Okay, anyone still remember this? No? Okay, this is the final chapter. I decided to stop this story. I still hope you like this chapter. Thank you for following along.
Chris looks around the apartment. Erika already left for work, a soft squeaking sound from behind the sofa tells her Billie is happily playing with one of her toys. She thinks back to how this past year started. How lost she had felt at times and how she had found her way back.
How she had found a new purpose, despite the chaos an unseen force had sent her way.
Chris twirls her phone in her fingers, there is one more thing she needs to do before she can go in today. Ignoring the issue any longer will lead to even more friction and probably destroy what is left of their friendship and she had realized over the last couple of days that is the last thing she wants.
Her fingers type the suggestion to meet for coffee quickly and mere seconds later she receives the confirmation.
Deep breaths, you can do this.
Two weeks ago, she had gotten the suggestion from Valdez to become Billie's permanent handler and finish her training as a team. They had given her some time to think it over and deep in her heart Chris knew what she wanted. What she needed to do.
When she arrives at the café with Billie, she can already see him sitting at an outside table studying the menu.
"Hey, thanks for meeting me. I think we need to talk." Chris mumbles quietly when she steps up to the table. And even though her eyes are low she can see his quirked eyebrow.
"Yes, I just said that." She adds a little exasperated while plopping down in her chair.
"Look I am a person, a human being with hopes and dreams."
A vibration from his turned over phone stops Chris in her track and she studies he friend curiously. He quickly checks and then silences the call.
"What?" he tries to shrug off her questioning glance.
"Have you called them back and found out what is going on?" Chris asks. "I know why you want to keep your distance from your mom, and I support that, but I also know you. You will regret…"
"Ah, I already did. But we were talking about you, and your decision. What does the human being Chris Alonso want? The one that exists behind the police officer?" he quickly interrupts and changes the subject back to her and flashes a challenging smile. But Chris knows this tactic too well to fall for it.
"No, you don't get to hide. What is wrong?"
He raises his eyebrows again and she can clearly read the seriously on his face.
They both just stare at each other quietly. Neither willing to start talking until Chris finally decides to break the silence.
"Look, I get it. This thing between us, it is complicated but we can't let our emotions cloud our judgment or affect our work and it clearly has. Or Tan wouldn't have started asking questions. "Chris slowly broaches the topic. "But I can't help but worry about you. Especially if you are dodging phone calls from a hospital and hiding behind your work or that smirk." She points to his face.
„Don't worry about me. I'll deal with my mom in my own way. You asked me here so, what's on your mind?" he states once again and leans back in his chair.
"Okay. I wanted you to be the first to know and I guess I need you to understand this has nothing to do with you. This is about me and where I want to go in my career." Chris starts her explanation. "They asked me to become Billie's permanent handler and I am going to accept that offer."
Billie had been lying under the table motionless now lifts her head and softly barks as if to solidify that statement.
"What does that mean for you in terms of SWAT?" Jim asks from across the table trying to process what she is telling him. "I mean you always wanted another dog so can you do both? SWAT and K9?"
Chris can clearly hear the insecurity in his voice and just when she is about to start talking Billie surprises both of them by getting up and putting her head on his knee.
Chris smiles softly he remembered. "If my little project didn't convince them it can work I probably have to transfer to K9 full time. But hey, I'll still be in the division and I won't stop my training."
Street almost absentmindedly pets Billie's head but he jerks up when his phone vibrates again.
"Now you get to explain that to me. Seems important if they call this often." Chris motions to the device.
"Turns out my mom is dying," Street offers with a strange inflection on dying making Chris weary of the situation. "They tell me she needs a liver transplant and they want me to come in and get tested."
"Oh, and? Are you going to do it?" Chris asks and reaches across the table. She isn't Karen's biggest fan but she still remembers how torn Street was when she was missing or how broken he was after he sent her back to jail.
He shrugs helplessly. "I don't know honestly. Why should I help her? All she ever did was make my life complicated. But on the other hand, she is my mother and I guess I am only alive because of her."
Chris pulls her chair around the table and sits next to him.
"Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Just think this through and maybe talk to Hicks and Hondo about what it would mean donating a piece of your liver first."
They spend the rest of their time talking about this and that and Billie takes turns at begging for attention from both of them.
At the end of that coffee date, Chris has the feeling, that their friendship is back on track and that they will work out whatever awkwardness is still around.