to bring them here. Separated from the moment, she'll second-guess it as much as he'll try to deny it to himself. But in this moment, Lucy Chen makes a bold move.

Just in time for Tim to walk out the door on the phone with answers. Lucy tries to hide that she was on his way to him because the moment has passed. For him to see her on her feet now would be embarrassing and awkward, right?

"We'll be right there."

This implies others know that Lucy came home with him tonight. And because they all know Tim so well, they wouldn't even suspect that something might've happened between them. Tim's wounds from Isabelle haven't yet healed, and he'd be a fool to fall for another UC, right? Right!?

Yeah, boy's already falling... but he's not ready to face it, yet. And now there's no room to discuss what might have been because they're both focused on the task at hand—saving Angela.

"What about Max?" "Who the hell's Max?"

Look, this isn't Chenford, but this is one of those general appreciations of Eric Winter because Tim always reacts. Even when he's in a group of people, Tim reacts.

You might say, "Well, duh, people react". But some actors almost pull back on their characters when they're not the center of attention. When the camera is capturing him, Eric Winter is Tim Bradford. The man acts with his entire body, all the way through his fingers.

So, if you happen to watch this scene, watch Tim's face after that last line there. It sends me rolling, and it's nice to have a smile in the middle of a heavy episode.

"Did you get her?" "No."

There is something poetic about Tim calling her right at the moment she was ready to fall apart. Now she has a task... an occupation... something to busy her mind.

"We're going to Plan B." "I don't like Plan B." "Join the club. It's what we've got."

Lucy gets set up while the others get ready on their end.

TIM

Look, I don't know if this was a mistake or if Lucy goes back and forth on what she has on her phone for him, but right now, it says "TIM" when he calls. And that makes me feel all sorts of things in the context of this episode for Chenford.

"Tim? Please be careful."

"Because I can't lose anyone else." A wall has come down between them that they can never erect (heh), again. No, they didn't sleep together. But Tim let her into his world. He let her into his home. His clothes. His arms.

And that brings them that much closer to one another.

"I always am."

Nyla, my apologies that you're the one to have to witness all this Chenford goodness the past two episodes. Like, this seriously sounds like a sign-off between a worried wife and a man confident in his abilities.

Tim and Lucy at the Party

Look, I know it's little, but I love the touch that three months later, when we see them outside of work, he's still standing by her side.

This episode is a real catalyst, I think, for so much of what happens in S4 between these two.

FAST FORWARD: Tim dates a short-haired blonde girl who is nothing like Lucy all season and is awkward and embarrassed when Lucy finds out about her (via him arguing with his sister). Come on. Tell me that man wasn't running from his feelings for Lucy! And that hug later in the season wouldn't have been possible without this one. It all starts here.

As always, thank you for reading! If you have a request, please leave it in the comments and I'll take it under consideration! I really love writing these.

On a day like today when I've been in constant pain, it's been a grand distraction when I wasn't helping with Pinewood Derby cars, jumping on the trampoline, playing "telephone" with the kids, patty-cake, movie night, getting poster supplies for Student Council, and paying bills. Typical Saturday around here! May yours be a joy.

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

[anothergolddustwoman]

Unfortunately only ten can be added. If someone else already made one I’m so sorry.

#chenford #the rookie #polls

[londonrih]

Hey I have trying to get my friend into the rookie she fallen in with Chenford what are good chenford eps you would recommend ?

Ooooooou👀 okay some good chenford eps, I’d say:

Season 1:

1x06 - The Hawke (Lucy steals Tim’s money clip. They have a flirty moment at the end, “Maybe you should glove up…)

1x11 - Redwood (Over-protective Tim! Lucy gets stabbed with a rusty needle)

1x18 - Homefront (A little Chenford date at the end🙃)

1x19 - The Checklist ( Lucy has a checklist of 7 different arrests she has to make. Tim helps Lucy complete the checklist even if it does interfere with their hours.)

1x20 - Free Fall (Tim gets “infected” with a deadly virus, and Lucy stays next to him throughout the entire process, big moment.)

Season 2:

2x01 - Impact (A bit of a continuation to 1.20, + Chenford angst.)

