Chapter 66: Accommodation
Chris and Street looked at their friends for long minutes. All stunned and shocked. They knew how surprising it was. They had been there a couple of weeks ago. They just needed some time to process and it will be OK.
"Quitting again, Street?" Hondo was the first to talk.
"Yes. But this time, I do it for the right reasons. For my sons, my wife, my life. I mean I love SWAT, don't mistake there. But I do love my kids and wife more and Chris will be a better leader than me!"
She hit him in the arm with her fist. "Not this again, J!"
"I made things clear with Hicks, first, then Rhokker yesterday. And everything is in order. Will leave active duty in 2 weeks."
"But how… Who…" Luca couldn't find his words.
"How… It's simple. I got an offer from SWAT Academy, we talked about it with Chris because I had the impression that we miss something here, always running after shifts. Not having the same days off. Barely being the four of us together. And who… Nora here will be the perfect replacement. Hicks, Rhokker and I agreed on this."
Another moment of silence. Awkward minutes but the fact that it was told out loud relieved them. He felt Chris putting her hand in his. He pressed it, letting her know he appreciated she supported him.
"Gonna be weird not being able to tease you between two shifts. " Tan finally told, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"Oh don't be worried, I'll be around for all the training… Could even make a special guest appearance…"
"To tease new recruits, I'm in!"
"Don't be too hard on them, easy boy!" Hicks answered with a smile.
"Just what they need to be stimulated!"
"If you say so! You all just wanted to reassure you, Street is and always will be part of SWAT. And as hard as his decision is, I get it. Family is important. And I've already told him I could ask him to come back to active duty if we need him! You don't get out of SWAT life so easily!"
"And I'll be glad to come back from time to time, commander!"
"Auntie Elena and Uncle Sarzo are already briefed!" Chris announced proudly. "And sorry I have to leave you, Nate, give immediately the toy you stole from Aaron, if either of you can play tranquillo, Mamá toma el juguete para ella!"
"So you're doing this for your family… Very proud of you, Street. Growing up fits on you." Deac stood up to come and hug the carefree boy who was now a responsible man.
"Thanks, man. Just sometimes, you need to understand what's the most important is… And having kids and being both SWAT parents, it doesn't work. So you need to make concession… Chris did hers when she decided to keep the babies. She fought like hell to be at the top again after giving birth to two kids. So, it's my turn now."
"Very mature for an impulsive baby boy!" Hondo quickly teased him at his turn.
"I've got good models. It helps!"
"Don't flatter us too much, but thanks!" Hondo kept talking.
At the end of the table, Luca remained silent. Street saw that Alicia and Nora tried to make him talk, even Annie and Bonnie were there to help but the man was retreated into silence.
"What about you, Luca?" The team quickly understood Street's move.
The man remained silent, arms crossed over his chest. He looked like Aaron and Nate when they were sulking after he or Chris reprimanded them because they made a silly thing.
"Luca… I can't imagine how it must be hard for you, but believe me it was hard for me too… But I can't miss my kids's childhood, my marriage for a job. Even if I love my job, I can't…"
Luca finally raised his head. "I know, bro, it's just… It hurts. All this change. All those people moving…"
"But you know I won't be far away. I mean the training of the recruits is taking place at SWAT HQ so basically I'll always be around. Just not kicking ass with you, except when it's really needed. Just like I was assigned to the armory but in a better way, like way better, like an updated version of this time."
"Yeah, yeah, Just it's weird…"
"You'll get used to it! Wait for Chris to run this place, because she will one day! Will be still training the rookies while she'll be changing the world! Riding her team, catching criminals and lobbying to make SWAT rules more equal and fair."
"You've got a point here!" Luca finally smiled at Street that he considered as his boisterous, little brother.
"Oh yes she will, and we'll all be under her orders or you might be teaming up to change things…"
"Oh Boss, what are you not telling us?" Tan asked with curiosity.
For any answer, Hondo looked at Nichelle sitting next to him and gave her a mischievous smile. She smiled back at him. She got the message.
"What did I miss?" Chris came back from her mom intervention. Aaron and Nate were now playing calmly with Joyce, Samuel, Matthew and Lila while Jack and Victoria were busy with puzzles.
"Nothing, just the team wanting to celebrate as it should my next career step!" Jim concluded, forgetting to tell her how wonderful she was. She did already know anyway. Even if she refused to recognize it.
[…]
Days, then weeks passed. Then months. The twins were 2 years now and when Street thought about his life, he knew that he had taken the right decision. Of course, he missed the action and the adrenaline. But spending time with his sons and wife were the best thing he could have hoped for.
He loved when after her shifts, Chris told him everything about the purchase and the chase of the criminals. How she ran, jumped and arrested dealers, kidnappers, robbers or any other kind of criminals. And when she was done, he told her about the new trainees, how some were really promising, and how he wondered with his colleagues how some had even succeeded in joining LAPD. He also told her about the last pranks the kids played over him or Elena or even Diablo.
