Chloe lay in bed awake, savouring the quiet before the day would begin. She would start breakfast for Trixie in a few minutes, but for the moment she stayed put. She's been sleeping better which was a relief because she knew she couldn't carry on the way she had been. It wasn't fair to Trixie, or the people she cared about. And she had an obligation to do her job and give justice to those who couldn't for themselves.
Chloe couldn't believe it had been six months since Lucifer had left. In that time, she had solved a dozen cases with Detective Sanchez. She had even begun to appreciate his dedication to the job, even if he could be a hard ass. She didn't resent him anymore either – she knew he had nothing to do with Lucifer being gone. Surprisingly, they'd developed a routine, usually he tried to be the downer and think the worst of people, while she tried to find a glimmer of good in them.
Lately, Sanchez had been more interested in her life, obviously trying to make an effort to get to know her better. She had hoped their partnership would be a temporary arrangement, but a half year had passed and they were no closer to finding a way to bring Lucifer home.
Everything was changing. Little Charlie wasn't a little baby anymore, but a vibrant bundle of energy that liked to crawl around and get into everything. Linda and Amenadiel were so good with him. Chloe loved spending time with their little family and Trixie always wanted to know when they could visit her cousin Charlie again.
Chloe saw Amenadiel had such an overwhelming love for his son, but sometimes her eyes met Amenadiel's and her sadness was reflected in his warm, dark eyes. Lucifer should be there. He was missing everything.
After Chloe had found out who Lucifer truly was and went to Europe to try to escape and process everything, Ella had told her how Lucifer had showed up at crime scenes every time, in hopes Chloe would be there. And although she knew it would take nearly a miracle to get Lucifer back, it didn't stop her from wishing every day that he'd appear, breezing in, joking and holding a special coffee for her. But this kind of thinking was unhealthy and had nearly destroyed Chloe emotionally.
She couldn't afford to spiral now, not when she felt like she had a foot and a hand on the mountain's edge – some kind of holding that prevented her from falling back into the darkness. Linda had been invaluable the last few months, stepping up as her friend and therapist.
Chloe had apologized on numerous occasions for taking up Linda's time during her maternity leave when she should have been focussing on her family. "You're my friend Chloe," Linda had said sternly before smiling sympathetically. "Besides, what other therapist is going to believe you? They'd have you locked up in no time."
Chloe couldn't help but laugh and it was moments like this that had saved her. She had needed to see the little moments – a laugh with a friend, snuggling on the couch with Trixie watching The Greatest Showman for the thirtieth time, drinks with the ladies, a run in the morning to appreciate the warm, morning sun on her face. All of these things slowly bought her back to life, piece by piece, one moment at a time. She wanted with her whole being to have Lucifer with her, to share these little moments, but she knew she couldn't stop living her life because it was fragile and fleeting. She was reminded of this at every crime scene, every victim who had been alive the day before that wasn't anymore. And with the dangers of the job, she needed to keep her head on straight.
A lot of the days had been the same lately – the same routine. Breakfast with Trixie, work, supper, helping Trixie with her homework and sometimes watching part of a movie and bedtime. Chloe usually spent a few hours on housework or a case if she needed a clear perspective away from work.
But Dan was taking Trixie camping for a week so Chloe's routine would be different. Now she had to think about what she'd do to fill the time, and try not feel the stress of this challenging task.
Chloe was lost in her thoughts at work when Sanchez stopped at her desk. She heard her name and snapped out of it. "Do you need something?" She sat up straight and moved a few things on her desk to look busy.
Sanchez leaned on her desk casually. "It's the end of the week and things have slowed down. Do you feel like getting a drink?"
Chloe cursed herself for mentioning Trixie would be away. She felt Sanchez's eyes on her, not sure what to say. This obviously wasn't a date, but Friday after-work drinks seemed a little too personal. And Sanchez did have that reputation that Ella liked to remind her of. "Don't get caught up in those steely gray eyes." She warned. "They're looking out for wife number three." Then Ella would shake her head. "But what am I saying – you have Lucifer so there's no reason to be looking elsewhere…right?" she'd asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
"Umm…" Chloe stalled, trying to come up with a credible excuse to turn down Sanchez's invitation.
"There's a group of us going to the pub a few blocks away."
Chloe smiled, relaxing at his words. She wasn't a big socializer with co-workers, but she could manage a drink before heading home.
Sanchez titled his head slightly. "You didn't think I was asking you out, did you?"
Chloe let out a strangled laugh. "The thought had crossed my mind."
He pushed himself off the desk and straightened his tie. "I don't tend to ask out women who are hung up on other guys. Not very satisfying to the ego," he added then walked away.
Chloe didn't know what to think of that, but was relieved he knew where he stood. Which she was thankful for because her workplace romances were, she guessed, well-documented – Dan, then Pierce and now Lucifer. If it didn't work out with Lucifer, she may have to go to another precinct just to salvage her questionable reputation.
An hour later, Chloe was at Vincent's, the local pub that some of the detectives preferred over The Paddock Lounge. She was at a table with Sanchez and two detectives - John Riley and Maria Chan, who she'd known a few years. They talked casually about work and some of their strange encounters with suspects. Chloe sipped her draft beer and chimed in when she had something to add. The pub was loud and boisterous and was now filled with the after-work crowd, enthusiastic for the weekend. The conversation turned to kids and Chloe was surprised to learn that Sanchez had two kids. "Two girls," he said, and Chloe caught the pride in his voice. At the end of the first round, Chloe had thought she'd leave, but the group had talked her into a second drink, which she ordered with a glass of water.
At one point, Riley and Chan were preoccupied with others that had stopped by their table. Sanchez rotated his glass of scotch on the table. "So what is Lucifer really like?" He asked, surprising her. "I've heard all of those crazy, larger-than-life stories around, but that doesn't really seem like your type. You're more reserved and you're a parent." He looked at her, a raised eyebrow, waiting for a response.
Chloe thought of shutting down Sanchez's question, which she had every time he'd wanted to know more about Lucifer, but maybe it was her second drink that made her want to talk about him. She had virtually ignored that part of her brain that made her think of him, just to survive and get through the day. Sadly, it felt like she was talking about someone who had passed on, and left this world – which he had.
"There's always more to someone than what you hear about Sanchez. You know that," she said taking a drink from her glass. He looked at her questioningly.
"He is larger-than-life. He knows how to bring out the best in me and sometimes the worst. He has a good heart that he likes to hide from people. He can be annoying and petty and thoughtless, but he can also be caring and loyal and vulnerable." She stops to think about his crazy grand gestures and their friendship that built over the years. Then she remembers his lips on hers, the kisses for different reasons – until the last one. Finally they were on the same page. But they weren't.
Thinking of him makes her smile a little. Sanchez drains the last of his drink and gestures to the bar. Chloe shakes here had because it feels like it's time to go home – even if it's to an empty house.
"He's a lucky guy," Sanchez says as he stands up. "When someone can see your ugly side and still love you, then you know you're onto something." He walked away, leaving her alone. Chloe put on her jacket and left before Sanchez came back.