A/N: Hello readers! New fandom for me - but I've written quite a few stories on this site. Love Stris and I'm going to miss Lina SO much, but I have faith that their relationship will continue off-screen with maybe a cameo or two (fingers crossed). I can't believe SWAT has been on for 5 seasons and there are so few stories on this site! Anyway, I binge watched the entire series this summer and when I finished, this one-shot was born! I hope you enjoy - and I don't own anything because obviously this would be canon and Lina would still be on the show :)

"I can't believe we finally got our first date – at Paul's Chop House, no less."

Chris laced her fingers through mine while her other hand clutched the doggie bag that held the remainder of her broccolini and burger, as we walked down the block to where my bike was parked. It had been a long two weeks at work without her on 20 squad to have my six, and though we had texted and called each other every day, I hadn't seen her since the night of her farewell party at the rooftop bar with our whole team. I understood that the women in the safehouse came first now, just like SWAT was still my top priority – but being without her these past fourteen days had been nothing short of torture.

"So, what's the verdict?" she laughed, swinging our clasped hands. "Are we a terrible couple?"

Her words brought me back to the night last year when we thought there was no more 20 squad – that Hondo had left and wasn't coming back. I told her that we hadn't even been on a date yet, and that for all we knew, we could be a terrible couple. But then Hondo came back from Mexico, 20 squad was back in action, and once again, the question of us was sidelined.

I stopped on the sidewalk and turned so that I was looking her full in the face. "Nothing's changed for me, Chris. I told you last year I was done pretending I didn't have feelings for you – like Luca said, you and me, it works."

Chris surged to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine as I dropped her hand to wrap my arms around her, pulling her body into mine. When air became necessary, I pulled back enough to pant in her ear, "I love you."

She leaned her forehead against mine. "Take me home with you, Street."

I fought to keep the smirk off my face, but my dimples flashed anyway. "Don't you have to get home to keep an eye on things?"

She shook her head. "I made some arrangements – just for tonight – the women are being looked after. Is Luca at the house?"

"No. He's staying overnight with Terry – they have plans tomorrow since the team is off."

"So, we'd have the place to ourselves?"

I grinned. "Let's go."

"Do you always wake up with that dopey expression on your face?"

I dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder as I wrapped her up in my arms. "Only when I wake up next to my dream girl-"

Chris' shoulders shook in silent laughter. "You're impossible –" she rolled to face me, her eyes sparkling in the early morning light. "Thank you for being patient with me – I know how close you came to giving up on me – on us. The day I decided to quit SWAT – and you tried to get me to admit how I felt – and then you said you were done – I thought I'd lost you for good." Her eyes grew wet with tears, and I reached out to cup her cheek, caressing her soft skin.

"Hey, don't do this to yourself. That's all done with – we're here, together now. I don't think I could have ever really given up on us-"

Chris' eyebrows rose in disbelief. "Really? You were so mad and hurt that day-"

I blew out a breath. "I know I was, but I still loved you. And if I'm being honest, I had one more idea of how to get you to admit your feelings for me."

She gave me a smile. "And what was your grand plan?"

"I was going to give you my letter-" I let my words sink in and watched as realization dawned on her face.

"The letter? Street, I'm not supposed to read that letter unless –I don't ever want to read it! It would be bad luck-"

I laughed. "Chris, come on, you and I don't believe in all that superstitious nonsense-"

"There's still no reason to tempt fate."

I dropped a short, swift kiss on her lips. "Well, I wouldn't give you my current letter – just the old ones."

She frowned. "You've written me more than one letter?"

I nodded and rolled away from her to open the drawer of my nightstand and pulled out a short stack of envelopes. I sat up in the bed and waited until she was sitting next to me, her upper body wrapped in the bedsheet. "Here, I want you to read them. I was going to give them to you as a farewell gift for leaving SWAT but then you said no presents and we were never alone on that last day anyway so-" I shrugged.

"Street," she sighed my name and stared at the envelopes in my hand. "I don't know-"

"Please. There's nothing to be afraid of-"

She moved to sit in front of me on the bed, leaning back against my chest, both of us covered up by the sheets. "If, you're sure?"

I nodded and placed the stack in her hands. "The first one is the one I wrote under duress – because Tan and Luca were horrified that I hadn't written one – so there's not much to it."

I watched as Chris opened the envelope and slipped the yellow lined notebook paper out, her eyes skimming the words on the page.

