"Okay, well, let's get this done." Molly said looking at them both. She led the way to an interview room and asked them to take a seat. "This will all be on the record once we get underway, and.." as she went to close the door her father stopped by.
"Molly, a minute." He said. Chris knew that irritated tone. Molly swallowed hard and stepped outside with her father, "Just a minute." She nodded at Chris.
Chris sucked in a deep breath and turned to Jared now that they were momentarily alone. "Oh my god, how long have you been here?" She asked placing her hand on his knee.
He smiled and covered her hand with his. "Well, I had just gotten to work, hence why I am still in my uniform, when your ADA called with instructions that I had to be here in LA tomorrow for the trial. They booked me a flight immediately and well, that was that. I literally grabbed my go bag from the car and took a cab to the airport. I mean I called but you, were obviously in the field already."
"Yeah" She nodded. "Sorry, my head was in a different place, I didn't even check my messages on the ride back... I was leaving that til after shift…"
"It's okay. Doesn't matter. I just didn't want to show up and upset you or anything."
"Why would I be upset that you're here? I mean I was shocked, but…"
"I dunno, I know you have stuff going on with Ms Hicks here and Street and I feel like I've kinda walked right into the middle of that all."
"Yeah, kinda," she answered. "So, when did you land?" She asked changing the subject,
"Um, around 10am. I made my way straight to the ADA's office to see what they needed me to do, so, I have already sat with them. I tried to call you again, but no dice. So, I went to grab lunch and that's when Miss Hicks called asking me to meet her here."
Chris's eyes narrowed. 'Why meet her here at SWAT HQ?' ran through her head. "Why? Why here?" She asked.
"I dunno," he chuckled, "probably because she needs to talk to you too? And her dad is the boss so…."
Chris rolled her eyes and chuckled slightly. "Yeah, that might have just landed her in hot water though." She said gesturing to the door where Molly was outside. "It just, I dunno, feels off, like there is a motivation there."
"Why would there be?" Jared frowned at her. "What to see us together? Or to gauge how you interact with Street or something?" He asked looking at her.
"No, I just, I messaged her this morning before work to ask if we could talk, to actually set up a sit-down time and sort out the Street mess, but then this… feels like she has a motivation for this." She gestured to him.
"Well, let's wait and see." He reached for her hand and pulled her closer. "I know you are at work, but I'd wish you'd kiss me woman." He smiled in a whisper leaning into her, She couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head at him as she leant in too. Kissing him softly and quickly before anyone returned.
As she pulled back, she smiled at him. He was still holding her hand and the warmth of his closeness was calming her. Though in the back of her mind all of this still niggled away. She couldn't make heads or tails of what to do now and why Molly had bought him here.
"Okay, sorry about that." Molly said coming back into the room. Chris gave her a small smile and a polite nod. As Molly pulled out her chair and sat down, she continued.
"I believe the ADA explained the case to you this morning," she said looking up at Jared.
"That is correct." He replied.
"Well as you both know I am representing Ms Monti, Lilly's mother in the case. And I need to ask you both a few more questions and have you sign some statements before court tomorrow." They both nodded.
"Okay." Chris answered, shooting Jared a worried smile. He gently tapped her knee under the table reassuringly.
"Well, I am sure you are aware that you will both be cross examined at some point. And we all just want to have clear and correct information before going into court." She continued opening her briefcase and taking out two folders.
For the next 20 minutes Molly read through their statements and asked them questions before finally placing the files back inside her bag and thanking them both with a handshake.
"Thank you, Sgt. Michaels." She extended her hand, and he shook it.
"Not a problem."
"Chris," she nodded extending her hand.
"Molly," Chris shook it back. And her head screamed at her to say something else about that talk. "Um, are you going to hang around a bit? Or?"
Molly twitched her lips and looked up at Chris as she picked up her bag. "I can, sure." She said with a slight nod. Chris arranged for Molly to hang about and headed out with Jared. He grabbed her hand as they walked, and Chris didn't fight it. She smiled and glanced up at him.
"What?" He chuckled looking at her.
"Nothing, it's just finally sinking in that you're really here."
He smiled and stopped walking. "Hey," he took both of her hands and tug them till she looked at him.
"How about I go back to my hotel and change and stuff, while you have that chat and then call me?"
Chris's brows furrowed. She didn't want him to go anywhere. But she also knew she needed to get this issue with Molly and Street sorted before it only got worse.
"Thank you." She said looking up at him. "Thank you for making me realise that I need to do this and start to fix the situation."
"Hey, what else am I here for?" He laughed.
"I wish you could stay with me." She said leaning in and hugging him.
"I think you have enough complications to sort out without me making it more weird or difficult right now."
She stepped back, "Yeah, I know. But baby steps, forward, right?"
"Yes, exactly." He rested his hands on her shoulders. "Okay, go do this and then call me." He winked at her. He was so handsome in his uniform. That sexy smile and those eyes, Chris felt the way he calmed her almost immediately and she knew things would be okay. "And no fighting with Street!" He threw in with a hint of sarcasm.
Chris chuckled. "Hopefully, having Molly there will help keep it all in check."
"I'm sure it will be fine." He said stepping closer and hugging her. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back.
"Thank you." She was still enjoying him in her arms when she heard voices and footsteps. She let go and stepped back, looking up to see the team approaching.
