The next shift, Chris did just that. She walked into HQ with no hint of the uncertainty or giddy excitement that she felt about what had occurred in Virginia.

She had messaged Jared last night to ask him how his flight was?

"Hey, how was your flight? Thought I'd let you know that I'm home safe."

"Hi, it was average to be honest LOL, glad you made it safely. Is it too much to say I miss you?" Chris had felt her heart flutter a little reading that. She grinned widely as she typed back.

"I miss you too. Maybe we can call one day after shift and catch up?"

"I'd love that. Can we make it a video call? I miss your smile." With that Chris's cheeks had gone bright red and her smile was huge.

As normal though, Chris had kept the guy's questions to work related things and was playing down the success of her trip away, so that Tan and Street would think they had nothing to worry about.

Whilst out on scene, late that shift Jared had text her asking what time she would be home? As she read his message a smile grew, and she typed back, "in an hour."

Street saw her grinning at her phone. He wandered past and commented,

"Hot date tonight?"

"No," she said defensively sliding her phone back into her pocket. He was eyeing her, and she hated it. It was none of his business. He had no right to be interested in her love life. She walked away with a huff, and Tan chuckled.

"What did you say to piss her off this time?"

Street shook his head and threw up his hands. "I was just teasing her. Jeez."

She pushed his comments and nosiness to the back of her mind, as she wrapped up the shift and headed home. Smiling as she unlocked the door to her still new feeling apartment. She threw a microwave dinner in and changed into her comfy sweats. The idea of an easy night in, with maybe a call from Jared made her happy.

She settled in on the couch and typed to him,

"Hey, I'm home and settled if you still wanna talk?"

She placed her phone down and took a mouthful of her butter chicken dinner when a knock at the door startled her.

'If this is Street wanting to 'Talk' I will kill him!' She threw open the door angrily to get the surprise of her life.

Jared was standing there, smiling at her.

"Hi." He said.

"Oh my god!" Chris said slowly, blinking a bit at him. "What on earth are you doing here?" She added with a chuckle as an involuntary smile spread on her face.

"Well hello to you too," he chuckled taking in her surprise. "I um, I still had a few days leave and I wanted to take you up on that offer to get to know me more." He answered as he stood hands in pockets wearing a nervous grin. He watched her, and he couldn't help but begin to smirk seeing her surprise. She was so beautiful in just her sweats, relaxed and cosy. "I ah, I hope it's not too much that I came unannounced. I can go if you…"

"No, don't be stupid." She stepped outside to him smiling. Biting her lip slightly as she opened her arms to hug him. "I am so happy you came."

Wrapping her arms around his neck and standing up on her tip toes, she felt so swept up in him again. The scent of him, the feel of his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her against him as he leant his head briefly on hers. It was like a magic spell, that had her intoxicated.

"Are you sure? I mean you opened that door aggressively like you were expecting someone else to be standing here."

"Yeah," She chuckled a bit releasing him from her hug as he let her go too. "Just a teammate who, kinda, can't let go of things when they should."

"Okay?" Jared said looking a bit confused, "you will have to tell me all about this you know." He laughed lightly as she ushered him in. The last thing she wanted to do was tell him about Street and all that went on there. Street was still important to her, yes, but she had come to realise, that her hanging onto a hope of a "them," sometime in the future, was making her miserable and was completely unfair on him too. Was he supposed to wait around for her to finally be ready? Not date anyone? Especially Molly? Had Chris kind of encouraged that thinking it wouldn't last? Was she sabotaging it from the beginning?

"Sorry about the mess, and this," she gestured to her outfit, as she tried her best to push Street from her mind. He placed his boots by the door and stood up looking at her as she continued. "I am not long home from work and was just about to have an intimate microwave dinner while I called you."

"Oh!" he laughed eyeing her. "Well for one, you look beautiful," he paused stepping closer to her. As he reached her, he lifted his hand to brush her hair behind her ear. "You don't need nice clothes or anything for me to see that, and two…" he dropped his hand and turned towards the coffee table pointing. "That butter chicken smells pretty damn good."

Chris laughed loudly as she stepped away from him and headed for the fridge to get him a beer. As she pulled it out, she realised she usually did this for Street when he dropped by, and it felt a bit weird having another guy here. But then she managed to stop herself. Before she spiralled down that road of throwing up walls to Jared to scare him away. She knew that was her default, but she wanted this to be different. She wanted to see what this was with him. She couldn't hang on to the hope of something with Jim forever. Especially when he had seemingly moved on and gotten his shit together. She knew she needed to too.

"Did you drive here or fly?" She asked as she removed the cap and began to walk back to him.

"I drove, it's not that far." He smiled. He saw Chris glance about. He wondered if she was thinking where he was going to stay. "I have booked a motel in town for the next two nights. But I couldn't wait til the morning to surprise you. I really needed to see you."

Chris held out the beer. "Needed?" She answered raising her eyebrows playfully at him.

"Yes, needed Chris." He answered softly, smiling at her. The fact that he was not afraid to show her how he felt was a big turn on, he was sweet, and genuine. Not the cheap and sleazy type pickup lines she was used to from guys.

"Well, that's very sweet." She said quietly, glancing down feeling a little nervous.

As he took the bottle from her, he reached for her other hand. His fingers grasped hers and he began to intertwine their hands. Making her feel that amazing firework feeling inside.

"I have not been able to not think about you." He said softly, as he tugged her closer to him. Chris bit her lip and slowly looked up at him.

"Me too." She almost whispered as her eyes dropped to his lips.