And cherry on the cake, they had the same days off. So those days were devoted to family time. Last weekend, they brought Aaron and Nate to Matthew's soccer match. The week before, they went to a picnic with Bonnie, Tan and Joyce. Other times, they just enjoyed going to the beach or hiking in the hills, just the four of them and Diablo. Watching the landscapes, the animals, running after the boys that were full of energy.
Later, they will bring them to the keys, the Yucca Valley, Sequoia Park, Pioneertown Mountains, Yosemite National Park and all the beautiful places they had visited before. To show them the beauty of nature. To show them where their parents felt more and more in love.
At work, Hondo was less and less present. Letting his spot to Deacon or Luca from time to time. The most experimented ones. Nichelle and he had decided to take things to another level. Hicks gave him the right to work part time to take care of his new mission: being elected at LA city hall. Not as the mayor – it was a little bit presumptuous but why now later! – but as a counsellor, to promote diversity and fight for more equality in police but also in daily life in general.
Chris admired his life choice. It was inspiring. And it gave her hope that one day, police will be less systemic. But for the moment, he needed to win rates. He could count on her to help and glued some posters all around her neighborhood. Even the kids helped to make Uncle Hondo win.
Hondo and Hicks entrusted her and Tan to run 20-Squad from time to time. Then it was more frequent. Tan and she took this as a chance to show they could lead a team on the field. It was also for her a way to prove once again she didn't steal her place at SWAT. That she was here for a reason. And she loved being in charge. Tan and she often teased each other, knowing who will be the best, which one will catch more criminals in a week. Chris understood why he was Jim's best friend. They could have been siblings!
But today she enjoyed the silence in the house. It was her day off and Jim had brought the kids to the supermarket to buy some groceries.
"And I could bring them to the park after, so you can sleep a little longer." He kissed her warm forehead before calling the kids and told them it was time to leave. "But before leaving, go and kiss your mom!"
Chris saw two little furies entering the bedroom and jumped in her arms. "See you later, Mama!"
"Already miss you, Mama." She loved hear Aaron and Nate's voices in her ear.
When she heard the entrance door closed, she dived under the blanket. She had sleep to catch up. Hours later, she woke up. The house was still empty. She checked her phone. No message. Jim should have found another thing to do with the kids before coming home. She ate breakfast and settled in the sofa, taking some time to read a novel. Diablo lying over her legs. Leaking her from time to time to get some attention.
She came to reality when she heard the kids and Jim in the yard. "Mama, Mama!" Aaron was the first to enter the house.
"No it's me who tells Mama." Nate arrived just after him.
"Easy boys, what's happening?"
"We found a kitty in the street and we brought it to Papi." Aaron announced in a hurry. She recognized her go-getter.
"And he was not well, Mama. He has the eyes closed and he was shaking." Nate was definitively the most sensible one, always noticing when someone was feeling bad.
"And?!"
"And we went to the vet to check on HER. This little kittle is a girl…"
"And you have her in the arms…" She rolled her eyes, but deep down, she found Jim's move so endearing.
"She was in bad shape. Couldn't let her alone at the vet. And he told us the cat has been abandoned. So we brought it home…."
Chris came closer to look at this newcomer in the house. Soon followed by Diablo which asked what was going on.
"Diablo, look this is your new friend, Ericat!" Aaron announced proudly.
"Yeah, forgot to tell you, the boys named her while we were driving back home."
"Yes like the girl in the picture with you, Mama! The girl you said she went to Heaven because she protected people." Nate answered.
Chris looked at Jim. He saw tears in her eyes. She was moved by the gestures of their sons. She took Ericat from Jim's arms and petted her. She was still shaking. And she was so small.
"Mama, we can keep her, right?" Nate asked with his large hazel eyes.
"Yes, Diablo needs a friend when we are not at home." Aaron completed.
"Yes, yes, we keep here. No man or animal left behind, as we say with Papi."
Aaron flung himself in his mom's arms. He was soon followed by Nate who rushed to get to his mom before his brother. Soon, the two boys hugged their mom tightly. Each one cuddled on one of her shoulder. Jim could only see the brown hair of his wife. He pictured this in his mind, smiling idiotically.
"Hey boys, we need to prepare Ericat's bed. Go and get some towels and blankets in the bathroom."
She kept petting the little cat and introduced her to Diablo. "Diablo, meet your new friend, Ericat. She's small and fragile. You're gonna need to take care of her while she recovers…"
The dog looked at the little ball of fur in Chris's arms, left and soon brought one of his ball. Jim and Chris laughed.
"Yeah, boy, she'll soon play with you!" Jim petted his head before getting back to the car to get things the vet gave him out of the trunk.
They spent the rest of the morning preparing Ericat's basket. Then they had lunch. A funny, happy lunch. Aaron making big gestures and spilling his glass of water all over the table, Nate making fun of him because he once again didn't pay attention to the things around him, Chris and Jim scolded the boys for not paying attention, and making fun when it was absolutely not the moment. Then the kids left the table when their parents told them to. A normal, ordinary family time.
She looked over at the kids playing with the cat, their cat, Ericat… As a sign of the universe. Erika was looking over them from above and sent her a message. And this is how she knew Jim and she had taken the right decision.