Two weeks later Tan and Chris were boxing again after the shift. He was glad she had accepted that offer and it was obviously good for her. Tan felt that things were looking up.
But it was another one of those nights. Chris wasn't doing well. Chris wanted, needed a drink to get rid of her dark thoughts, the pain of Erika's loss and to forget her confusion over the mess with Street. The door opening pulls her back to the room and when she turns her head away squinting at the intruder she sees Street walking in."Hey, sorry, I didn't know you were still here. Shall I go out again?" he offers. " No, it's okay. I´m almost done." she said silently. " Chris can we talk, please? I'm worried about you. " He sat down carefully next to her on the bench and looked at her. "I'm fine. You and Tan don't have to worry. " she couldn't look him in the eyes. " I know I've done a lot wrong, but I want to be a good friend to you now. You need help. " he tried to get through to her again. " Street, you're not my friend anymore. Not after everything that happened. We are colleagues and that´s it. I don't need your help, I'll be fine. " He couldn't even look as fast as she had gotten up, grabbed her backpack and was gone. He was frustrated and sad. She was so cold and dismissive, he didn't know what else to try to get her to just listen to him. He changed his clothes and went home. How was this supposed to work from now on?
That same evening, Tan came by and Street told him about his attempt to talk to her. " Well, that's backfired. " was Tan´s assessment. " I don't have a chance she'll even listen to me. I could drop dead and she would just walk past me. " Street said depressed. Tan patted his shoulder and tried to support his buddy.
Friday night and a free weekend were ahead of the team, just what Chris thought she needed. She walked what could by now be considered her bar. She ordered a double vodka and it didn´t end with that one. A guy at the bar had his eye on her and invited her for another drink. " Hey, I'm Scott, I like you. " Hey. " Chris replied. They had a few shots and left the bar together. Chris thought a little distraction wouldn't hurt. At his home he grabbed a bottle of vodka out of his fridge and although Chris had more than enough, she drank. They spent the night together.
Early in the morning, it was still dark, she crawled out and wanted to run straight home. She listened to music on her AirPods and was deep in thought. Why couldn't Street just leave her alone? He was so persistent. Eventually, she would not be able to maintain her facade and would crack, she was aware of that. She had to keep him at arm's length, no matter what. She barely pays attention to the traffic and crossed the road. Glittering lights brought her back from her thoughts, but by the time she turned it was already too late. The car drove straight towards her. Instinctively she jumped to the side but the car touched her briefly. She was lying in the ditch and heard a loud bang. The car had hit a pole. Shortly afterwards she heard a curse and quick steps running in her direction. " Hello? Oh, god, are you okay? I saw you too late, I'm so sorry. " the man's words pounced on Chris. She was still a little out of it and couldn't answer right away. The man helped her to her feet and put her on a bench nearby. " I'm fine. I think I just have a few bruises. " she tried to smile at the man so he would believe her. She touched her right temple and regretted it. It hurt a lot and she had blood on her fingers. " You're drunk. " the man remarked. " I'm going to call the police so they can record the accident. " Wait a minute, I'll call my colleague at the LAPD quickly, he'll take care of it. " Okay, whatever you say, as long as my car is repaired. " She looked at her watch, it was 5:05 a.m. and she knew she didn´t want anyone to see her here, she was too embarrassed because she was drunk. She took her phone out of her pocket and dialed Tans number. " Come on, pick up. " she was impatient. " Hey Chris what's going on?" When he saw her name on the display and the time, he knew that something bad had happened. " Tan, thank god. I need your help. I had an accident". "Are you all right?" he interrupted her. " yes, but just a scratch. I had a drink in the evening and now I was on my way home and shit, I didn't see the car. " I see. But I can't come Chris. " Panic spread throughout her. " Oh great." he heard her say. " I have a good friend, he's very discreet and he'll help you. I'll call him if you want. He's a great guy really. " Chris wasn't thrilled, but she trusted Tan and needed help. "Okay, call him. I'm at the corner of Slauson and Crenshaw. Tell him to hurry, please. " " He'll be there in a few minutes Chris." and the conversation was over.
Street was still in the land of dreams when his phone rang. He tried to ignore it. It couldn't be anything good at this hour. It didn't stop and he was annoyed. " Oh, man. You can't even sleep in peace. " he looked at the display and quickly picked up. " Hey Tan what's up?" "Chris had an accident, she's fine or so she says. " He explained the location and at what corner he would find her. " I'm on my way. " Street hung up, grabbed his jeans and shirt, and was out the door.
He drove like a maniac and not ten minutes later he saw Chris sitting on the bench holding her forehead. " This can't be happening now. Tan I hate you. " was the first thing she could say. She sighed and rolled her eyes. " Hey, are you okay? You're bleeding. " Street came running up to her with a worried look on his face. " I'm fine, just a scratch. So you're Tan's buddy." Street couldn't help but grin slightly. " Yes. A very discreet, super guy. " " Oh come on Street." Chris was annoyed. " Ah here he comes." Chris was curious who would get out of the tow truck now. She recognized him immediately, it was Whip. " Hey, guys. Ouch, that doesn't look nice. I'll see what I can do about that. " " Hello sir. " Whip introduced himself to the driver. " I'm a car mechanic and I'll fix up your sweetheart, for free of course. " The man was suprised, but was pleased and didn't ask any questions either. Street and Whip greeted each other. " Hey Whip, thanks a lot for bailing me out. " "It's all good, Chris. Street's friends are mine, too. " he smiled at her. She had to swallow after that sentence.
