~ Chapter completed with assistance from fellow writer Chris Cody ~

"hhhhhh…..hhhhhhh" Street puffed arriving at the top step. They had already cleared the 1st and 2nd floors of the building and located 18 hostages locked in a room.

"…. give me two" he called to Stevens and Becker as adrenaline coursed through his veins, rounding the last corner of the hallway.

"Two two" Stevens, patted his shoulder and Street swung instinctively into the open doorway, to see the suspect Rohleder, through the glass windows pacing back and forth behind the board room table brandishing a rifle. Several workers were cowering around the table and two women stood facing away as he aimed his gun at them, yelling something inaudible.

"56 David to all D teams"

"50 David go ahead Street" Rocker answered,

"We have eyes on the suspect on the 3rd floor, Eastern boardroom, count 5 hostages" Street said

"Roger that, 20 D teams are on your six hold tight".

Stevens, Becker and Street found a vantage point each and crouched down watching the events unfolding before them. Street recognised one of the women standing in front of Rohleder, it was Molly Hicks. He signalled to Stevens who reciprocated his concerned frown.

Hondo, Deacon and Chris came to the doorway and crouched between them.

"So, what's the latest?" Hondo asked.

"5 workers plus our suspect, 2 are mobile, 3 seated near the north wall. Suspect has at least two rifles and a handgun" Stevens explained. Deacon exchanged concerned glances with Chris and Becker as Hondo inhaled thinking.

"Ok…. Chris, I want you to see if we have eyes from the vent. Street, Becker and Stevens with me to the roof for a window breach". They all nodded, and Chris swung her rifle over her shoulder as she turned and headed with Deacon towards the air vents.

"Ok," Hondo began…... "let's go." They made their way quickly to the roof, unpacking their descent gear and preparing to go over the side of the building. Chris removed her rifle and passed it to Deacon as she climbed into the tight opening and began slowly sliding silently along to the vents in the conference room.

"24 David to 20 David" Chris's voice was a whisper through the radio.

"Go ahead Chris"

"I have eyes on Rohleder and the 5 hostages, suspect facing west. 3 hostages seated against the north wall and 2 hostages standing at the table facing east towards the windows."

"Roger, we go on your signal Chris" Hondo spoke quietly nodding to Street, Becker and Stevens to begin their descent. They held position just above the windows out of sight. Chris positioned herself next to the vent and prepared to drop down as the team came in the windows. Deacon moved to secure the hallway entrance and Chris inhaled steadying her nerves before signalling to Hondo that it was time to go.

"26 David, on my mark"

"Roger Chris"

"3 …. 2….. 1…. Breech"

Glass shattered in all directions as Becker, Street, Stephens and Hondo repelled down through the shattered windows. Chris landed on the table behind the hostages, amid the panic Rohleder grabbed Molly by the wrists and spun her to shield him from their shots, as the room was filled with shouts,

"Get down NOW, drop it!"

"LAPD SWAT on the floor NOW"

Deacon signalled for the 3 hostages sitting against the wall to crawl to him and he ushered them down the stairs. Rohleder stood frozen, eyes wide. Holding Molly tight in front of him and brandishing the rifle. Becker and Stevens were able to safely secure the other female who had been standing with Molly and escort her out as Chris, Hondo and Street stood rifles aimed at Rohleder and Molly.

"Let's just take a second here" Hondo began in a calm firm voice as he inched a fraction closer to Rohleder.

"STAY THERE" Rohleder shouted waving his rifle at them and hiding behind Molly.

Molly was terrified but silent. Rohleder's grasp on her was deathly tight. She maintained eye contact with Street. Her eyes pleading with him to help her. Chris saw Street smiling at her a little and telling her with just his eyes that "it's ok... help is here now". It was the first time she had ever seen him look at or talk to, without actually talking, another girl like that. She felt a lump in her throat as she thought to herself "that's our thing".

"Hey…Look….take it easy here. We want to all walk away today" Hondo began. Rohleder looked at him and tightened his grasp on Molly, making her wince. "Ok… We know you came to see your sister, Michelle." Hondo continued

"Shut up!" Rohleder shouted, "You don't know me…. You don't know anything"

"Michelle is downstairs, and if you let her" pointing at Molly "go safely we will take you down to see her"

Rohleder laughed… "What do you think I am some kind of idiot? Huh?" He stepped back away from Hondo and tugged Molly in even tighter. "You bring Michelle to me and then we will talk!"

Chris glanced sideways at Hondo, she could tell he was trying to find a way out of this. "Ok, let me talk to my team and see what I can do" Hondo nodded knowingly at Chris and Street as he turned and headed for the doorway behind them.