'Dear Chris – I'm writing this under duress because Tan and Luca will probably have heart attacks if I don't. I can't believe that I've been on the force for years and haven't known about having a letter in my locker. Perhaps this is something only SWAT officers or the bomb squad does since they come into situations on a daily basis where they could die. You're less likely to get blown up or get shot at writing traffic citations in Long Beach. Anyway, if you're reading this, I've been killed in the line of duty. I just want to say thank you for having my six and for being a friend. I haven't had many people in my life that I consider true friends, people that I can call on no matter what time of day or night, and they will be there for me. You, Chris Alonso, are one of those people. I hope that I am one of those people for you. J. Street'

"You were, Street," Chris whispered. "I know that I didn't show it – that I had walls up even then – but you were always important to me."

"I remember when you told me that – I thought it was the nicest compliment I'd ever gotten." I tapped the next envelope. "The second letter – well, I wrote it shortly after our first kiss-"

Chris groaned. "Do I want to read this one?"

I opened the envelope and shook open the paper, holding it so that she could see the words.

'Chris- I'm writing you this in my letter because you won't let me talk to you about this in person and you can't stop me now that I'm dead. I don't know why you are fighting so hard not to talk about this – insisting that nothing happened, that nothing can happen between us. I understand that you don't date cops because of something that happened in your past and I understand that things are different for you then me because you are the only woman in SWAT. Hell, I even understand that you are trying to make things work with Ty and Kira even though I know they are wrong for you. What I don't understand is why can't you see that I'm different? I'm not the same cocky, wise ass Street that walked through the door almost two years ago and that it's all because of you. You made me a better man – you pushed me to grow up, to hold myself accountable and take responsibility for my actions, and it's thanks to you that I'm even back on SWAT. You're my best friend – but I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't feel more than friendship when we kissed. And I know you felt something too because you responded – you kissed me back, Chris. I think that the two of us could have something great – something more than friendship, something more than partners, something more than what you have going on with Ty and Kira. But I know that if you are reading this letter, it's too late and I'm gone. The last thing I want to do is leave you with regret, Chris. Maybe someday, you will let me talk to you about all this instead of me having to tell it to you in a good-bye letter. J. Street.'

Chris turned and wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my neck. "No more, please – I can't-"

I rubbed my arms up and down her back. "Chris – this is all water under the bridge. We're here – in bed together after an amazing first date, if I do say so myself."

"Awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"

"Just looking around at the evidence." I dropped a kiss on top of her head. "I want you to read these – to see how much I loved you – no matter how many times you pushed me away."

Chris sighed against me. "There's a reason you don't read these letters until the person is dead, Street. How many more are there?"

"Just one more, babe-"

She lifted her head to glare at me. "What did you call me?"

"Babe?" I swallowed nervously. "Is that okay?"

"Hmm, only in private and never 'baby', ok?"

I nodded and held out the last letter. "I wrote this one after Erika died-"

Chris shrank back against my chest, and I knew she was steeling herself for the words inside. I lifted a hand and rubbed it up and down her spine.

"Do you remember when I came over to your apartment – and I told you if it had been you that died – I wouldn't have survived?"

Chris nodded.

"There was more – I was going to say-"

"I know."

"You stopped me."

"I wasn't ready – I was so raw – Erika's death – I was afraid if you said it – I'd fall into your arms and never let go – and that mistake could have destroyed us because you were still with Molly."

I nodded slowly. "I was angry at first, but then I understood why you threw me out that day. You were stronger than I was – "

"Barely." She lifted her eyes to meet mine. "I don't know that I'm strong enough to read this one."

"Do you want me to read it to you?"

Chris nodded and snuggled further into my chest as I began to read aloud.

