5x02: Labor Day

***

Tim had drove up to his childhood house where Genny, his younger sister was on the phone. Tim pulls up in the driveway and parks his car, Tim exited it. "We will talk about it when we get home, okay? I can't do this right now. Because I can't. Look, we'll talk when I get home." Genny was saying to someone on the phone before she hung up.

"Everything okay?" Tim asked, walking over to Genny.

"It's fine. Um, thanks for stopping by," Genny hands him a folder. "The Realtor just needs you to sign a couple of things before the open house today." She said.

"Absolutely." Tim starts signing.

Genny looks at the house. "What do you think? Looks pretty good, right?" She asked.

Tim glanced over. "Unrecognizable." He comments.

"The broker thinks we're gonna have it sold by the end of the week." Genny said.

"That's great. Once this place sells, we can finally put it all behind us." Tim replied.

"Yeah. Yeah, it'll be nice. Can move on." Genny said, looking at the house as she nods her head.

"Don't." Tim grumbled.

"Don't what? Have feelings?" Genny asked.

Tim points at the house with the pen. "Don't get all misty-eyed over Hill House."

Genny looked at Tim exasperated. It's our childhood home. Selling it means something."

"Hopefully it means a half a million dollars each. I got to get to work. Call me if you need anything." Tim said, handing Genny the folder back.

"Will do." Genny said and Tim walked back to his truck. "Hey," Tim turned around to Genny. "How's Lexi?" She asked.

"I would say she's getting there but we have no idea, she's shut down." Tim replied.

"Well, make sure you all keep an eye on her, I mean it's possible that she'll go back on Heroin to try and cope." Genny said.

"Yeah, we know." Tim said before getting back into his truck.

***

Hunter and Tim had bought Lexi to the station, not wanting her to be by herself with her arms bandaged up after what Rosalind did to her. Lexi had passed her bar exam with flying colours as it got scribed for her but all the answers were her own. 

Lexi would be going to the DA's office in a few weeks time, giving Wesley time to settle in as well, and her office will be right next door to Wesley's which was perfect for her seeing as Wesley was her uncle. Hunter, Tim and the rest of Mid-Wilshire, Smitty especially, were all keeping an eye on Lexi as a just in case.

Hunter and Tim were in the bullpen talking, when Angela walked over to the two. "So the dead cop, you heard about him right?" Angela asked, Tim and Hunter both nodded. "Okay, so he hung out with a group and they called themselves 'The Crew'."

Hunter and Tim groaned. "When will cops learn?" Hunter asked.

That's when Aaron and Nolan walked over. "Learn what?" Aaron asked.

"Look, you can hang out with other cops all you want, but the second you give your group a name, it's just a matter of time until you're under indictment." Tim explained.

Nolan and Aaron shared a look. "Really? Does that work for any name? What if you call yourselves "The Snuggle Bunch"?" Nolan asked.

"You're going to prison." Hunter deadpanned.

"Totally. I can't explain it, but it never fails. Give yourself a name, go to jail." Angela shrugged.

"Noted. But I think the judge is gonna want a little more than that. So how are we going after these guys?" Nolan wondered.

***

Tim and Hunter were at the food trucks when Hunter notices people from the Sheriff's Department and was about to point it out when Tim's phone rang, he and Hunter moved away so Tim could answer it privately.

Tim placed the phone on speaker. "Hey, Gen. What's up?" Tim asked.

"We've had ten offers already."

Tim and Hunter shared a look. "You're kidding. 10 offers already? That's incredible." Tim said, shocked.

"I know. I'm a little in shock."

"So, what's the highest offer?" Tim asked.

"$50,000 over asking. From a developer. But there's also this family. The dad included the most touching letter with the offer, all about how much it would mean to his kids to finally have a home."

"Okay, so, what's their offer?" Tim asked.

"Asking."

"So $50,000 less." Tim deadpanned.

"It's still more than we expected to get. Besides, the developer will just tear it down."

"Good. House is an actual crime scene. It should be torn down." Hunter deadpanned.

"Agreed," Tim said nodding at Hunter. "Listen, Genny, I got to go. Keep me posted," Tim and Hunter returned to the food trucks. "Hey," the man taking orders, turned to him and Hunter. "I'll do a number three." Tim turned to Hunter. "Hunt? You want a number 3?" Tim asked.

"Yeah." Hunter replied.

"She'll take a number 3 as well." Tim said, pointing at Hunter.

"Coming right up." The cashier said.

"Thank you." Tim and Hunter turned around to the three Sheriff Department cops. "What's up, gentlemen?" Tim asked.

"Hey." Walt said, looking at Tim and Hunter.

"You guys, uh, work with that deputy that killed himself?" Hunter asked.

"We did, actually." Walk confirmed.

"Sorry for your loss. Tim Bradford and this is Hunter Lopez, Mid-Wilshire Division," the cops all shook hands. "Our guys found the body." Tim explained.

"Oh, thanks. Yeah, it's always tough to lose someone you were in the trenches with. I just wish we had realized how much he'd been hurting." Walt said and his friends nodded in agreement.

