"Yeah, maybe." Deacon patted her shoulder and gave her, an 'It will be okay,' look as he moved past her towards Black Betty. Deep down, she knew he was right. She should just let it go and get on with what she needed to do right now, but as usual 'letting things go' wasn't her strong point.

"Hey babe," she heard Jared's voice behind her. "Hey," he repeated as he reached her. She was so lost in her thoughts though that she didn't turn to him immediately. "Babe?" He said tapping her arm.

"Oh, sorry, I ah, I," she stammered trying to clear her head and slow down her thoughts. He didn't answer her, just tugged her arm gently until she was right in front of him, gently wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head as he squeezed her a little against him. "Breathe babe." He whispered.

Chris closed her eyes as her head fell against his chest. "Yeah," she let out in a slow sigh. Feeling him hold her like this, he always knew just what she needed. His arms holding her, calmed her at least physically, but her brain was still running a million miles, "I'm trying to, I just,"

"Listen, the ADA needs us inside," he added.

"Sure, right," she answered as she went to step back up to the door.

"Look, I know you're trying to piece it all together, but babe, maybe just let them worry about that," He said gesturing towards the SWAT Gurkha's, "We need to be back in there and get this court thing done." He finished.

Chris glanced back at 20 David and Black Betty. She saw Street and Tan packing up. Tan gave her a wave and as she waved back, she watched Street climb in. He hadn't come near her or spoken to her at all, she knew it must be hard for him, seeing her with Jared. But she had little time to dwell on that right now, especially as Jared took her hand and began to head inside.

After a quick chat with Alex, they were back in their seats as the Judge explained the case would continue despite the interruption. Chris was back on the stand answering questions. She was trying her best not to let her own head stuff up her answers as she wondered about things.

Soon the court proceedings took a break for lunch, and Chris noticed how quick Jared was to get out of there. He suggested they grab lunch at a café nearby. She knew he probably didn't want to have to face Caitlin, and his past, and she was kind of happy that he just wanted to be alone with her. In the courtyard of the small café, Chris sat at a small table for two while Jared ordered their wraps. She was chewing her lip thinking when he came back to sit down.

"You okay?" Jared asked cautiously as he returned to the table and slid into the empty seat. Chris looked up at him,

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," she stammered fiddling with the napkin in front of her.

"Hmmm, you could have fooled me." He said eyeing her with a light smirk. He was wondering what exactly she was worrying about. There was fear within him that she was like this not only because of the case, and the events of this morning, but more so the fact that his ex-girlfriend had suddenly just showed up, as lead defence counsel.

"I'll be fine, just going a million miles, you know." She explained, gesturing to her own head.

"Yeah, I see that. Is it the case? You're still trying to figure out Lynch's connection or….?" He was about to mention Caitlin when she interrupted,

"I mean, yeah, why is Lynch being so secretive?" She glared at him momentarily, before her eyes darted off and her hands began gesturing as her frustration built. "and don't give me the whole 'interdepartmental' crap or 'need to know' status either, I can feel it in my gut that something is off. God, what is it with this case?"

"You really are all wound up over this, aren't you?" He reached for her flailing hands across the table, "you need to stop worrying about what you can't change." Her eyes shot up to him as he held both of her hands.

"Easier said than done." She answered, almost wanting to yank her hands back. She needed them to expel her frustration right now. She took a deep breath and swallowed, knowing that pulling her hands away suddenly like that would only upset Jared. She was just bringing her eyes back to his when she caught sight of Caitlin over his shoulder, she was walking to the door of the café. "Oh, yeah, then there's that too." She nodded toward the door. Jared released Chris's hands to turn around to see what she was nodding at.

"Oh, well, yeah," he exhaled slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat as he turned back around and dropped his head. It was then, watching him look a little sad and maybe even, defeated, that Chris realised she hadn't really stopped to think how it all would have affected him today. She had been so caught up in her own head.

"You um, wanna talk about it?" Chris asked softly.