'Chris, Death does funny things to people. I guess I should say that everyone handles death differently. Some of us get angry and punch walls or people. Some of us get sad and drink our sorrows away – or try too anyway. Some of us pretend that everything is fine and just go on as usual until something makes us snap and we explode. Everyone on the team handled Erika's death in their own way – or I should say, they are still handling it. Which brings me to the point of writing these letters. This is the third one that I have written to you in the hopes that you never have to read it. The day I went over to your apartment and tried to explain to you how I felt, and you cut me off before I could get the words out- I saw the fear and knowledge on your face. You knew what I was going to say and I'm going to say it now because you can't stop me this time. I love you, Chris. Not just as a friend and teammate, but as a man loves a woman. Last week you said you didn't want to be caught in the middle of me and Molly and whatever game I was playing, but there is no game. I ended our relationship because she deserves a man who is completely in love with her; and that's not me. My feelings for you have been growing stronger ever since we kissed and then when you got shot and went down in that apartment when we were chasing Diablo, just for a moment, I thought that was it, that I'd lost you. It was in that moment I knew I loved you. I know, I know, I should have broken up with Molly then, but you had made it clear that we were an impossibility and so I pushed my feelings for you down and gave my relationship with Molly a chance. It wasn't until Erika's death that I realized I couldn't do it anymore – not to Molly or you or me. I love you, Chris Alonso. And one day I hope you realize you love me too – before you read this letter. J. Street.'

Chris took the letter from my hands, and pushed me back down to the mattress, lying down on top of me. "Do you know how much I love you, Jim Street?"

I shook my head slowly.

She lifted her hands and ran her fingers through my hair, lingering at my temples. "When we kissed, the first time, I pushed you away because I didn't want to lose the incredible friendship we had – but of course, everything had already changed because neither one of us could stop thinking about it. And then Erika died, and then you wanted to donate a piece of your liver and I got scared that I could lose you – so I decided to not even entertain the idea of loving you. But of course, I already did – I had loved you for so long –"

I smirked. "How long?"

She rolled her eyes. "Probably as long as you had loved me – I know the feelings were there since our kiss the night we were drunk. But I knew I loved you the night I left Ty and Kyra and you were the only one I wanted to talk to – I called you-"

"You did?"

Chris nodded. "You didn't pick up, so I went to Deacon's."

I cupped her face. "You should have left me a message – or just driven over. It kills me that I wasn't there for you."

She leaned down and kissed me, our mouths moving together hungrily, as she cupped my face and brought me as close as possible.

"You've always been there for me," she panted in my ear a few minutes later.

"And I always will be."

"Ok, enough talk. You are the talker, not me, remember? How about I show you how much I love you?"

I grinned as I rolled her beneath me, and she gasped in delight as I pushed her into the mattress with my weight on top. "Christina Alonso, on the first date?" I tried to look shocked, but my dimples gave me away and she laughed.

"You aren't the only one that waited five years for this, Jim."

2 YEARS LATER

"Has somebody called Chris?"

Hondo's hand came down on the leg that didn't have a gunshot wound and gave it a squeeze. "Yeah Kid, she and Luca have been texting up a storm. Tell me something, when did she get a scanner?"

I gave the boss a weak smile as the ambulance careened around another corner. "Luca gave her one for a wedding present-"

Hondo shook his head. "What was that man thinking? She knows all our call signs-"

"He was trying to be helpful-"

"Yeah, well, I'm going to have a serious talk with him. We don't give the wives of SWAT officers police scanners. Annie doesn't have one."

"Annie isn't ex-SWAT."

Hondo chuckled. "No, she's not. OK, Kid, I'll let it slide for now-"

I nodded but I felt myself losing consciousness from the blood loss and I hoped that Chris wasn't too scared or pissed off as she navigated LA traffic to reach me at the hospital. It had been a standard raid of a drug cartel stash house with the DEA, with the added bonus of everyone being armed to the teeth with assault rifles. When Powell had tackled one of the cartel members, his weapon hadn't been secured and it had fired off a couple of rounds, one of them hitting me in the upper thigh. I could still see her horrified face as I crumpled to the ground clutching my leg, the pain overwhelming me and the blood pooling under me.

When I woke up, I was out of the ambulance and in a hospital bed, the curtain halfway drawn across my room. Luca was dozing in a plastic chair drawn up close to my bed and the sight made me smile but I wondered where Chris was. Then I saw shadows moving across the curtain and the sound of low voices.

"Have you forgotten everything you learned in SWAT academy? You always secure the suspect's weapon before taking them down-"

"Chris-"

"No, you listen to me, Powell. You are damn lucky that bullet only hit Street's leg – and even more lucky that he was the only one hit! Or don't you realize that your actions put every member of 20 squad in danger today?"

I pressed the up button on my remote and waited until I was sitting upright before I cleared my throat. "Chris-"

The curtain whipped back, and I came face to face with my wife and Powell, the teammate who had accidentally gotten me shot today. Chris glared at Powell for a long moment before she looked at me, her face softening as she crossed to my side, her very pregnant belly leading the way.

