The SWAT parking lot was usually trafficked, but somehow Luca had managed to find an open spot incredibly close to the entrance. Had he asked for a favor, Street asked himself while heat raised to his head, like making sure a parking space reserved for the disabled had been reserved for him?
"Here we are," Luca said, killing the engine. His smile had been unsettlingly wide for the last couple of days since the very instant Street had told him he would have needed a lift to the office this morning. "Ready to come back?" he asked, laying his expectant deep-blue eyes on him.
Was he ready? Expectations had built up inside him for more than a week when his therapists had prospected him of the possibility of going back to work soon. He'd desired this day with all his might for what seemed ages. He wanted to be back, but could this be considered being back?
"What's wrong?" Luca raised his eyebrows. "You forgot something?"
"I'm good," Street exhaled, then tried to sound more confident. "I'm ready." He zipped his SWAT sweater up to its full length to better cover up for the back-brace he still had to wear. Why were his hands shaking? "Wait, you didn't set up another surprise?" He eyed his friend suspiciously. "Did you?"
"No. Cross my heart. Not after the last time."
"Good." Street nodded and opened the truck door. The act of getting out of vehicles with the back-brace on had by now become natural, even smooth.
Luca met him with his crutches, which he placed firmly under his sore armpits. Hell, they had promised him a cane, and he couldn't wait to use it. Dang. When did his heart desire settle down to the wish of changing crutches into a cane instead of driving sportive cars or fancy motorcycles?
"Come on, it will be so good to have you around at the HQ. Why are you so nervous?"
"I don't know. I feel like I'm the new guy on my first day of school."
"Oh, come on! Everyone here can't wait to have you back."
"Yeah," Street sighed, trying to force a smile. He wasn't really back, or at least, the guy who was back at work today wasn't exactly the same person who left over three months ago.
Luca peered at him intently. "Spit it up. What's really going on in that head of yours?"
Street sighed, leaning back to Luca's truck. "It's this," he gestured at himself. "All this. Everyone will look at me and what they will see is this."
"Come on, man," Luca smiled a heartwarming smile. "Since when have you become shy?".
"Since I'm drawing pity looks on myself, and people don't know what to say when they see me and treat me like an invalid."
"What are you talking about? They are all cheering for you in there."
Street heaved a sigh; his chest felt full of lead. "Yeah, of course they are..."
"Alright, don't think about the others. It'll feel good working again, even if just in the bullpen."
Street's eyes darted up at Luca. "That's how you would feel? Not able to run to action with the rest of the team?"
Luca sighed, his smile quivering for the first time this morning. "It's only temporary."
"Yeah." Street drew a deep breath, repeating it to himself before saying it aloud again. "It's only a matter of time."
"For sure I prefer to have you under my watch for all the time I can."
"You're not babysitting me today," Street said, straightening himself on his feet with the crutches' help. "Nor ever."
"I'm just saying you gave me a second heart attack four days ago, and I'm not up to repeat the experience a third time."
"It was just a fever. It lasted less than 24 hours."
"Yeah, but when I found you all sweaty and exhausted on the couch after Chris had brought you home from the therapy, with the ice pack on the floor and…"
Street tightened his grip on the crutches. "Sorry."
"But you're fine now," Luca brightened again. "And you're back to work."
"Yeah, I really feared that little seat-back would have pushed off my return to work since I had to slow down therapy these last few days, but here I am." He finally started to limp-walk toward the entrance. Had everything gone as planned, he may have had the chance to go through those doors with a cane, if not even without the brace too, but no, he couldn't be that lucky. Here he was, his torso still rigid and his armpits sore and bit battered. He took a deep breath and turned to Luca. "You're not coming? We're running late."
As they set foot inside the HQ, the echo of the crutches hitting the linoleum floor spread ahead of them, and all heads turned to him, just as he'd expected. The hallway seemed to be way longer than he remembered, and he couldn't walk as fast or pass as unnoticed as he would like to.
Phrases like "Welcome back," or "Hey, Street! It's good to see you," or again, "Good to have you back," reached his ears, accompanied with all kinds of smiles. Most of those were sincerely happy and cheering, but some, as he predicted, were uncertain and weak. All those smiles had a thing in common though, they would fade as soon as the person wearing it thought Street's attention was not on him anymore. Street could feel it. Just as he said to Luca outside his truck. Most people didn't know how to handle seeing him as an invalid as much as he didn't know how to handle being treated like one.
"Well, well, well." Hondo got off the ring and approached Luca and Street with Deacon in his wake. "Look who we have here."
"Hey, boss. Deac." Street's day brightened instantly at the sight of their expressions, but then he got distracted by 50-David in full gear, coming back from an early call by the look of it.
"They do really let just anyone in these days," Munford said, trying hard to keep a straight tone and face. "Hey, Rocker, you sure you and Luca are not doing a sloppy job with training at the academy? 'Cause it seems this kid rookie here took his sweet time to get back on the job after his little accident."
Rocker smirked widely. "Oh, we're doing more than a fine job. Have you seen Davlin on 60-David? Street only was the second choice."
"Alright old men," Street said, ignoring Luca's concerned look on him. It would take more than a little teasing from these two to dent his confidence. "Give me just a bunch of days to get rid of these things" —he nodded down to the crutches— "and we'll settle this on the ring. What about it?"
"Make it in half the time, and I'm in," Munford said, hardly containing a smile.
Before Street could answer, deal, Hondo cut it, "Hey, don't start messing with my men now. The kid is already stubborn enough without your encouragement."
"What?" Munford threw him an I'm-innocent look. "You know I'm just trying to make sure the smart-ass has his head and heart in the right place."