After Whip towed the car, Chris and Street walked to his Charger. After they got in, there was a deafining silence. " What are you waiting for? Come on drive. " Street didn't move, but just stared straight ahead. After a couple of moments he turned to her and looked at her. " You've been drinking. You smell like a whole liquor cabinet. " The words hit her harder than she expected. It kind of hurt her that that was his first thought. " So what if? That's none of your business, Street. I just had a nice evening with Scott. " After saying that, she narrowed her eyes. Damn. Why did I mention Scott? "Who's Scott?" was all he could say. " Not important. " she replied barely audible. Street griped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Chris noticed that and "You don't have to worry about him!" left her mouth; which she immediately regret. Oh, Chris. Why do you say that?
Street drove to Chris' apartment. When they were there, he went upstairs with her. Chris wanted to protest, but secretly she wanted him close. Silently they took the lift to the third floor and went inside. Street looked around, it was clean, there was no garbage, no alcohol bottles. " Where do you have your first aid kit?" Street asked. She frowned and pointed at a kitchen cupboard. He took it out and dug around in it. " What are you looking for?" it came questioning from Chris. " Disinfectants, compresses and patches. You're still bleeding, remember?" She moved her finger back to the spot and flinched at the contact. "Hands off. " it came from Street "and sit down. I'll see to it. " She did as he said. He cleaned the wound with the care that Chris loved about him. Again and again she tried to look him in the eyes, but she dared not. She preferred to look at the table. Street fastened the patch and made sure it stuck well to her temple. " Et Voila, all done. " he threw the used compresses in the trash and saw two empty vodka bottles. Chris tried to stop him, but it was too late. " Bloody hell Chris, you're not serious, are you?" he was so angry and almost shouted the words as he took out the two bottles and threw them full force into the sink. They splintered into a thousand pieces. Chris cringed and tears formed in her eyes. She tried to swallow them away. "I thought you were on the mend Chris?! And now THIS?" he pointed to the individual parts of the bottles. " You can't go on like this. You're breaking yourself and I won't let you!" Chris just sat on the kitchen chair and felt like she was getting smaller and smaller. She looked down at her hands resting on her lap. Street knelt in front of her. " Chris, please look at me. I'm just trying to help you. Tan wants to help you, but you have to let us. If you continue to compartmentalize and drink and whatnot, it can't have a good ending. You're breaking. " his last words were a whisper and he had tears in his eyes. "Please let me finish now. If you want to throw me out after this and never see me again, okay, but then let Tan help you, please. " he took a deep breath, Chris was still looking at her hands, but after Street's words tears ran down her cheeks. "I know you hate me. " Chris wanted to say something. " Hey, I want you to let me finish, okay?" she nodded. " I can't even blame you for hating me. I've screwed up so much in the past, with Molly, with you, with the team. I never intended to hurt any of you. You, the team, you're my family. You guys showed me in my time with my mom that it's worth not giving up trust in people. You showed it to me, Chris. No one has ever fought for me like you did. Thanks to you, I am the way I am today. Whether that´s a good thing or not, you decide. " he smiled slightly at her and Chris had to smile for a moment too, but she didn't look at him.
" After Erika's death. . ." he had to swallow. " I realized how quickly life can be over, especially for us. When I was on my way home, I knew I had to tell you how much you meant to me. " Chris looked him in the eyes carefully. "I know my timing sucked and yes, I should have talked to Molly first, but the need to talk to you was so great Chris. I'm so sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to hurt you. " He took a deep breath. " I don't expect things to go back to the way they were between us, at least not right away, but please let me help you, as a friend. I can't lose you, and if that means forgoing your love, I'll take it. The most important thing is that you get away from this shit and maybe, eventually, you can accept me as a friend again. There's nothing I'd like better. I've often not been a good friend to you in the past. Now I have the opportunity to make it all up to you and return the favor. So now I'm done." He said with a slight smirk on his face. Chris was speechless. No one had ever spoken to her so sincerely before. Street revealed his feelings to her and she was truly touched by his warmth. She gathered herself to be able to say something. " Street - I appreciate your honesty, I really do. Thank you for taking care of me today, even though I've been so horrible and mean to you these past few weeks. I don't want the whole thing either. I don't want to be like my mom. " now she was crying. Street dared and took her hands in his. "You'll never be that way, you hear me? " They looked into each other's eyes. " After the accident earlier, I realized that it doesn't work like that anymore. I miss my uncle and my aunt, I miss the team, I miss you. I pushed you all away so I could drink in peace. I'm so ashamed. " she sniffled and took a deep breath. She looked him in the eyes again. " Would you and Tan really still help me?" Street couldn't help himself and pulled her into a hug. " Of course, Chris. What do you think? We're here for you. God, finally you're coming to your senses and stop being so stubborn. " Chris pulled back enough for her to look at him. " Don't push it too far Street. We have a lot of work to do on us to get things back to normal, and you can't get rid of my stubbornness either. " she grinned slightly. " It was worth a shot. "