"I'm glad you're okay, sir."

I sighed as my wife linked her fingers through mine and we held each other's gaze for a bit before I looked at the rookie agent. "Powell, how many times do I have to tell you? It's Street – Hondo is the boss."

Powell gave a tight nod. "I'm sorry-"

I waved her words away. "I know you are – and I know you won't make the same mistake again. Go spread the news to the team in the waiting room that I'm awake, would you?"

Powell nodded and left, her spine straight as an arrow.

"Chris, go easy on her. It's not easy filling your shoes-"

Chris snorted. "I never got one of you guys shot because I didn't secure the suspect's weapon on my watch."

Luca giggled. "True that."

"How long have you been awake?" I demanded.

"Dude, I've been awake this whole time – just enjoying the fireworks," Luca grinned as he stood and stretched his arms over his head.

"And you didn't think that maybe you should intervene-" I gestured between Chris and the empty space where Powell had been standing.

"Between your very pregnant, very spicy Latina wife and the woman who got you shot today? No thanks, bro. I think I'll go grab a snack now that I know you're not going to die on me." Luca saluted us and sauntered out the door, whistling as he went.

"Coward!" I shouted after him before I turned back to Chris, who was chewing her bottom lip. "Hey, hey, don't do that. I'm ok, babe. See? I still have all my limbs and-"

Her lips met mine and cut off my words and airflow, but I didn't mind. Since that night two years ago when Chris had shown up at my house, the passion and ferocity with which this woman loved me still threatened to consume me every single time.

And I loved it.

It had taken us a little while to find our rhythm after she left SWAT and went to work at the safehouse. After all, those women were so broken and afraid – they no longer trusted the police, let alone men. Chris told me that it worked in my favor that I was a pale Americano and not a man of Latino descent because I didn't look like the men they were running from, the men who had violated them. We still took things very slowly that first year and I limited the amount of time I spent at the safehouse, taking my cue from the women about how comfortable they were in my presence. One night I was getting ready to leave and Maria laughed, asking me why I was leaving Chris when I so obviously wanted to stay. I looked at Chris, not knowing what to say when Maria crossed the room and placed a hand on my arm.

"We know you have been taking things slow for us and we want to say thank you, but it's no longer necessary. We trust you, Jim. Like Chris, you will keep us safe."

Chris and I were married three months later in Deacon's backyard, with our team, Chris' family, and the women from the safehouse in attendance. Luca got ordained so he could marry us, claiming that no one else was as qualified as he was. Deacon gave Chris away, Hondo and Buck stood up with me, and Victoria was our flower girl.

Now as I pulled away from my wife's lips, I dropped a hand down and caressed her belly, grinning as my unborn child kicked under my fingers.

"I'm OK, Chris."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into her chest. "You were hit in the femoral artery – you lost a lot of blood, Jim. If Luca and Deacon hadn't applied a tourniquet, you could have lost your leg-"

I pulled back and placed a finger on her lips. "But I didn't. You aren't getting rid of me that easily – not when you're going to make me a father in a couple months."

She laughed through her tears, and I felt the baby kick between us. I shuffled over on the narrow bed and pulled her down next to me.

"How are my girls doing?" I asked, rubbing her belly.

"We're good – I think Erika is already running out of room in there though. Yesterday she- what?" she broke off and looked at me.

"Nothing," I held my hands up. "I just – I really like it when you call her Erika, that's all."

"That's the name we chose –" she frowned. "Are you having second thoughts about it?"

"I haven't had any second thoughts regarding you since the day we met."

Chris rolled her eyes. "You are such a girl when you get shot."

"Hey! Don't insult your husband- I'm going to need some of your special care for the next few days as I recover-"

"Great – two babies to take care of-"

I laced our fingers together, bringing her hand up to kiss the back. "You know you love me."

Instead of answering me with words, Chris leaned in and kissed me, her lips telling me what her words did not. She had always been better at show than tell, and I didn't mind. I could read her like my favorite book now – and I knew without a doubt that Christina Alonso loved Jim Street. When we pulled apart, she rested her forehead on mine.

"Thank you for not dying. I don't think I could survive reading another one of your sappy letters."

I shook my finger at her. "You're awful!"

She grinned. "But you love me anyway."

A/N: Stris forever! Drop me a line - reviews are LOVE!