Chapter 27 : Casual
Luca ordered some pizzas by phone and got bottles of beer out of the fridge. Chris took the remote control on the coffee table and turned the TV on. Street went to the kitchen to help Luca bring the dishes and towels. He couldn't help but smiling blissfully, like an idiot. The idiot he had been for the last two months.
Luca gave him a blow with his shoulder. "So happy for you two, bro." Street continued to smile goofily. What else could he do? He was too happy to do something else and it felt good that Luca knew the truth. It was like a weigh had been removed from his shoulder.
"Thanks bro. Still feel unreal to me… I mean Chris…"
"I know Bro, she's one of a kind."
"Oh hell yeah, an interesting lady on many levels as Tan told me when I arrived at SWAT… And she chose me, she chose to be with me…"
"Enjoy your chance… And don't make me repeat this, but you're an awesome guy too. Nothing bad can come out of this."
"Thanks, Luca…" He blushed and lowered his head. Too embarrassed to answer anything else. Luca tapped Street's shoulders.
"Now, let's join Chris or she's gonna wonder what we're doing here."
They took the plates, towels and beer and walked to the living room. Chris was seated in the sofa, scrolling the notifications on her phone. She raised her head as soon as she heard the two men entering the room. "Finally here, I thought I was gonna mingle malt alone to make my own beer."
"Ah ah ah very funny." Jim answered as he held her a bottle.
"Thanks." She answered with a smile.
"You're welcome. " She couldn't resist his naughty smile. He was sure of this. He sat next to her, but letting her enough space not to be too invasive. He knew she was not the fluffy kind and he respected this. It was also because of her bad temper that he cared so much about her.
"And give me the remote control."
"In your dreams, Long Beach." He burst into laughing. If only she knew he was only living his dream, she wouldn't believe him. She pushed the play button and the movie started. Luca kept watching them for a short while. They were sweet, endearing. He already knew that the two of them being together would require sacrifice but he also knew he had never seen Chris so glowing and smiling. So what about sacrifices if you were finally happy? He eventually turned the head and focused on the movie.
Street looked at Chris. She was there so close. He would have loved hugging her but he did know she didn't like this kind of big emotional demonstrations in public. So he was very surprised when she grabbed his hand discreetly as they were watching the movie. He turned and smiled at her. She grinned at him. She came closer and cuddled against him, putting her head upon his shoulder. He couldn't just believe what was happening right now. He pressed her hand tighter in his and dropped a small kiss upon her head.
Luca quickly turned his gaze and looked at them. Chris nestled against Jim. Street slowly embracing her with his arm and her looking at him with sparkling eyes. They were in love. They were no question about it. He looked at the screen again, keeping his smile for himself. He'd rather let them in their bubble for the moment.
[…]
Evenings like this multiplied. Chris came some nights. Street was out at her place this other times. It was uncommon to see them spend a night without the others. Even if sometimes, they didn't talk too much. She was seated in the sofa, reading a book. Or doing exercises or talking on the phone with Uncle Sarzo. He was in the kitchen preparing food or in the yard fixing his bike. But whatever they were close, in the same place and to be honest, it was all that mattered.
Luca promised once again to cover for them at work, time they figured things out. "Take your time, kids." Was his favorite line." No need to rush, just remain careful! And no cuddling or smooching at work!" He concluded each time, laughing at his own joke. Chris and Jim tried to find their balance between work and their private life. Not easy when you were used to be free electrons. But they did their best. And it seemed to work. During shift, they focused on the mission, avoiding to too close from each other. Avoiding any slipping. When shift was over, they had their own code to understand where to find the other to spend the night. A dark story of pizza and pies.
It was already 8PM. A new shift was over. The last days had been calm. They all waited for Karlsson to show up. Today, they did a lot of patrol in LA streets to calm people down. Fascinating how people could be more aggressive and easily offended when the temperatures were hot. Some neighborhood quarrelling. Some little kids stealing from the shop next door. This was also a part of their jobs. As Hondo said, "SWAT was not about kicking ass but saving lives".
Today was one of these days. Kicking ass will come soon enough anyway. Chris entered the locker room and checked no one was there. She came close to Street and whispered. "Your place or mine tonight?"
"No code today?" He teased her.
"No need, they are all gone." She kissed his cheek.
"Yours. Luca and Terry have a poker night and I don't want to be there when they will argue about who has cheated first. Believe me, I've lived this last time and it was traumatizing."
She giggled. It must have been bad. She knew how Luca loved to win and Terry was being Terry. So the two of them playing poker in a same room didn't feel good.
"Just need to shop something to eat before getting home, the fridge is…" She stopped abruptly as the door open and walked a step forward. Chris was wrong. Not everyone was gone. And right now it had been so close to be caught. They shared a scared look.
They would tell about them when they were sure about everything. No need to put their careers in jeopardy now when they were dating for only three months. And to be honest, the whole keeping secret part was very exciting and playing it with Jim was even more enjoyable.