"It's got to be rough. Well, look, if you guys need anything." Hunter said.

"Thanks." Walt said.

"Yeah." Tim and Hunter turned around.

"Actually," Tim and Hunter turned back to Walt. "Uh... you know, we've been hearing some rumors about foul play." He said.

"Yeah? Hadn't heard that. We can check, though. You guys working on something that could have come back on him?" Hunter asked. 

"Eh, that's tough to say. We put away a lot of bad hombres, but nobody immediately springs to mind." Walt explained.

"Well, I'll tell you this, if someone did kill Garrett, they're not gonna survive that trip to lockup." Rick one of the other members pied up.

Hunter turned to Walt. "We can do some digging and get back to you. Sergeant Lindbeck."

"It's Walt. Much appreciated." Walt said.

"Yeah. Least we could do. Cops got to stick together, right?" Tim asked.

"Damn right." Walt agreed.

"Take care." Hunter said.

"You too." Walt replied.

Tim and Hunter collected their food and returned back to their shop and Tim drove back to the station where they could eat their food.

***

Hunter, Tim, Angela, Nolan and Aaron were in the briefing room, Hunter and Tim were sitting on the same side of the table at the front, facing Angela, Aaron and Nolan, Angela was sitting in a chair, tilting it towards Nolan and Aaron and spinning whenever she needed to depending on who was speaking. "Those aren't grieving faces. Those are guys terrified of getting caught." Tim deadpanned.

"Great," that's when Angela notices Tim and Hunter's food. "Where's my burrito?" She asked.

Tim looked at her with an annoyed expression. "Sorry. Hunter and I got distracted trying to gaslight crooked cops." He deadpanned.

"You bought her burritos." Angela complained.

Hunter just grinned as Aaron spoke up. "Crooked how?" He asked.

"They're running reversals, right?" Tim spoke up.

Aaron nodded his head. "Mm-hmm." Aaron said.

That's when Hunter speaks up. "So instead of arresting the dealers, they're taking the cash and cutting them free." She explained.

"With their intel, they would know exactly who to target. And with their access to real drugs, they could make sales seem legit." Nolan added.

Angela looked at Aaron. "And it's not like the dealers can call the cops to complain," Angela then looked at Tim and Hunter. "I'll read Wesley in," Angela addressed everyone. "I need you guys to hit up your CIs. If The Crew are ripping off dealers, there's gonna be a lot of pissed-off criminals out there. Someone's heard something." She said.

That's when Hunter remembered something. "You know, Harper has got the best CIs in the station." She said.

"You're right," Angela turned to Nolan. "Nolan, call Harper. She likes you best." She lied.

"Really?" Nolan asked.

"Mm-hmm." Angela hummed.

"On it." Nolan and Aaron walked out.

"That was a dirty lie." Hunter said.

"Today is her due date. Do you want to be the one calling her about work?" Angela asked.

"You're an evil genius. Emphasis on the "evil." Just like Hunter." Tim said. Hunter smiled and placed a hand on Tim's arm as she grabbed ate some of her burrito.

"Damn straight," Angela said, narrowing her eyes at Hunter's hand. "Now give me half that burrito before I turn my evil against you," Angela then stole half of Tim and Hunter's burritos even though they were the exact same. "So, how's Lexi going?" She asked, having not had time to catch up with her.

"She's shut down." Hunter said, taking a bite of her burrito.

"Genny reminded me that we all need to keep an eye on her because she might turn back to Heroin to cope with the trauma." Tim said, Hunter nodded in agreement at that.

"I always for get she was addicted to drugs from when she was born to a few weeks into living with you before you both forced her to a program." Angela said thoughtfully. That's when Angela smirked at Hunter and her hand still resting on Tim's arm. "So, remind me what you were doing at Tim's house when you found--" Angela paused for a moment to compose herself. "Lexi bleeding out?"

Tim and Hunter shared a look. "Why are you even asking? You know I basically live there." Hunter replied.

"Yeah but I imagine you'd've wanted to have a shower and get out of your UC clothes before going to Tim's." Angela said.

"No, I was just gonna get changed and shower there seeing as I have two of everything, and all my seconds of everything live at Tim's house." Hunter answered.

Angela narrowed her eyes at Tim and Hunter. "Mm-hmm."

Hunter and Tim shared a look, trying to school their features. "What are you implying?" Tim and Hunter asked at the same time.

Angela smirked. "What do you think?" Angela asked.

"I was going to shower, change and spend the night there." Hunter said.

"Mm-hmm." Angela said, sounding like she didn't believe them.

***

Tim, Angela and Hunter all rolled up in a shop outside Garrett's, the Sheriff Deputy that was killed, house, the three of them notice a pickup truck and look at it before moving up onto the porch.

Angela peered at the front door and noticed the tape was ripped meaning someone or someone's were inside, she shared a look with her sister and Tim before the three unholstered their weapons and opened the door.

The three cops carefully moved into the house when an object clattered in the background. "Police! Show yourself right now." Angela ordered.

Walt and one of his friends appeared into the main part of the house. "I don't want to hear it." Walt deadpanned at Angela.

