That moment was all but perfect, as they looked into each other's eyes. Hearing him say those words to her meant so much. However, Jared had been so utterly terrified that when he finally had summoned the courage to say it, he was scared she would either freak out and run or just not be ready to say it back. But as his eyes locked with hers, the force drawing them together took over, and they were locked in a desire filled embrace for what felt like forever. Somehow, they managed to breathe between kisses as their hands caressed each other's bodies.
Their night was passionate, magic and everything they had each dreamt about. Finally, being together, letting each other in behind all those walls, felt so right.
Afterwards, Chris slept soundly, curled up onto his chest, in his arms all night. When the sunlight finally broke through the blinds Jared lay on his side watching her sleep. She was so beautiful and peaceful. He hated the thought, that this moment might come to an end.
As her alarm began to play soft music about 10 minutes later, he gently brushed the hair from her face as he leaned closer and whispered, "Hey, good morning gorgeous,"
Chris took a second to fully wake up. She was in a blissful peaceful state as she stretched and blinked, beginning to realise that she was actually, really, lying there, in his arms. He kissed her cheek softly as his hand caressed her back.
"Hey." He repeated.
"Hi." She smiled as she flickered her eyes.
"How did you sleep?" He whispered as he again leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Good, really good. You?"
"Amazing." He smiled tightening his arms to pull her against him. That made her smile and giggle slightly.
"What time is it?"
"6:30am," he answered. "We have court at 9."
"Why did I set that damn alarm so early." She groaned.
"Well, honestly, I think It's a perfect time to be awake, and hey, well, I don't think the alarm time was on your mind last night." He mumbled into her ear, with a cheeky tone, as his hand wandered up her thigh. That made Chris blush, as she suddenly remembered all that had unfolded.
"Good point," she conceded. He kissed her, slowly letting his hands wander as she caressed him back. Her mind was racing though, remembering their moment on the couch last night, telling him she loved him. It made her smile and close her eyes in bliss as he showed his affection, slowly kissing a trail down her neck as his hands pulled her against him. She couldn't deny the sexual chemistry she felt with him. She couldn't deny that she really felt something and wanted him. Laying here, tangled up in the sheets with him, she had to just admit that she was happy.
"Okay, okay come on. We've gotta get up." She laughed wriggling free from him.
"Hey, but you just said that…" he protested reaching for her. She laughed and pressed her finger on his lips leaning in and locking eyes with him.
"Look, you still have to go back to the hotel to shower and change, and I have to get ready and dressed for court and make it through traffic to be downtown by say 8:45." The look she had on her face told him she was right, but still he protested. He sat up onto his elbow and pulled her back down against him laughing as he demanded one more kiss.
After a few minutes, he looked at her, tenderly brushing her hair around her face.
"We should have maybe thought about the logistics of this morning, before we um..."
"Yeah, but heat of the moment, right?" She smirked,
"Yeah," he drew his head back and studied her face. "Are you okay?"
She looked at him, slightly confused, "Yeah, why?"
"I just," he traced his hand on her arm. "I, hope we didn't go too far, that you are actually okay about last night."
Chris swallowed a bit and nuzzled her head against him. "No, I, I." She bit her lip and paused briefly. She knew she didn't regret last night; she was just worried that if she were really falling in love with him, how this would all work out. He lived so far away. He had a career there; she had her life and career here. Was she just kidding herself that they could be anything serious long term?
"I don't regret last night, Jared." She said looking up at him as she felt a smile building. "I think this just scares me. I think you scare me."
"Oh, Love me that much huh?" He teased her laughing as she picked up her pillow and tossed it at him.
"Okay, okay, calm down Casanova." She giggled as he pulled her into kiss her again.
"See, no denial," he pointed at her.
"Hey, mark my words mister, you will be sorry if you keep this up."
"Oh yeah?" He wriggled his eyebrows playfully, before a serious expression grew on his face…."AND, it's Sergeant to you." He added, trying to be serious, making her laugh loudly and roll away from him.
"Uh huh, sure it is." She chuckled.
"Listen, we will work this all-out Chris. I love you and I want this; I want us. Stop worrying."
Chris nodded and smiled as she closed her eyes and took in just laying here with him. As she was enjoying his arms holding her and his soft kisses on her head he asked,
"So, what happens tonight?"
"Um, I," Chris slowly opened her eyes wondering, "I dunno, I am just focused on getting through this case today first."
Soon, Jared had taken a cab back to his hotel to get himself ready and Chris had taken a shower, beginning to sort herself out. As she began to adjust her uniform, she looked at herself in the mirror.
'What on earth will today turn out like?' She muttered as she smoothed her hair back into a small ponytail, trying to calm the nerves that were beginning to bubble away.
She had been to court as a witness hundreds of times, so that part of this was nothing new. But she knew that today would be different. Today wasn't just like any other case she usually was called to court for. This case meant that she would still be sitting in that witness box as a SWAT officer, yes, but she had never had to testify on a case involving her boyfriend. AND…., on top of all of that, she had to face being cross examined by her best friend's ex-girlfriend. Who just last night all but said she was the 'other woman' who ended their relationship?
She sighed a little as she took all of that in. Part of it made her smile. Calling Jared, her 'boyfriend' felt right and after last night when she thought back, she couldn't help but feel a little giddy. As she stood smiling at herself and thinking about last night, her phone buzzed. It was Jared.
