Hanging up Chris opened the message.

Hey,

Thanks for the heads up. I got a call shortly after you messaged. I need to make a witness statement and they have a few questions. I might also be asked to testify in court. Turns out that Lilly was connected to the shooter. Looks like a family drama gone wrong. Anyways I did give my name to an officer Andrews that day, but I guess he never recorded it. So, I might be headed back to LA soon, LOL.

Stay safe. xxooxx.

Chris couldn't help the grin that grew on her face reading it. He always made her blush and feel warm inside. But was he serious about having to come back as a witness? When? The questions began flying through her head.

After the EMT cleared her ankle, telling Hondo, "Minor swelling and it's gunna bruise. She needs to wrap it and stay off it for a few days." Hondo ordered her to go home and relax. Chris cursed and hated those orders. She never was good at staying home and being "sick". But she knew after the car accident and now this, that she needed to look after herself.

"Tan can drive you back to grab your gear and then he will take you home. One of us will drop your truck around after shift."

"Okay, thank you boss." She nodded as the EMT began wrapping her ankle. Tan came by soon after and walked with her to the Charger.

"You can lean on me you know,"

"It's fine, It's not that…" She glanced at him and his raised eyebrows and "Seriously?" face made her laugh. "Okay come here." She chuckled pulling on his arm and leaning some of her weight on him.

"You are so stubborn Chris," he laughed. "Learn to let someone help occasionally."

As she stopped and reached for the door handle, she looked at him.

"God, you have been spending too much time with Street. You sound just like him."

Tan laughed as he walked back to his side. "Well maybe he is right Chris."

Chris shook her head and rolled her eyes as she sank in and did up her belt. "How is he?" She asked as Tan began to drive towards HQ.

"Okay, sore, wounded pride maybe," he answered, and Chris nodded.

"Good."

"Hey, um, did something happen with you two? Did you fight or something?"

"What? Why?" Chris flung back.

"Well, he um, he asked a lot about how you were today, and Luca mentioned the tension before so, I, I'm not trying to pry I just want to help."

"It's, I dunno," Chris mumbled and looked out her window. "We will work it out I guess."

"Don't wanna talk about it?"

"Nope not really." She answered still looking away. There was silence for a while as they arrived at HQ. She gathered her things as quick as she could and arranged for Deacon and Hondo to drop her truck back on their way home.

Sitting in the charger on the way to her apartment she felt like Tan was dying to say more but was too scared to say anything.

"You can talk you know." She said looking at him. "Just let's not talk about Street."

Tan let out a small chuckle. "Okay," he nodded. "Will you talk to me about this guy then, Jared?" Chris looked at him as her eyes widened. She should have known Tan would go there.

"What do you want to know?"

"Um, who is he? What is he to you? Why haven't you told us about him before?"

Chris exhaled and clasped her hands. "Okay, fine, Jared is a guy I met in Virginia. He is a cop from Las Vegas."

"Uh huh, and..."

"We have started seeing each other." She held up her hand. "It's just really new and I have no idea how this will work but I like him. Really like him." She had to admit it felt good confiding in someone.

"So why was the ADA calling about that market shooting?"

"Apparently, Lilly, the little girl he helped was connected to the shooter somehow and an Officer Andrews or something, never recorded Jared's details or anything."

"Hmm, weird." Tan frowned, wondering why Officer Andrews would not record such vital details. "So, what does that mean for Jared?"

"He um, might need to come back for court as a witness and stuff." Chris explained.

"And your happy about that." Tan teased, making her blush and roll her eyes.

As they pulled into her parking lot she said.

"Please don't blab too much around about this. I, I just want to take things slow and try to figure it all out without it being LAPD gossip."

"Sure." Tan smiled at his teammate and friend. "I'm happy for you though. And I wanna meet him. He better be an upstanding guy."

"Okay there, big brother," she teased. "Back up, he is, and we will see."

Chris headed inside and threw her stuff on the sofa, she looked at her ankle. "Well, I guess it's just you and me for a few days." She sighed. Her thoughts were still lost in wondering about this Officer Andrews. What he was like and what exactly was up with him not taking a statement off Jared.

After grabbing a cold drink and changing into her comfy clothes, she pulled out her laptop and dropped onto the sofa. She was determined to work out what was going on with this case. She text Jared to let him know she was home early. She didn't mention it was because she got hurt. She didn't want him to worry.

She typed in Officer Andrews name and began to scroll through the results. Her lips twitched and she frowned clicking through the little she could find. She was frustrated that she couldn't determine much other than he was a uniformed patrol Sergeant.

Soon her phoned buzzed. It was a message from Jared: "Okay, I'll call you when I'm home." Chris smiled and sent back, "Okay, I'd like that."

The next few hours flew by as she continued to research the case. However, with each empty click, she felt her annoyance grow. Without the access to files from HQ she was not turning up much at all. She knew she should have learnt this lesson. She should stop digging, it didn't concern her, but something told her this case was off. Her internet searches brought up all of the news reports from the incident, but none of them told her anything she didn't already know after the call with the ADA. As she leant back and stared at the ceiling, she again heard her phone buzz. Sitting up and opening it, assuming Jared, she was surprised to see it was Street.