"Thanks," Street said, accepting the light nudge and fistbumps. "It's good to see too, guys,"
"What? You're back?" Tan's voice reached the small group before he ran to them, followed by Chris. He looked Street up and down, then turned back to the smirking Chris. "You knew he would come back today and didn't tell me?"
"I asked her to," Street interjected.
"I'm most surprised Luca didn't tell us," Deacon said, patting Luca on the back.
"Hey, Evans," Luca called for the man Street had seen just once many weeks ago with his team at the hospital. "I don't think you two have been officially introduced."
Evans drew himself there and squared Street for a few seconds. "So you're back, but you're not back, right?"
Yep, his friends had been right on the new guy. Street resisted the urge to punch him in the face, instead, he held out his hand for him to shake. "Yeah, I'll be grounded to the bullpen for a while still."
"Good," he smirked. "I mean, it's good to see you on your feet. That time I saw you in that hospital bed, man, let me tell you this, you looked halfway there more than—"
"We got a general idea, thanks," Deacon said before someone else could take the chance to be less gentle.
"Okay," Street awkwardly smiled. "Let's not make a big deal now." The feel of having all the looks on him started to weigh on him. "The fact I'm only working part-time doesn't mean I can slack off."
"Told you," Munford waved at them while heading to the briefing room with the rest of 50-David. "Sloppy job!"
"Alright, alright," Hondo said, raising his arms. "The kid is right for once. Let's get back to work, everyone."
Street left his team behind and, excruciatingly slow, headed to the offices. Being back like that was even more awkward than expected but also the most wonderful sensation he'd felt in months. Even better than being back at Luca's place. This, this was home, and that was his family.
... ... ...
Luca emerged from his locker with the cell phone in his hand and joy spreading across his face. "Beers at my place tonight?"
Puzzled eyes converged on him, but his smile didn't falter.
"I thought you were taking things easy with Street this time," Chris objected. Do I need to remind you that last time we threw him a welcome back party things didn't exactly go as you guys had planned it?"
"We?" Tan shook his head.
"She has a point, though," Deacon said.
"But when Street left earlier, he seemed to have everything together, right?" Tan turned his look to Chris. "You chatted with him quite a bit while he waited for his Uber. How was he?"
"He said he felt good, but he still had therapy this afternoon."
"He had," Luca confirmed, "and he managed to take a nap after it, then fetch some beers and order pizza." He proudly showed them the text their friend had sent him minutes ago. "Inviting the Team over was actually his idea."
Broad smiles took over 20-Davids's faces, and excitement got almost tangible.
"Well, I have to pass," Evans said, giving for granted the fact that the invitation did extend to him too. "I've got a chick waiting for me and—"
"Okay, too much detail there," Tan protested.
"Oh, it's a shame, really," Chris said, taking up her backpack.
"I guess it is," Evans winked. "I never say no to free beer and pizza."
"I meant for that poor girl," she continued, making Luca and Tan stifle laughs.
"Ouch."
"Alright, kids," Hondo intervened. "I have something on my hands too, but I guess I can make a quick appearance."
"Same for me," Deacon said, closing his locker.
"Let's go then." Luca glanced at the time on his phone. "One quick beer, and you'll still be home before the kid's bedtime." He forced his smile to stay up, still big and bright. It wouldn't be a real 20-David party without Hondo and Deacon staying for long, but that would have to do for today. "Street will appreciate it anyway."
They all took separate vehicles, except for Chris, who accepted Luca's lift. She was prepared to stay until late hours and drink a few beers, so Uber home seemed the safest option afterward.
Street's relaxed expression when the whole team got to him was the most exciting yet normal part of Luca's day. This was how it should always have been. How it should always be. The whole family together. Huge smirks on everyone's face.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice, guys," Street welcomed them in.
"So, how was the first day of school?" Luca teased him, carefully testing how far he could go.
"Just as it was supposed to, I guess," he shrugged, and while doing so, he tightened the grasp on the crutches. "Boring."
"I bet it," Tan said, reaching out for a cold beer. The others imitated him.
Luca raised his bottle. "Let's toast to new beginnings."
They all clinked their bottles together and took a swing.
"To come back stronger and get rid of every unnecessary piece of equipment," Street said, opening his shirt and revealing no back-brace under it.
"You mean—" Luca started, his skin tingling.
"I still need to use the brace when standing for long periods, but I'll get rid of it completely pretty soon, and by next week, goodbye crutches and welcome cane." He smiled quite shyly, the dimples on his cheeks more pronounced than ever. "My armpits can't wait for it."
Laughter erupted in the house, and Tan was the first one to speak, "And I can't wait to see you walking around like you're an old-fashioned aristocrat."
Street scoffed. "At least I know who not to ask to pick up the cane for me." His lips curved in the most genuine smile. "Who knows what shape the head would have if I charge Tan with that choice."
Some more laughs and some more jokes into the evening, and Luca, Tan, Chris, and Street remained alone eating pizza. Luca moved to the fridge to provide for some more cool beers, and when he looked back at his friends, he couldn't believe how hard he'd missed all this in the last three months. The sounds of happiness, the mocks, the lightness were everything. He'd thrown occasional parties and gathered with Tan and Chris a few times, but knowing Street was all alone in that hospital bed while they were there having fun together had never felt completely right.
But now Street was back. Back for real, in body and mind. Luca settled down across from him, and his friend's smile meant everything to him. After all he went through, he deserved far more than this little sparkle of joy, however, this was an excellent start.
... ... ...
A/N: Thank you all for the continuate support.
I've been debating with myself if I shouldn't just end the story here, it accidentally sounded a good-to-go, but I guess I still have a couple of loose ends to tie, and a couple more chapters are due to reach the ending I've had in mind since the beginning of this journey. Let's try this.