AN: I doubt anyone is actually reading this since I don't ever get any reviews. The only reason I am still updating this story is because I still love the show and have had this story in mind for a long time. It has also been a long time since I have been able to write anything for my own enjoyment. I know there are points where some of the characters are not themselves but how much do we really get to know them in the series through backstories so I figured I would make some up and they are more than likely a little more troubling than they would be if this was the actual show. If you do read I hope you enjoy. If you do please leave a review.

Chapter 7

(Oscar's Place)

"Hey partner. Come on in and give me about 5 minutes to get the last of the stuff for dinner going then I can come out and we will talk for a bit." Oscar greeted Angie when she reached the door of his place.

"Do you need any help?" Angie asked.

"Nope. I will be right out in a couple of minutes. Please just make yourself comfortable. Would you like anything to drink? I have almost anything you could imagine."

"Just a glass of water would be great. Thanks Partner."

"Here you go. How has your day been? It seems like we did not get much of a chance to talk today. It felt a bit like you were trying to avoid me actually."

"Thank you. My day was fine. Boring since nothing came in today. I swear I wasn't trying to avoid you. I just had a few case report notes I had to get typed up and sent in to both Cross and Bloom by the end of the day. You know how one set of my case notes takes like 2 hours for me to type. I just wanted to get everything done before my session. I am sorry if it felt like I was avoiding you. I was just trying as hard as I could to focus. How about your day other than boring as hell?"

"It was torture. However, I did have time to think about what I would say to you tonight."

"Oh yeah? What do you plan to say tonight? You know how I feel about even trying to start something right now. I brought it up the other night when you were at my place. I am not saying it can't ever happen. I am just saying not right now and not while we are partners."

"If us being partners is what you are worried mostly about then I can work with Brian or you can and he can be the main partner for either of us. I understand why right now is off the table. I also wanted to make sure you were really okay. I know you were pissed off when I showed up at your place the other night to make sure you were okay and had gotten home safely. I honestly had not known that Betty was going to be there prior to my showing up. I saw her car and I was going to leave but she pointed me out before I could. So then I texted her to tell her I wanted to talk with you privately."

"I know that but I can't really be okay until I get back to what my normal was before moving on to something new. I am sorry that this will likely take quite a while to get back to even normal. After dinner we can talk about the fears I have surrounding letting myself get back to my normal."

"What does your normal look like? I know that you did not like even telling me about the problems the other night but I am glad you did. I just want to be there for you like a friend until you are ready for it to be more. I promise that I won't try to push you for anymore than that until you feel ready to make any changes."

"Oscar you know that normal means something different to everyone. My version of normal is way off from what most people would consider normal unless they were in my situation. To me normal is not being afraid about what could happen when I am investigating a case and someone that hurt me is involved. It is knowing that you, Betty, Brian, Manny, and Mark all have my back whether it be out in the field or just in general. Normalcy to me is not being afraid that Bloom will take my badge away every time I have a rough day after a case and tell me that he thinks I am a danger in the field. Normal is also not being afraid that I will lose someone I care about just because of the words that come out of my mouth. I know that some of these things seem trivial and unlikely but they are things that I fear will hold me back from reaching a sense of normal."

"So dinner is ready. I would like to keep talking though. Hopefully we can talk through some of these fears and at least get a start of working on making you feel better. I want you to feel safe again when it comes to work and your life. Like you said normal is relative to the person but if I can help with this I will just so that you can do better but then you are now. I don't even see where you are any different than you were before the incident. Hopefully you know ways to suggest for me to do my best to help you."

"I appreciate it but it will take me forever to open up the full way I feel like I should. For now all that I ask is that you don't give up on me while I work my way back to being the partner you know me to be. This process will take a while but with something to aim for it will hopefully not take as long."

"Something to aim for other than normal? What could that be?"

"I have wanted to have you in my life in a way that is not as just my partner for like two years. I have been waiting for the right time to talk to you but I haven't been able to find the words. I am glad you had words before I did. I will be willing to try giving you a chance once I feel like I can handle it if things don't go as well as we plan. Would you be able to wait at least three months? I feel like having people in my corner this time around will let me get back to normal faster."

"I can wait for as long as you need me to Partner. Ang I promise I will have your back for the rest of our careers or even rest of our lives if you will let me."

"For now Oscar I will settle with in the field as long as our careers are in tact. I want you to know that there have been days in the past where our job is not the best for me to handle. I know it is a lot to ask but I was wondering if you would do what you think is best without mentioning everything to Cross. Before I tell you about the next part of this I want you to make that promise."

"I promise Ang but you don't even need to mention the next part of what you were going to say. I think I know what it is. I know you well enough to know when you are off balance and when you are just having a crappy day. When you are off balance I promise to take away the things you need me to in order to keep you safe. It's just what partners do."

"Thank you for dinner Vega. It was nice. We will definitely have to do it again sometime soon. Maybe even include Betty and Brian? Not Cross though since you know...he is a jerk outside of work. Of course that would mean that we have to talk about stuff other than the possibility of us and my other problems."

"I think we can handle that Ang. I like the idea of maybe a game night between the four of us and Brian's wife. We should have Betty bring someone with her so that we can do teams/partners and have things be even."