Street continued to keep Molly focused and calm while Chris attempted to make small talk with Rohleder, to distract him. When Rohleder glanced away briefly out the window, Street and Chris, in sync like old times, made their move. Street signalled for Molly to drop down as Chris leapt from the table and knocked Rohleder to the ground. Street pulled Molly free and ushered her out and down the stairs as Chris began fighting to disarm Rohleder.

"Oh my god, oh my god!" Molly repeated as she held onto Street as he guided her down the stairs.

"Hey… it's ok, I got you" Street said holding her waist and hand as they descended several flights. She grabbed the railing and stopped for a second…..breathing heavily. "It's ok… you are safe now" Street comforted her, lightly rubbing her back. Molly spun around without warning and threw her arms around his neck hugging him tightly. Street was a little shocked and slowly raised his arms to return the hug.

"Hey… It's ok" he chuckled a bit nervously. "You are safe now Molly…come on, let's get you downstairs" he pulled back to look at her, tears ran down her face. "Hey… come on…your dad is waiting….it's ok…. just breathe" He said calmly. She drew her eyes up from the wall to look at him. "Thank you Jim.. I mean it.. I am so glad you were there to save me…..Thank you". Without any warning she leaned up and kissed his cheek. A firm, long and slow kiss. Street was speechless… frozen for a second…. not sure what to do or say when behind him he heard Rohleder's voice as Chris bought him handcuffed down the stairs.

"Ha… look at that bitch… " He hissed as Chris shoved him passed Molly and Street. Chris kept her eyes forward on Rohleder. She knew that if she looked at Street in that moment, he would see the pain that she was feeling watching him and Molly. She shoved him again, "Ok ok… no need to be so rough"

"Shut up and move" Chris said… anger filling her voice. Though it was not Rohleder that she was angry at. She rounded the corner and met Stevens as they both marched Rohleder out to the waiting vehicle to transport him to lockup.

"Great job Chris" Stevens said patting her shoulder, "Thanks" she replied…... but she couldn't help feel like her stomach was in knots over seeing Molly kissing Street's cheek and hugging him. Chris removed her helmet and began putting things away in Black Betty when she saw Street and Molly emerge. Molly running to Hicks and Hondo patting Streets back. She looked away and climbed in.. cursing at herself for feeling like this, when she had just a few days ago told him to go find other things to make him happy.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself as she sat there with her head back against the head rest. She closed her eyes and tried to wash her thoughts, when Tan climbed in with Luca,

"Ok ok… Hey.. Nice job in there Chris…"

"Yeah way to go Alonso" Tan added holding up his fist for her to fist bump it. Chris leaned forward with a slight grin. "Thanks…. But it was a team effort" She added bumping Tans fist.

"Hey…" Luca said pointing out the window… as Chris's eyes followed his finger and drew across to see Street and Molly arm in arm next to the command trailer.

"What's the story with these two?" Luca asked as Molly hugged Street tightly against her and was looking up at him like a lovesick puppy. Tan swallowed hard knowing where Chris stood on the matter of Street and Molly.

"Oh well … he was her saviour today… so I guess she is feeling grateful" Tan tried calmly and nonchalantly as he eyed Chris. She sat in the back eyes closed and head back….. but Tan saw the grimace of pain on her face.

"hmmm…. She looks mighty thankful ….lucky bugger…..dating the bosses daughter… maybe he is actually that ballsy" Luca laughed.

Chris breathed in and out deeply and tried to ignore the conversation. After all she had been the one to push him away and tell him to get on with his own life. On the ride back to HQ she sat silently. Eyes closed or looking at the floor. She didn't want anyone to read her or see how she was feeling.

She made a quick exit once team debrief was through and was glad that she had not had to speak to Street since. She sat in her truck in the garage and sighed… would things ever feel ok between them again?

….

A few weeks passed by and Chris focused on rebuilding things with Kira and Ty. She tried to avoid Street and any mention of him as much as she could. She was driving through downtown to pickup take out on her day off when she stopped at the red light and drummed the wheel as she watched the people going about their Friday night.

Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach lurched when she saw Street walking down the sidewalk hand in hand with Molly. She sat frozen staring at them, as they stopped in front of an apartment building. A sharp pain shot through her heart as she watched he and Molly laugh before Molly pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss. Chris closed her eyes and looked away feeling tears welling up. As she glanced back, she saw Molly enter the building, blowing him a flirty kiss over her shoulder as Street stood waving and smiling at her with a goofy grin on his face.

Chris swallowed hard and flicked her eyes back to the road just as the lights changed to green. She drove away, glancing back in the mirror… watching him walk away and seeing him smile and glance over his shoulder to the door Molly just disappeared through.