"You broke the seal. You're in my crime scene." Angela deadpanned.

"It was our guy who went down. You think we're just gonna stand on the sidelines, watch the LAPD screw up the investigation?" Walt asked.

Hunter looked between her sister and Tim. "You buying this?" She asked them both.

"No." Tim and Angela deadpanned.

"Listen, we're all on the same team --" Walt's mate, Simon started to say.

"Wrong," Angela interrupted. 

"We're investigating a homicide, and you appear to be attempting to obstruct that investigation." Hunter said.

Walt smirked at Hunter. "You don't know what you're talking about, honey," Walt turned to Simon. "Come on, let's go."

The two men started walking when Tim stepped in front of Walt, towering over him. "We got a warrant to search everything, Walt, including you." Tim said.

"That's not happening." Walt replied.

"You don't want to walk into this." Tim answered.

"Try me," Walt went to walk past Tim when he placed a hand on his chest, Walt tried to push Tim's hand off and Tim interlocked his arm with Walt's and managed to get him to trip onto the floor. "Aah!"

That's when Hunter and Angela noticed Simon reach for his gun, Hunter points hers at him. "Don't." She warned.

Tim stood up and stepped back slightly. "Get up," Walt starts sitting up. "Get up. Come on," Tim said, Walt stands up. "Hands behind your back," Tim grabs Walt's gun and then pats him down and pulls something out of Walt's pocket he looks at it. "Shipping receipt with Garrett's name on it." He said to the Lopez sisters.

Angela takes it and reads it. "A million bucks it's a recording from the wire Garrett was wearing." She said.

"You're under arrest, gentlemen, for removing evidence and obstruction." Tim deadpanned.

"Turn around," Hunter cuffs Simon. "Where's your buddy Rick?" Hunter asked Walt, he doesn't answer and she looked as Simon. "How about you? You can help yourself here." She said to him.

"Don't say a word." Walt said to Simon.

"Don't listen to him. Where's Rick?" Both men remain silent, Tim sighed. "You know, you'd think cops would be smarter. This warrant covers your phone," Tim grabbed Walt's phone and checked out his recent calls. "Called Rick right before we came in."

Angela called Nolan. "Hello."

"Hey. Tim, Hunter and I found The Crew at Garrett's house doing some evidence tampering. We think Garrett mailed the recordings to himself at Coast to Post Mailbox Service, 7646 West Vernon."

"We're on it."

"Move your ass. Rick's already on his way there. If he gets there first, he'll destroy the evidence." Angela then hangs up and the three of them take Simon and Walt to the shop and back to the station.

***

Tim and Hunter joined Lexi in the breakroom while she was sitting, managing to type on her laptop, she was staring blankly at the screen. "Hey," Hunter said softly, Lexi looked at her, she was looking tired and done with everything. "Come here." Hunter opened her arms and Lexi slid into them and finally started crying after everything that's happened.

That's when she pulled away. "I'm getting there." She said, Hunter and Tim smiled at her. "You two should get back to work. I'll be fine and I'll call you if needed." Lexi said to reassure her.

Tim and Hunter stood up and walked to the doorway, sparing Lexi a glance before walking out, the red head made sure the two of them were gone before picking her phone up and calling someone. "It's me, I need a bag, where do you want to meet? I'll be there in five." Lexi hung up and carefully walked out the room and snuck out the building, leaving her actual phone behind and taking her other phone with her.

***

Hunter and Tim were walking in the underground parking garage, Lexi had drove herself home when Genny cut the two of them off, hugging them both. "Let me guess, an orphanage wants to buy Dad's house for a hundred bucks." Tim drawled.

"No. Listen, I haven't been entirely honest with you. The phone call this morning?" Genny asked.

Hunter looked interested but Tim seemed to know what Genny was talking about. "Yeah." Tim said.

"Rob and I are having a hard time." Genny said.

"Like go to counseling hard time?" Hunter asked, seeing as she was invited to Genny's wedding and went as his date of sorts seeing as the two hadn't met Isabel yet.

"Like divorce lawyers hard time." Genny admits.

"I'm sorry." Tim and Hunter apologised.

"Me too. But it's for the best. Now, about Dad's house --" Genny was saying.

"You want to sell it to the happy family because you're feeling nostalgic." Tim interrupted.

"No, I want to sell it to the highest bidder because divorces aren't cheap, and I need to cushion the landing into single mom-hood." Genny replied.

"Wow. Uh, very smart," Genny and Hunter both give Tim a look. "So, is -- is Rob moving out?" Tim asked.

"Actually, I was thinking of moving." Genny replied.

"To where?" Tim asked.

"Here," Tim and Hunter look surprised. "I mean, unless you don't want me to." She said quickly to her brother.

"Are you kidding? I think it's a great idea." Tim said, smiling at his sister.

"Good. Now give me a hug 'cause I just told you my marriage fell apart, and I'm trying to be strong, but I'm feeling really sad." Genny said and Tim hugged her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Now, Tim and Hunter are yet to start dating, seeing as they haven't had any chance to talk.