2x02 - The Night General (Audiobook *I have nothing else to say*)

2x03 - The Bet (Kinda clear from the title.)

2x06 - Fallout (Drinks.Drinks.and drinks!!!)

2x08 - Clean Cut (Lucy sticking up for her man as she should😌)

2x10 - The Darkside (Whoo babyyyyy)

2x11 - Day of Death (Get the tissues ready)

2x12 - Now and Then (Tim’s speech killed me, I’m not in my feels.)

2x13 - Follow-Up Day (“I haven’t finished training you yet.”)

2x14 - Casualties (“Some things matter more.”)

Season 3:

3x01 - Consequences (SO MANY DIFFERENT MOMENTS BETWEEN THEM, they’re insane. And also overprotective Tim era makes a reappearance.)

3x06 - Revelations (Lucy goes undercover and Tim ain’t here for it.)

3x07 - True Crime (hilarious chenford moments, this is a true crime heavy episode though.)

3x08 - Bad Blood (Lucy teasing Tim.)

3x09 - Amber (HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH I’m still hurt, thanks Lucy.)

3x11 - New Blood (Jealously, Jealously!!!)

3x14 - Threshold (So. Many. Moments. Omg. Screaming internally)

Season 4:

4x01 - Life and Death (This one’s gonna hurt just a warning. Big chenford moment.😉)

4x02 - Five Minutes (Lucy being a proud wife!!! She’s so happy for Tim *makes a crow noise*)

4x03 - In the Line of Fire (It’s basically Tim and Lucy missing each other without admitting it, idiots… in love, of course.)

4x05 - A.C.H (AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA UNWELL!!)

(Brace yourself this is where it gets a little….bumpy.)

4x06 - Poetic Justice (Chenford bet!! YAYY! What’s not yay?? uhm…unexpected guest.)

4x07 - Fire Fight (A little bit of Tim being shirtless in front of Lucy.😏)

(You’re gonna cry with these two.)

4x08 - Hit and Run (I warned you.)

4x09 - Breakdown (it’s named that because you’re literally gonna have a breakdown, whooo baby.)

(EUUEEHHSEHEHWHWJWJA….)

4x10 - Heart Beat (the unexpected guest comes back, and she brings a friend, and he’s a jerk! But, Lucy wasn’t subtle looking at Tim across the bullpen blushing and all, *go get ya man, oh…too late.*)

4x11 - EndGame (Chenford and Tamara, Lucy calling the jerk a clown, cause he’s an idiot💀)

4x12 - The Knock (😂😂😂😂no comment)

4x16 - Real Crime (Aaron centric BUT! Funny chenford moments, another true crime episode.)

4x18 - Backstabbers (AHAHAHAHJAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!! Unwell!!)

4x19 - Simone (Backdoor pilot, heavy Nolan/ Simone Clark (love her!) but also one funny chenford moment, a subtle look & and an aweeeeee moment.)

You’re all caught up, 4x21, is gonna be something. 💀 good luck watching that promo.

#Chenford episode recommendations

[bronx-bomber87]

The Rookie Reviews Season's 1-5 Master List. Will be Pinned To Blog for Easy Access. S6 To Be Added This Summer.

Top Eps Listed Season's-1-4 Made a ranking list my fave eps for an ask. Wanted to include in this list.