Deac and Hondo shared a glance and smiled. Tan was teasing Street about something she couldn't hear, but it made her wonder.
"All done?" She heard Hondo.
"Yes Boss," She nodded.
"Okay, well Hicks has advised me that you will be at court most of tomorrow at least, so I will ask Rogers to step in."
"Okay, thank you. You need me now for debrief?"
"Whenever you're ready, I'll be in the ring." He nodded to the boxing ring.
"Okay, won't be long." She nodded as Hondo stepped away. Deac, Tan and Street stepped closer. "Hey guys," She smiled, realising she probably needed to introduce Jared to them properly. "This is Jared." She said smiling and motioning to him. "I, um, probably should have introduced you all to him back in that market parking lot, but I,"
"It's fine Chris, I'm Deacon Kay." Deacon stepped to him smiling and holding out his hand.
"Jared Michaels," He smiled shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise,"
"Victor Tan." Tan said stepping forward. "But just call me Tan." He said shaking Jared's hand.
"Pleasure,"
She watched as Street seemed to stay back for a second. She frowned at him like he was being rude.
"Oh, we met earlier before you got back." He said smiling at Jared and slightly widening his eyes at her.
"Oh right." Suddenly the idea of Jared and Street talking together while she was out in the field terrified her. What had they said to each other? She swallowed nervously. Jared hadn't said anything yet, so it can't be that bad. She thought.
"Well, we'll let you guys go and maybe see you tomorrow." Deacon said looking at Tan and Street.
"Sure, bye." Chris responded.
"Nice to meet you all." Jared smiled.
Street stepped a bit closer. "I'll wait in the gym for when you're ready." He nodded towards upstairs where Molly was.
"Okay, won't be long. Thanks." Chris answered as he walked away. She turned to Jared nodding for him to walk with her. As they walked, she passed him her truck keys.
"Oh, what are these for?"
"Well, you flew here this time, so, you need to get around, and I will be here for a bit so…" She smiled and he smiled too. Sharing her car made this feel like another step in the relationship.
"I know how much you love that truck," he laughed.
"Then you better look after it." She shot back daringly.
He grabbed her closer as they reached the end of her truck. No one was around so he leaned down slowly and kissed her. Chris kissed him back and sighed.
"I love having you back."
"I know. But you got people waiting. So, come on you gotta go. I will come pick you up when you call. Okay?"
She knew he was right. She kissed him again and stepped back. "I mean it. Look after her." She said nodding to the truck.
"Her?" He laughed, with a querying look as she shot him a glare. "Okay okay. I will." Chris waved him goodbye and wandered back inside. Meeting Street in the hall as she exited the elevator.
"Give me 5 to see Hondo and I'll be there." She nodded at him motioning to the second floor where Molly was.
"Okay," he answered. She would swear there was a hint of sadness in his response. Had he seen her and Jared together? or?
"Hey, I'm sorry, I know that was weird for you." She added, he paused and turned to look at her.
"Yeah, but honestly, he is great Chris. I'm glad you're happy." This time she was sure she picked up his sadness. She wanted to say something, but she held back not wanting to cross the line.
"Okay, Alonso you good?" Hondo called.
"Yep" She nodded. Street motioned for her to go.
Chris wandered to the ring. She spent around 5 minutes sparring with Hondo. Going over the case from today and a few things about Jared, Molly, and the court case tomorrow. Walking away she felt good. Confident. Happy. She was almost sure what she wanted to say to Molly and Street.
She headed for the stairs and as she reached the top, she found Street leaning on the wall.
"Hey" she said slowly and quietly.
"Hi." He answered. "All good?"
"Yeah, all caught up." She swallowed hard and rubbed her hands nervously as she approached him.
"I, I've been dreading this all day?" He chuckled, making her smile slightly.
"Yeah, me too, but I need to do this. WE need to do this." She added with a serious tone.
"After you," he signalled for her to go ahead.
Moments later she was pushing open the door to Hick's office as she held her breath. She dreaded finding her boss, hostile and upset. But Molly was standing alone by the window.
"I figured we would have privacy in here." She said turning to see them.
Chris felt a small smile. "Yeah, hopefully." She nodded. As she took a seat on the sofa and motioned for Street and Molly to do the same, she began,
"I, I want to say that I am really sorry. I never meant for anything to end up like this, especially with me as a factor in your relationship." She explained looking up at Molly hesitantly. "When I spoke with Street that night," Chris continued, shifting her gaze to him. "It wasn't about anything between us that would cross any lines. It was about me trying to explain to a concerned friend how I realised that I needed to focus on me, to work on my flaws and find what made me happy. I never intended for him to take that and turn that into whatever happened with you both." She offered as she turned back to Molly.
Molly nodded slowly and avoided both of their gaze. Street had sat between them both on a chair from Hick's desk. Whilst Molly sat on one sofa and Chris on the other.
"I, I know," she said slowly. "I just, I guess," she explained, "that Jim," she paused looking at him, before glancing back at Chris, "clearly realised during his soul searching that he doesn't love me. Not like he loves…..." … and her words trailed off as her eyes hit floor, like she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. But her hand gestured Chris's way, "the way he loves you." Finally fell out quietly with Molly still looking down.