3
Christopher frowned slightly as he thought about what Sonja had said. Dwayne was coming to their place to discuss the future. He had been on sick leave for almost six months and knew a decision had to be made one way or another. He either had to go back to work or he had to accept his time in NCIS was over. He stared ahead trying to work out if the idea of not going back to NCIS made him more angry or sad. He loved the team - Tammy had annoyed the Hell out of him when she had arrived but now he classed her as one of his closest friends. Heck, she was family as much as Miss Loretta, Sebastian and Hannah were. He knew they would be
glad to see him back just as they had all been glad to have Paton back following his motorcycle accident years earlier.
"Hey." He looked up to see his best friend and boss in the doorway. "Sonja let me in."
"Come on in." Christopher smiled as Dwayne stepped into the room. "You ok?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"
"If I had a dollar for every single time I was asked that question I'd be in the Bahamas by now." Christopher smiled. Dwayne sat on the sofa opposite him. "Where's Sonja?"
"She was heading out. Said she didn't want to get in the way of our boys night." He smirked as Christopher remembered an argument years earlier where Sonja had been annoyed at not being included just because she was female.
"I think she is a little nervous about you coming here."
"No need to be." Dwayne shook his head. "I am so happy you two sorted yourselves out. We all knew you were supposed to be together, shame it took what it did for you both to get the message."
Christopher laughed. "You should tell her that."
"I have."
"Pride, listen. I have been giving it a lot of thought and I want you to know it wasn't an easy decison.
"Chris."
"No, hear me out."
"Ok, ok." Dwayne had a feeling he was not going to like what his friend was about to say.
"I'm coming back to work. Monday."
"You are?" Dwayne smiled. "That's great."
"I mean, I will never be a field officer like I was but I still have a working brain. Even if my legs have decided to take early retirement."
"You were shot in the spine."
"I know. I was there." Christopher paused. "And the man responsible is now dead. I can't live my life not doing what I'm good at. And I am a good detective."
"That you are."
"So, Monday."
"Monday." Dwayne agreed.
"There's beer in the fridge." Christopher wheeled out of the room knowing he had made the right decision. It was time to start living his life again. He just hoped he was still able to fit into a team he hadn't been part of for months. He had a feeling that things had changed, he just hoped he could run with the new way of things. It was certainly going to be a challenge, he just hoped he was up to it.
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