"Hey, heard you are out for a few days too. Hope you are okay."

She smiled and huffed a bit. His concern was nice, but she still wasn't sure she was ready to 'talk' to him.

"Hey, yeah. Same ankle. A few days rest and I'll be fine. Hope you're feeling better soon too." She typed.

Before he could respond her phone rang with Jared's name on the screen.

"Hey,"

"Hey babe." He said softly, his tone soothing and calm.

"How was your shift?" Chris asked, feeling herself smiling like a fool at just the sound of his voice.

"It was, average, not too much exciting today. Other than all this stuff with that case in LA. Pretty average."

"Yeah," Chris interjected. "Talk to me more about that. I've been trying to find some information on the case since I got home but all I ..."
"Hey, hey!" He cut in. "Of course you are, would you slow down. Stop. Breathe." He laughed.

"What?" She laughed too.

"It's not that big of a deal. Really. It's fine." He answered trying to slow her racing mind.

"Okay, but I have been trying to work out why Andrews wouldn't have followed protocol and ..."

"Chris, babe, stop." He again laughed. "It happens, mistakes happen, officers get lazy or miss things. No big deal."

"Okay" she sighed, "I just, I just got a gut feeling that there is a lot more here than just a missed statement." She explained.

"I hear you," He answered still amused at her determination to solve this. "Just listen for a second. Please."

"Yeah, sorry. I'm listening."

"Well, I gave a verbal statement today over the phone, but I will have to appear as a witness for the prosecution at some point."

"So, you don't know when?"

"No, not yet. She explained that they would have appoint a prosecutor to the case and that then they would be in touch."

Chris sighed. "Okay, just, I just feel something is off here is all."

"Okay enough about that. Why the early mark for you today?"

"Oh, um." She turned her phone around to show him her ankle. "I ah got injured, on the same ankle I hurt a few months ago. So, I'm out for a few days."

"Oh Jesus, babe, how did that happen? Why didn't you call me? Does it hurt? Have you iced it? Is it strapped?" Concern filling his voice as his questions flew out.

"Hey, hey." Chris chuckled. "Now you slow down. I am fine. It is just bruised. No big deal." She added sarcastically with a smirk.

"Ah, touché," he chuckled. "Sorry but see this is why I hate the distance in this. I want to be there and look after you."

"I know you do, but I promise I am fine." She reassured him. After a short pause, Jared spoke up again.

"How um, how did things go with Street today?" He asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer. Chris felt herself inhale slowly.

"Well, he ahhh," she chuckled a bit, "he got headbutted in the nose and sent home, so we didn't get a chance to really resolve anything at all."

"What? You didn't?" His response was fast and shocked.

"Nooooo!" Chris laughed. "By a suspect." Though the mental image of her headbutting him made her smile and laugh. "Jesus, I am not that unstable." She added as he began to laugh too.

As his laughter subsided, he asked, "Okay then, well how are you feeling about it all now? Did a good night's sleep help?"

"I guess, I mean, I still dunno how to just ignore all of that and be friends. I mean, I don't want to be with him Jared, I just, it's awkward and weird is all."

"I get you," he said. "You guys need to talk it out though. He needs to understand where you are at, wherever you determine that is."

"Why does that sound like you think I'm still gunna run off with him?" She asked

"I, I am just aware, or maybe conscious of not sounding like I am trying to tell you what to do. I mean I hope you choose me, but the heart wants what the heart wants." He finished.

"I want you." She said slowly and quietly.

She heard him exhale in a warm chuckle. "I want you too babe." They talked and laughed for a while, before they both headed to bed for the night.

The next day Chris was still frustrated. She woke to another text from Street. He wanted to talk. Chris had no idea if she could. She had no idea what she could say to him right now. That combined with not being able to go to work or solve the weird feeling this Market Siege case gave her was torture. Part of her told her that she should just let it all go and try to relax but nothing was making her feel better. She tried cooking, cleaning, watching trashy TV, reading and napping. But it was no use. Eventually she gave in and called the Commander.

"Alonso? How can I help?"

"Can I come in tomorrow on light duties before I get full clearance again. I am going crazy sitting about doing nothing." The Commander chuckled. He knew her well enough to know she was right.

"It's only been 1 day Alonso."

"I know, I just am restless. I wouldn't ask if..."

"Okay. But desk duties at HQ. And I want your signed clearance asap. So, get it looked at." He ordered.

"Yes Sir, thank you." As she hung up, she smiled. At least at HQ she could help the team, and maybe find a minute to look into this stuff that troubled her.

As she organised the notes she had made and made a mental plan for tomorrow, Street text her.

"I didn't mean to upset you. I can give you space." It read. Chris felt bad. She had been ignoring his texts all day.

"No, It's okay. Sorry been trying to keep busy and not go crazy."

"Oh, well, how are you? Avoided cabin fever yet?" He replied. She smiled a small smile. Sounds like he was feeling it too.