It wasn't too long before Chris was called to the stand and ADA Green began questioning her about the mission. She did an excellent job of answering all questions and noted Lynch nod at her in approval. As the defence took over questioning, Counsellor Fardon approached her. Chris squirmed a little knowing Molly had been in her ear all morning and she had no idea what she was going to ask. However, Chris took solace in the fact that she could trust her training, team and recollection of events and managed to settle herself with steady slow breaths.

As she began answering questions from Ms Fardon, she noted Jared seemed distracted. He wasn't watching her, instead, frequently looking at his feet or out the windows. 'Is he THAT nervous?' she asked herself. 'He should be used to this.'

Soon the judge called a recess, and Chris exhaled relieved to get a break. As she moved from the witness box and the crowd stood up to disperse, she made her way to Jared and Lynch.

"Well done Alonso. Good job." Lynch smiled, "I've got a few calls to make. Give a minute." She said turning and walking away.

Chris looked up to Jared as he moved to the aisle to join her. "Yeah, good job." He smiled.

"You okay?" Chris asked frowning and studying his face.

"Yes, why do you keep asking that?" He answered with a chuckle, as he suddenly noticed Molly nod at Caitlin to join her as she walked towards them. "I, I um, need the bathroom," he motioned, "Give me a sec." He made a quick exit and Chris frowned watching him walk away. She went to walk out to the hall to follow him, she wanted to chase up her gut feeling, but, it was the clicking of heels on the floor behind her that made her spin around.

"Chris?" Molly's voice made her heart skip. She froze, wondering why Molly had chosen now to speak to her. Chris spun around.

"Hi Molly." She answered.

"Hey," Molly answered. "Well done, you're a great witness." She paused as Caitlin stepped to her side. "For all parties," she added, motioning to Caitlin and then Alex who sat behind them looking over some documents.

Caitlin forced a smile at Chris, slowly extending her hand. "Caitlin Fardon,"

"Chris," She answered as she shook her hand. They spoke briefly regarding the proceedings before she looked up over Caitlin's shoulder to see Jared standing there, just inside the courtroom doors, frozen.

Chris furrowed her brows as she looked at him, making both Molly and Caitlin turn around.

"Oh, Sgt. Michaels." Molly smiled, motioning for him to join them. As he hesitantly approached, Molly gestured to Caitlin, "This is Lead Defence Counsel..."

"Caitlin" he said with an exhale.

"Jared." She returned with an awkward nod.

"You two know each other?" Molly asked confused and Chris felt herself almost fade into the background.

"I, um, I didn't know you were in LA." He said awkwardly.

"Likewise," she replied with a nod to his Las Vegas uniform. Chris suddenly pieced it together. Caitlin had to be his ex-girlfriend. The lawyer he had told her about. She felt her head spin slightly as she watched the awkward reunion taking place in front of her.

Caitlin's eyes fell back to Chris who had subconsciously stepped back slightly as this began to process in her head. Caitlin had figured out that Chris and Jared, must be dating, after the interaction she witnessed as they entered the courtroom together earlier. She felt bad for Chris, standing there awkward and shocked, but at the same time she couldn't have felt more awkward herself. The last time she had seen Jared was the night she told him she didn't love him anymore and was leaving. She swallowed hard and watched Chris stare at her feet. She wanted to draw her back into the conversation to deflect this weird, almost stand-off situation with Jared, so she addressed her next statement to her.

"Officer Alonso. You have quiet an impressive reputation here in LA." Caitlin tried, hoping to break the icy air that was building. Chris glanced up, feeling even more uncomfortable being complimented by his ex.

"Thanks," She smiled politely. Jared's eyes were on her too. Chris would swear she could feel him apologise just through the look he gave her. It was then that Jared looked to Molly, who was beginning to shuffle slightly, he was almost pleading with her to continue to talk so he didn't have to try to make small talk here.

Molly's eyes moved rapidly as she too was piecing together what was taking place in front of her. She noted the behaviour of all parties and figured that Jared knew Caitlin via a broken relationship at some point.

The awkwardness and thick air was a little overwhelming, but as Molly fumbled for something to say, Lynch calling Jared and Chris to the hallway with an urgent tone, gave them both an out. 'God, perfect timing,' she whispered to herself as she nodded acknowledging Lynch.

"Sorry," she smiled at Caitlin and Molly. Who nodded motioning for them to go.

Moving towards the doors, she felt Jared just a step behind. Every part of her wanted to spin around and ask him the 50 million questions that raced through her mind, but she knew he was as surprised as she was right now. Suddenly the noise coming from the hall, and Lynch's call for them, told her something was wrong. A commotion was unfolding out there, and as she reached the doorway, she saw court officers with guns drawn, calling out "Don't, drop it!"