Started: 5/13/23

Last Updated : 02/13/24

Works: 98

Season 1

1x01-Pilot

1x02-Crash Course

1x03-The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

1x04-The Switch

1x05-The Roundup

1x06-The Hawke

1x07-The Ride Along

1x08-Time Of Death

1x09-Standoff

1x10-Flesh and Blood

1x11-Redwood

1x12-Heartbreak

1x13-Caught Stealing

1x14-Plain Clothes Day

1x15-Manhunt

1x16-Greenlight

1x17-The Shakeup

1x18-Homefront

1x19-Checklist

1x20-Freefall

Season 2

2x01-Impact

2x02-The Night General

2x03-The Bet

2x04-Warriors and Guardians

2x05-Tough Love

2x06-Fallout

2x07-Safety

2x08-Clean Cut

2x09-Breaking Point

2x10-The Dark Side

2x11-Day Of Death

2x12 Now and Then

2x13-Follow Up Day

2x14-Casualties

2x15-Hand Off

2x16-The Overnight

2x17-Control

2x18-Under The Gun

2x19-The Q Word

2x20-The Hunt

Season 3

3x01-Consequences

3x02-In-Justice

3x03-La-Fiera

3x04-Sabotage

3x05-Lockdown

3x06-Revelations

3x07-True Crime

3x08-Bad Blood

3x09-Amber

3x10-Man Of Honor

3x11-New Blood

3x12-Brave Heart

3x13-Triple Duty

3x14-Threshold

Season 4

4x01-Life and Death

4x02-Five Minutes

4x03-In the Line Of Fire

4x04-Red Hot

4x05-A.C.H

4x06-Poetic Justice

4x07-Fire Fight

4x08-Hit and Run

4x09-Breakdown

4x10-Heart Beat

4x11-End Game

4x12-The Knock

4x13-Fight or Flight

4x14-Long Shot

4x15-Hit List

4x16-Real Crime

4x17-Coding

4x18-Backstabbers

4x19/4x20-Simone/Envervo

4x21-Mother's Day

4x22-Day In The Hole

Season 5

5x01-Double Down

5x02-Labor Day

5x03-Dye Hard

5x04-The Choice

5x05-The Fugitive

5x06-The Reckoning

5x07-Crossfire

5x08-The Collar

5x09-Take Back

5x10-The List

5x11-The Naked and The Dead

5x12-Death Notice

5x13-Daddy Cop

5x14-Death Sentence

5x15-The Con

5x16-Exposure

5x17-The Enemy Within

5x18-Double Trouble

5x19-A Hole in the World

5x20-S.T.R

5x21-Going Under

5x22-Under Siege

#Caitlin Rewatches The Rookie #masterlist #masterpost #chenford #series rewatch #tim x lucy #tim bradford #lucy chen #lucy x tim #the rookie s1 #the rookie s2 #the rookie s3 #the rookie s4 #the rookie s5 #otp: doing my job #otp: you know me so well. too well. #otp: some things matter more. #otp: you did good #otp: you're nothing like him #otp: doesn't feel like pretend #otp: unless it is #the rookie

[renegadesstuff]

CHENFORD SLOW DANCE HERE WE GO 😍❤️

#the rookie #lucy chen #chenford #tim bradford #tim and lucy #lucy and tim #tim x lucy #lucy x tim #the rookie series #the rookie rewatch #the rookie edit #the rookie promo #the rookie season 3 #3x14 #threshold #the rookie season 4 #4x18 #backstabbers #the rookie season 6

[lucylessons]

Lucy Chen + under pressure ⤷ First solo op, and you take down two major drug traffickers. Not bad.

#30DAYSOFLUCY for PRIDE 2023 THE ROOKIE (2018) – 3x14 "Threshold"

#the rookie #therookieedit #chenford #chenfordedit #the rookie s3 #the rookie 3x14 #lucy chen #tim bradford #jackson west #chenford x jackson #lucy x jackson #melissa o'neil #30DAYSOFLUCY #mine.gif #lucylessons #do not repost #nerves of steel #i would've thrown up on the spot

[stilin-ski]

forever is the sweetest con: chapter two

Read Chapter One Here.

Chapter Two: quiet endings to new beginnings

Chapter Summary: Another vulnerable moment. Set in 3x14, Damaged.

~000~

He didn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t know how he got there, what he was thinking, how he thought any of this was going to play out- he just got in the car and started driving. 

He ended up on Spencer Reid’s doorstep. 

“Hotch?”

“My wife left me.” Reid opened the door wider, stepped aside, and motioned his superior inside. Hotch stepped over the threshold. “I almost got you killed today.” 

“You didn’t.”

“I did, Reid.” The younger man sighed. “Chester Hardwick would have killed us if you hadn’t been able to distract him, and I was the one who poked the bear.” Reid laughed, a sharp and bright sound that cut through Aaron’s own misery. He looked up, meeting kind hazel eyes. 