"Everything is alright, you two?"
"Yes Hondo. Chris was telling how her fridge is empty. See how fascinating our lives are."
Hondo raised his head to Street and started laughing. "That's fascinating indeed… And it reminds me I need to buy cereals and milk for Darryl. The boy is kicking it at college, he needs fuel."
"Still in accounting?" Chris asked.
"Yes! And administration. He likes this so much he even took a business manager class! My boy is a future businessman!"
"That's great! You must be proud."
"Yeah Street!"
"What about Leroy?" Chris told.
"The man is still around even after I told him Darryl's money was blocked until his 21st birthday and only funded for the small business he wants to create. Nichelle's idea to test his loyalty!"
"Darryl's ok, then. Must feel proud of his dad. And you should be very surprised with Leroy's attitude?"
"Not gonna lie, it was hard to believe at first but then, I've understood Leroy was not only troubles and wanted to change for his boy. He was telling the truth from the beginning but I was blinded by nothing else than his will of revenge over me and that he was using Darryl to get to his point…" Hondo finished to change his clothes and took his back bag. "Good night, kids. See you tomorrow."
"Good night, Hondo"
"Night, boss." They waited for Hondo to be gone. "It was close."
"Very close." Chris confirmed, just before dropping a small kiss on his arm. "I go too. Be at home in one hour. Meet you there?"
"Will be my pleasure."
She got out of the locker room and he finished preparing. He needed to go home to get some stuff he could let at Chris's. He grabbed his back bag and left SWAT HQ with a smile on his lips. The night was going to be great.
[…]
Weeks spent. Karlsson's case was very cold at the moment. SWAT was blocked till the man went out of his hideout. They came back to their old habits: yesterday, they arrested car thieves, today they intervened on a robbery. The other day, they went to a school to make some drug and gun prevention. It was an initiative from Luca. He had talked about this to the schools of his neighborhood and most had welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.
Despite the fact that Chris was always scared to see Karlsson appear at any moment, she enjoyed this old badass days back at SWAT. It was so good to run after dealers, robbers or fences. It was easy, direct. No half-measure. Just straight to the goal. No complication. And the impression to make Los Angeles a better place each time.
"You've got a big bruise!"
"You should see the other guy!"
Chris answered Luca in the control room as she came to debrief with Hondo and the others their day of work.
"You scared me when you jumped over this ongoing car…" Street whispered to Chris, standing just next to him. He brushed his fingers with hers and clutched one of her fingers with one of his. Pressing it to make sure she understood his unsaid message. She squeezed it back. He knew what she was telling him. She liked when he was worried about her. It made things even truer.
Making this little move in public made them shivered. This kind of shiver of excitement which made you feel alive. To make you felt more for the person next to you. As Hondo moved through the room, they let go of each other's finger, with regret. It was time to work. Cuddling will be for another moment.
They had made things clear from the beginning. Them being together was a personal matter and had nothing to do at work. First because they were both very personal people and secondly because of SWAT policy which prevented them from being together as a couple. A rule they were transgressing every day for almost four months now. But she didn't care about this anymore. Neither did he to be honest.
They stepped aside to avoid being tempted to touch again and focused on Hondo's speech. They all shared their analysis of the day and discussed about some other points like Deac's future days off and Rodriguez coming back to the team while he was in holidays.
"Good to work with her, she's a good cop!" Tan concluded.
"Yes she is! Specially asked for her as I know you like her. Street, it'll be the occasion to meet the one who kept your spot on for months!"
"You're gonna like her, bro. She's as badass as our Chris and as stubborn as Hondo. Imagine the combo!"
"Hey Luca, don't talk of me like this!"
"Come on boss, don't tell me, you're not stubborn."
Hondo looked at Deac who started laughing. "Won't go there, even for you. See you next week, guys! Today is Matthew's birthday! He's eight!"
"Wow eight already! Time flies! Happy birthday to him" Luca hugged Deac before he left. "See you in one week then!"
"Enjoy, Deac! For the others, see you in three days, just time to reload the battery!"
They all said goodbye in the yard and joined their cars. Tan was already exciting to join Bonnie for their first weekend off in weeks. Hondo rushed because he was late for his camping time with Darryl. Luca came next to Chris and Jim. "Imagine you stay at home tonight, Chris?" He whispered.
She smiled. "I imagine." She looked at Street who grinned like a happy baby.
"I do hope too."
"So it's a deal, see you there, kids." And before they could say a word he was gone to his car.
"Time to go too…"
"See you in a few minutes…"
"Too long already, Long Beach."
They walked side by side till they reached the yard where her car and his bike were parked.
"Time when our path s split… For at least a while…"
"Guess so… Just need to get clothes from my apartment and I'll be there in something like one hour."
"Already counting the minutes…" She blushed looking at his dimples and big smile on his face. And they moved apart to join their car and bike.