"See you soon, I'll grab coffee's and meet you there." He was so sweet, and thoughtful and everything she wanted. She couldn't wait to see him again. All dressed up in his uniform. It definitely made him one even sexier man. She wondered what it would be like to be there with him. She knew today they were both technically 'on the clock' so displays of affection would have to wait til after hours, but then as she pictured the court room and proceedings her thoughts turned to Molly. Chris knew that Molly would still be upset and to think that she would be the one firing questions at her in court, finally began to sink in. What would she ask? Would her questions be only case related and not draw in anything to do with her personal life? She swallowed and shook her head. She didn't have time to freak out and worry. She needed to get moving and meet Jared.
"Thanks, I'll see you soon. Leaving now." She typed to him as she closed the door and stepped outside.
Downtown, Molly walked purposefully to the double doors of the courtrooms. Adjusting her jacket, and squaring her shoulders, she entered and approached the defence bench.
"Good morning, Hi." She extended her hand as she reached the desk, "Molly Hicks, Counsel for Ms Monti." She began introducing herself to the attractive, well-dressed blonde who was unpacking her briefcase.
"Oh, hi," she replied glancing up, taking Molly's hand, and shaking it. "Caitlin Fardon, Lead Defence." The two began to exchange a few questions and become acquainted, as Chris pulled her truck into the parking lot and climbed out. She checked her watch and zig zagged through the cars, on her way to the court's front steps. She saw him as she rounded the corner. Leaning on a pillar, typing on his phone, balancing two coffees. He stood out a little in his Las Vegas PD uniform. But like she had previously thought it made her smile. He looked damn fine.
"Hey," he said with a smile, looking up to see her, as she approached.
"Hi," She smiled back and slid into his arms to hug him. He leant down and kissed her cheek.
"You look gorgeous." He whispered in her ear. She laughed and shoved him playfully.
"Hey, careful! You'll spill these," He chuckled pulling them away from her. "But you really do look amazing." He added giving her a look up and down as he cracked a grin.
"In my uniform?" She raised her eyebrows, "Well, you're easily pleased." It made him laugh as he held out her coffee.
"Ready to go in?"
She sucked in a deep breath taking it from him. "Thanks, I, I guess." She nodded looking up at the building. He slid his hand into hers.
"Come on then." He said calmly, sipping his coffee, taking a step, and gently tugging her. As they made their way through the lobby and up the stairs to the courtroom, Chris noticed a few women giving him a smile, nod or looking him up and down. She smiled and squeezed his hand as they approached the courtroom doors.
"What?" He looked down at her, "You, okay?"
"You seem to be catching a few eyes." She laughed nodding her head over her shoulder, to the latest woman looking him over.
"Stop it!" He laughed, "It's just a weird uniform is all, draws attention in a different city." He added, nudging his body into hers playfully and pushing open the doors to step inside, still holding her hand and smiling down at her.
Chris couldn't help but laugh as she looked back up at him, he hated compliments and his embarrassment was cute. As they both laughed and she nudged him back, shaking her head at him, Jared was first to notice that the voices in the courtroom ceased suddenly, making him glance up, his own mind going blank as he took in the scene in front of him. The raw shock hit him hard, and his body felt numb, as his brain tried to catch up and process what he saw in front of him. It felt like his heart had stopped beating and he found it hard to suck in a breath momentarily. He froze. Literally. It took the movement of Chris pulling her hand out of his, for the circumstances he had just found himself in, to sink in.
Standing in front of them, across the courtroom, was Molly Hicks, wearing raised eyebrows, and a slightly, almost, smug expression. To her left, was the attractive well-dressed blonde, Lead Defence Counsel, Caitlin Fardon, her eyes as wide as dinner plates as she too, froze slightly. She stood for a second, dancing her eyes between them both, before she cleared her throat, dropped her eyes, and spun back around to Molly. Molly resumed talking, leaving Chris with a lingering stare, as she seemed more concerned with the details she had been discussing, to even notice Caitlin's sudden frazzled state.
Chris grasped her own hands awkwardly and then looked back at Jared. He looked back down to her and swallowed hard. Chris assumed he was a little nervous about Molly too. He was trying hard to pull himself together, and say something or move to a seat, when the door banging behind them made them spin around.
"Oh Good, you're both here early." The voice of ADA Alex Green broke them both out of their own heads, as they greeted him. "You ready?" He asked smiling at Chris.
"Yeah, let's get it done." She said sucking in a breath and nodding her head slightly.
Jared kept his eyes on Chris and just smiled with a nod.
"Well, you two need to sit here," he said walking down to the counsel benches and pointing for them to take a seat behind him. Jared motioned for Chris to go first, and she began to walk to follow Alex. The courtroom doors opened again, and more people came in. Chris glanced at Molly as the distance between them closed with each step, but Molly was deep in discussion with Caitlin and seemed to ignore Chris's presence.
Sitting down, Chris glanced at Jared. His eyes were on his hands, he was fidgeting with his fingers. She reached over and patted his knee gently. "You good?" She asked with a querying look.
"Um, yeah." He nodded, not looking at her. Chris was about to say something else and probe him more when Lt. Lynch sliding in next to her made her pause.
"Oh, I didn't know you would be," she stammered, surprised.
Lynch held up her hand stopping Chris mid-sentence. "This case is a tangled one, I wanna make sure it goes okay." Lynch explained sipping her coffee as Chris nodded.
"Sgt. Michaels." Lynch nodded politely.
"Ma'am." he responded with a nod. Organised proceedings commenced within seconds as the courtroom warden asked the growing crowd to stand for the entrance of the Judge. Chris jiggled her knees nervously as the Judge entered and both counsels had their turn at presenting opening statements. She listened intently as ADA Green laid out their case, internally ticking off the things he recounted to the jury, with her own recollection of events.