“I never thought I’d hear you say something like ‘poked the bear.’” He watched again as Reid tucked his long legs under him with a grace he’d never seen before. “Sit down, Hotch.” Aaron nodded, sitting across from him on a worn leather sofa. “You didn’t get me killed.”

“I could have.” 

“But you didn’t .” This was new. The way they were speaking, the back and forth. It was entirely, completely new to him, and Hotch realized just how much their positions at the Bureau affected their social interactions. Dr. Spencer Reid had a sharp tongue. Hotch never knew that. 

There was a lot Hotch didn’t know, apparently. 

“I’m sorry Haley left.” This time it was Hotch that laughed, a low and gruff sound that sharply contrasted the light and airy tone of Spencer’s. 

“She was having an affair.” He admitted. “It was over a long time ago, I was just too stubborn to admit it.”

In the years he’d known Spencer Reid, there was one thing he’d noticed about the man that no one else on the team had. Reid was quiet. 

It was true that he would ramble on about statistics and figures, about the book he’d read on his lunch hour, or even about some telenovela he’d got caught up watching at one point; but outside of that, in the moments it really counted- Reid was quiet, and it was never uncomfortable. Never awkward, or stilted, or tense. Just- quiet. 

“Would you like a drink?” Hotch looked up, allowing himself a moment of sheer vulnerability while looking at his subordinate. He nodded. “Bourbon or rum?”

“Bourbon.”

“Ice?”

“No, thank you.” He should leave. He knows he should, knows this is inappropriate, knows he’s not in a clear state of mind, and he knows Reid is too kind to ask him to go. He should leave.

Instead, he takes the glass that’s offered to him and smiles in thanks. Instead, he ignores the slight brush of their fingers and the way the sensation lingers for moments after the contact ends. 

“I’m sorry Haley had an affair. And I’m sorry your marriage ended before you wanted it to.” Spencer took a drink from his own glass. “But mostly I’m sorry I don’t have the collection of expensive bourbon that Rossi does.” That makes him laugh, loud and sudden and real, and he doesn’t try to hide the smile that lingers. 

“Don’t worry, my own liquor cabinet is stocked with bottom shelf options too.” Reid cracks a shy, but genuine smile at that, and Hotch relaxes a bit further into his chair. “I didn’t take you for a bourbon man.”

He watches as Reid settles himself again, long limbs draping in a way that could only be described as elegant. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Hotch.”

“Apparently.” Looking back, he sees it clear as day. The flirting, the silent game of chess they played that night, the dance to music no one else could hear.

Looking back, he could see that it had been there for a while, in more discreet ways, since the day he'd picked Reid up off the Earth in a desolate graveyard in Georgia. He could see this wasn't new, this unnameable thing between them. It was there, palpable, breathing a new life in his chest, and it was beautiful . 

But then, on that hazy Friday night when he’d come home to a dark, cold, and empty house, he didn’t see it. He just saw a man, a friend, sitting before him and offering a space of comfort when he needed it. 

“You should call me Aaron.” Reid- Spencer, he corrects- looks up, eyes full of delighted surprise. “We’re not at work. You should call me Aaron.” 

“Okay, Aaron.” He smiled again. “Then you should call me Spencer.” 

“Alright, Spencer.” 

#liv writes #criminal minds fic #hotchreid fic #hotch/reid #hotchreid #aaron hotchner #spencer reid #forever is the sweetest con

[selenaurrr]

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DID THAT ON THE FINALE!!! 😭

#the rookie #the rookie spoilers #3x14 threshold #OMGOSH they can't do that to Angela 😣

[karihighman]

“Hey Chen, save me a dance.”

If anyone needs me I’m crying over Chenford ❤️🥺😩🙌😍🥰☺️😭😦

#the rookie #chenford #tucy #lucy chen #tim bradford #lucy x tim #tim x lucy #i’m crying #sobbing actually #save me a dance #soft Tim!! #Tim is so sweet #oh my god #so many feels #wopez wedding #the rookie season 3 finale #the rookie 3x14 #threshold #Lucy’s dress #and makeup #she looks so pretty #hi melissa #Tim in a suit #hottest training officer #bless eric winter for looking like that