"Fuck!" Chris blinked and muttered. "Why does it hurt so much?". The rest of her errand trip to grab dinner was a complete blur as she drove in a daze back to Ty and Kira's. Soon after arriving back with the food, she told them both she had a bad headache and wanted to go to bed.

She lay in her bed crying for a while, trying to pull it together. She knew though in her heart that she would never actually be over him. That this pushing him away just wasn't working like she hoped. She was glad he seemed happy but was devasted that he might actually be happy without her.

When the alarm sounded the next morning, she lay in a daze watching the shadows on her roof. She dreaded having to see him at HQ. She also dreaded seeing Ty or Kira out there and having to make small talk. She hated that that's how it felt right now. Swallowing her pride, she lifted herself out of bed and prepared to leave for shift.

"Morning, you feel better?" Kira asked as Chris emerged from her room and wandered into the kitchen.

"Hi, yeah I am ok.. time to solider on", Chris replied with a forced smile as Kira hugged her from behind.

"Well, hopefully we can all spend some more quality time together tonight" Kira said ducking under Chris's arm to stand in front of her. Chris smiled, "Yeah I'd like that" she said kissing Kira's forehead before turning around.

"I gotta go, I'll see you tonight"

"ok, be safe out there Chris" Kira said.

"Always" Chris replied kissing her softly and exiting to her truck.

That shift was pretty standard for Chris. A few warrants served, several bad guys arrested, and some time spent in the armoury. She was preparing to pack up for end of shift when she heard Tan and Street talking in the hall.

"So… another date with Molly tonight?" Tan asked with a playful tone.

Street chuckled a bit "No not tonight…. Just a quiet night in, you know me and Netflix. Luca has a hot date though"

Chris frowned and pursed her lips. She found herself imagining curling up on the couch with him to watch a movie. The smile was involuntarily spreading across her face when she was startled by his voice.

"Hey" he walked into the armoury and rested his hands on the table.

"Hey" she answered avoiding eye contact and busying herself with packing away the equipment.

"You ok?" he asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yep…I'm good" Chris answered… maybe a little too fast.

Street turned the corner of his mouth into a frown and his dimples quivered as he bit his lip, "You sure? cause it kind of….." he fidgeted nervously, "kind of feels like you are avoiding me".

Chris felt annoyed…. mostly out of embarrassment. She didn't say anything just gave him a look. A look that screamed "Are you serious?". She stood looking at him as he looked back at her…. Like he was waiting for something else…

"Ok…. Look I'm sorry…. I just…. I "

"You just what?" She blurted with a shortness to her voice.

"I miss you" Street said softly as he drew his eyes up to hers.

Instantly, Chris felt awful. She dropped her gaze to her feet and placed her hands on the table, before slowly looking up at him. "I am right here…. I see you almost every day". Her head tilted to the side questioningly… like she was clarifying what he actually meant.

"Yeah… but no …. I miss our conversations and connection" he stopped and glanced away. "you know what?" Street remembered Chris's words from the Charger, that he should just let go and get on with his life. "look….I'm sorry I should just go". He tapped his fingers on the table… "See you" and he turned to leave.

Every cell inside her wanted to tell him to stop, but as he began to turn to walk away, she felt a piece of her heart slide to the floor and shatter into a million pieces.

"I …..I…." Chris started as she lowered her head and held the table. He paused and turned, watching her struggling to find the words she needed. He stepped back inside the armoury a little closer to her than last time. She didn't look at him but managed "I miss you too" as her eyes gazed at the table.

Street felt a little smile, as a small part of her wall seemed to fall. "Then talk to me Chris" he said, stepping a fraction closer. Chris swallowed and breathed in. "I just did"

Street smiled and chuckled a bit…"Ok…I get you" he chewed his lip and nodded. "You know you need to work on this 'talking' thing… cause your rubbish at it"

Chris grinned and looked away. "Yeah ok" she answered shaking her head… a lighter tone in her voice.

"Can we be friends?" he asked with a shake to his voice. Chris closed her eyes and lowered her head to the table before standing up and looking him in the eye.

"I will always be your friend, even if there's a distance sometimes. I will always be here" She said as her smile grew. Street bit his lip a little and smiled. "Good, because I need you" he said.

Chris nodded and smiled. "I …. yeah I need you too". Streets smile grew bigger and he stepped forward arms wide offering her a hug. Chris reluctantly let him hug her, and if she was being honest, savoured every milli second of it.

"We good?" Street said pulling back with a smile.

"Yeah, we are", she smiled back.

"Ok…" He let her go and stepped away, turning back with a smile, "see you tomorrow" he said.

"Yeah, I'll be here" she answered with a smile, as she watched him walk away. Slowly closing her eyes and exhaling as her head swirled.