The music blasted through the backyard, laughter bouncing off the pool’s shimmering surface as people splashed around, completely at ease. Tim stood near the edge, arms crossed, his posture a fortress against anyone’s attempt to drag him into the party spirit. His face was impassive, though his eyes tracked his surroundings with a sharpness that gave away the ever-watchful officer underneath.

You spotted him almost immediately, noting the contrast between his stoic figure and the carefree atmosphere. Approaching him felt a little like approaching a brick wall, but something about his steady presence was oddly reassuring.

Smitty insisted on a pool party for the officers, and he managed to convince one of them to make one. Of course.

“Didn’t expect to see you at the pool party,” you said, smiling as you came up beside him.

Tim raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Didn’t expect to be here, either,” he replied, keeping his answer short. He shrugged, glancing briefly at the pool where some of his LAPD colleagues were goofing off. “Guess I owed a few people.”