Chapter 6
The case kept them busy long, and it's already dark out when they are back at HQ. Chris just quickly changes and hurries out with a wave to the group.
She is almost at her truck when Deac catches up with her, though.
"Chris?" he steps to her side, and she can feel his questioning look on her.
"Is everything really okay? You know you can talk to me about everything,"
Chris rolls her shoulders and turns her head with a frown. "I know, I just, I guess I wanna get the chance to think it through for myself first," Chris replies and opens her door.
"I understand," Deac nods, and Chris knits her brows. The tone he chose. "How much do you know?"
"Nothing, but you were exceptionally quiet after your meeting, so I am guessing it wasn't great news. Or not at all what you were expecting," Deac smiles at her encouragingly.
"Yeah, that's one way of putting it," she snarks. "They want to promote me," she mumbles, and when Deac's mouth already forms the word "Congratulations," Chris holds up her hand, "out of SWAT, and into K9. And they basically blackmailed me…." Chris feels herself getting worked up and clamps a hand over her mouth to stop talking.
"Hey," Deac pulls her into a hug. "I don't believe for a second it's this bad. Take a breath and hey, maybe you can come over for breakfast, bring Billie and Erika if she is up to it. We'll make brunch out of it."
He steps back and studies her face. Chris forces a smile and nods. "Yes, we could do that."
When Chris arrives at home a little while later, she is still deep in thought about what she should do, but as soon as she pushes the apartment door open and Billie starts greeting her, Chris's heart gets a bit lighter.
"Hey," she nuzzles her face into Billie's neck and then feels the collar and leash attached.
"Are you ready for a walk?"
"Woof," Billie sits down and turns her head to Erika, who had been leaning against the counter, just observing silently.
"I think that means you're joining us," Chris jokes, and Erika nods with a laugh. "She's the boss around here."
The two women let Billie decide her walking path that night and just talk. Chris tries to sound out her thoughts. But in the end, there is no easy solution probably.
"You should sleep on it, and tomorrow we can see where your head is at," Erika suggests reminding Chris to extend the invitation from earlier.
"Yeah, you feel like joining Billie and me at the Kay family brunch?"
"Absolutely, and Deac probably has the best insight on this whole thing. My two cents are: whatever you decide, this project will always have been your idea, and they are right; you'd make an exceptional sergeant."
The next morning the adults sit on the deck, sipping their various beverages while the kids run around the garden with Billie.
"They absolutely will ask for a dog now," Annie laughs before grabbing a tray and already stacking some plates and stuff. "I'll give you space to talk," she smiles at them before walking away.
Chris feels Deac and Erika looking at her, and she lifts her eyes to them.
"So, where's your head at today?" the gray-haired man asks softly.
"I don't know yet," Chris shakes her head, a bit sad. "I mean, I am honored they feel I am ready for the new rank, but somehow it feels like failing. I worked so hard to get here, and now I am going back?" Chris flails her arms helplessly.
"You're not failing," Erika grabs her hand. "Whatever you decide to do will be the best decision for yourself. No one here will ever forget what you did. Your project will always be yours. No matter if you run it or not. You will have a part in it. And Billie will be here too,"
Chris turns her head to Deacon, who just nods his head. "I really don't have anything to add. Well, maybe one thing: you will always be SWAT. You will always be part of this family. No one will fault you for whichever way you decide to go. You deserve the promotion. You deserve the chance to shine. Don't deny yourself your happiness. However, that will look like."
"Thanks, you guys. Now it's up to me, huh?" Chris swallows and leans back in her chair. Deep down inside, she has already made her decision. Now she just has to say the words out loud.
The weeks roll past, and they all know Street is at the hospital to get final clearance for his liver. The shift is relatively quiet Chris has a lot of time to think about her choices. Hondo hadn't really been all that surprised when she told him her decision, neither had Hicks or Lynch. Guess she had only surprised herself.
Chris is in the ring with Tan when Hondo interrupts them. "Gather around everyone," he motions for the team to get to his side, where Street has just appeared.
Chris hangs back a bit and grabs a towel while still listening to Hondo.
"Street here just informed us he is cleared for field duty," Hondo slaps his hand on the young man's shoulder and while Luca immediately pumps his fist in the air and starts collecting high-fives "The gang is back together, and no more substitutes," he celebrates.
Hondo clears his throat, and Chris swallows. "I am afraid that's not quite correct, Luca."
The celebration stops instantly. Luca turns to Hondo, confused and Chris barely manages to keep her head high. "Chris here has aced her sergeant's exam and will be heading up her own team," Hondo steps over to her. The murmurs around them start growing as a few other officers have joined their group, and they only die down when Hicks steps toward them.
"But as most of you know, we sadly don't have any open teams here. And we're sad to let her leave, but with the cooperation project Sergeant Alonso will be around here quite a bit," Hicks shakes her hand and pins the K9 team lead patch below her eagle.
"Congratulations," he concludes, and the group applauds.
While everyone congratulates her, Chris loses sight of Street. And when she gets to the locker room to change, his stuff is already gone. She sinks down in front of her locker.
Guess we really aren't friends anymore.