Chris's hand instinctively drew her weapon as she motioned for Jared to stay behind her. She could see Lynch, weapon drawn, by the door, and moved to her.

"Possible shooter, hostage, 4 o'clock," she muttered quietly. Chris nodded and stepped to the other side of the door. Lynch signalled at her as the court officer continued to try and talk the man down. Before Chris moved, she motioned for all of them in the courtroom to find cover. Jared stepped right to her side.

"Down," She hissed at him. "You're not armed." Jared knew she was right. He was not carrying a weapon as he had no jurisdiction here, he moved to the wall behind her. Chris knew she needed to get out there and actually see what was unfolding before she could help in any real way, so she nodded a few signals back at Lynch, who began to negotiate with the armed man. As Lynch holstered her weapon and stepped forward arms raised in the direction of the man, Chris took the chance to slide out into the hallway and find cover behind a door.

She saw a man, mid 20's, holding a gun near the neck of a terrified woman.

"Just relax," Lynch continued. "I'm Piper. What's your name?" She asked him to attempt to build a rapport, as Chris watched intently.

"Shut up, I don't care who you are. Just get away from me." He yelled.

"I can't do that," Lynch explain calmly, "Not while you have this lady in harm's way." She took a small step closer.

"No, STOP." He yelled momentarily pointing the gun directly at the woman's head.

"Okay, Okay. I'm staying right here; I just want to know how I can help." She added.

"How YOU can help?" He answered, widening his eyes at her. "All I want is for someone to tell me where the fuck Lilly is?" He shouted. "I know she is here. Where's my baby girl? No one will tell me!"

Suddenly Chris pieced it together. This guy, another possible shooter, was also somehow tied to Lilly, likely her father, or some kind of very close relation.

"Sir, if you will let me explain. I can talk to you about Lilly, but no one is going to bring Lilly here while this is happening." Lynch paused watching his eyes dart about. She knew she needed to keep him calm and contained til help arrived. She had notified Hicks the second this began, and he had responded with "20D on the way."

"You don't want Lilly in harm's way, do you?" She asked, "So why don't you let this lady go back to what she was doing and put down the gun and will talk this out."

"Do I look stupid?" He glared at Lynch. "Just give me my damn daughter." He yelled.

It wasn't too long before 20 David arrived. Chris was relieved to spot Deac and Hondo at the other end of the hall. Uniforms had the area cleared of bystanders and within minutes, the suspect was in custody leaving the scene under control.

"All clear," She heard coming from the hallway. Now Chris had a million questions about Lilly's dad and the full situation of this case. She was beginning to realise that those few weeks ago, after they defused the scene at the markets, SWAT didn't investigate further, but that was often the case. It was just annoying her now though as she understood that there was more to this, like Lynch had mentioned. She holstered her weapon and took a deep breath, looking about,

"Hey, you okay?" Jared asked, moving to her.

"Yeah, all good, just ah, give me a minute." She replied holding up her hand. The weird situation with him and his ex, now seemed to pale in comparison to her thoughts about this case right now.

"Ma'am, can we talk?" She asked jogging to Lynch as the rest of her team moved out of the courthouse.

"Alonso, what's on your mind?" Lynch answered walking towards the main court entrance and gesturing for her to join her.

"Um, everything." Chris stammered. "You said when you got here that this case was complicated and I'm starting to see that. Did, ah, 20 David miss something here?"

"No," She added. "You did your jobs."

"Then," Chris clambered after her through security and down onto the courthouse steps,"

"Then, why your interest and what's it got to do with Lilly and her mother?"

"It's Inter-departmental stuff," she gestured almost dismissively.

"With respect ma'am, I am here testifying on a case that I have clearly little knowledge of."

"And that's how it's supposed to be Alonso,"

"But Ma'am." She protested.

"Drop it." Lynch continued.

"Is that an order?" Chris asked.

"Yes." Lynch's instruction was clear and concise and clearly not up for discussion. Chris stood silently watching Lynch move away towards the SWAT Gurkha. She was annoyed now. She hated not knowing what was going on and her mind was racing. As she wondered what she could do, exhaling and scrunching her face a little she heard Deacon's voice.

"Hey,"

"Oh, hey Deac." She answered turning to see him.

"Not your average court appearance." He laughed.

"Not your average anything right now," Chris huffed. Deacon furrowed his brows, knowing something was up.

"What's wrong?"

"This case, that shooter, Lilly's dad, there's more to it and Lynch just ordered me to drop it."

"So, drop it." Deac said eyeing her. She shot him back a "Really?" Stare.

"I know, I know, your curiosity is eating at you, but if Lynch says drop it, you probably should, because contrary to some beliefs, Lynch is a great cop with excellent judgement. I'm sure she has her reasons."