"What? Caitlin?" He answered, glancing up. "You already know the story there." He said without looking directly at her. Chris licked at her lip and tapped her finger on his hand, then turning hers over for him to take. He drew his eyes up from her hand to hers and then took it as he saw her soft smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't take a minute today to realise how seeing her suddenly, would have affected you." Jared felt a small smile grow as he looked at their hands. He nodded in response, to Chris's apology, sitting for a second quietly, working his own mind through the struggle of emotions he was feeling right now. He didn't exactly want to start talking about the Caitlin stuff with her standing in the same café. He let his thumb stroke over Chris's fingers softly.

"Are you okay too though?" He finally asked, glancing up from the table.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm all kinds of crazy inside right now, but I'm okay." Chris answered, as they both noticed Caitlin walk by outside heading away.

"Well," he began again with a sigh, maybe even relief, taking his eyes from Caitlin back to Chris. "I am guessing that it would have been a shock for you, you know. You were already on edge about Molly being there and questioning you and stuff, then to find out that Caitlin is the ex that I told you about, must have been a bombshell."

"Yeah, I, it was, just a tiny bit awkward I guess," Chris said quietly, with a slight laugh in her voice, and her fingers pinching the air showing her sarcastic "Slight" measurement.

"You're telling me," he answered with a lightness to his voice. As he began to speak again though, that lightness seemed to fade away. "I mean we haven't spoken since the night she left and… to then just see her like that, and I mean here today of all places?" He gestured his hand around and then squeezed hers again. Chris looked over at him.

"When the trial is over, or maybe before are you gunna talk to her? Like you know stuff you want to say to her?"

Jared tilted his head in a shrug. "I ah, I um dunno, my gut reaction is no." He squeezed Chris's hand slightly. "I mean, I don't feel a burning need to talk to her. I survived all those years without a word, so why would I need to suddenly talk things over now?"

Chris shrugged and locked her eyes to him. Internally, she was trying to read him. Seeing if there was anything there in his eyes, when he spoke about her, that was a concern. "You know, like um," she continued, "well unsaid stuff, that would help with closure or…"

"Oh, it's closed. I'm not opening those wounds in a hurry." He added, gesturing his hands to emphasise his point.

Chris knew that was her cue to drop it. To leave this topic alone for now.

"Okay let's just enjoy lunch." She smiled as the waitress bought their food.

They ate and shared light banter, before making their way back to court for the afternoon session. Jared's turn on the stand came soon after and Chris felt even more weird when it was Caitlin's turn to question him. Chris could read body language well and would swear Caitlin was just as thrown by it.

As the afternoon sun, drew long shadows across the courtroom floor, Jared returned to his seat and the judge called an end to proceedings for the day. Chris felt him reach over and take her hand. She gave his hand a squeeze and shot him a small reassuring smile. Once the judge had left the courtroom, ADA Green, turned to tell them what time to be here tomorrow and give them a run down on what should occur the next day. They both thanked him, and Chris went to stand up to leave. As she lifted herself up off the seat, Jared squeezed her hand slightly but didn't seem to move. Chris looked over to him.

"Hey, what's..." she began to ask, but didn't finish as he interrupted her.

"Maybe you are right." He let out quietly.

"Huh?" Chris asked confused, as she sat back down beside him.

"Maybe I do need to say something to her." He confessed, dropping his head in shame, "I, I just want to know why? And ..."

Chris held his hand and swallowed hard. She had to admit that it hurt hearing that. "I'll give you a minute then." She said taking her hand from his and smiling. Knowing now was not the time to be all territorial and jealous.

"No, Chris, I'm sorry," he said, reaching for her hand. "You shouldn't have to; this is messy and weird and…"

"Hey," she smiled at him with her hand on his knee. "How many times have I been in your shoes? How many times have you had to be there on the sidelines while I deal with shit that is weird and stuff, God, my messes with Street?" She shot back, with wide serious eyes, making him nod and let out a small chuckle.

"Okay, just 5 minutes." He said struggling to meet her eyes, and with that Chris leaned in and kissed his cheek softly. He grabbed her face before she could pull away and kissed her hard. "I love you Chris. Just you." He added in an almost whisper.

"I know." She smiled, before she stood up and made her way out. Leaving him sitting on the bench watching Caitlin pack up.

Stepping out into the hall Chris willed herself not to look back. Not to see him stand up and walk towards her, or even look over at her. She knew it was petty, and just her being jealous, but it hurt to know he was in there with her. She took a minute and leant on the wall. Steadying herself as she decided what to do to distract herself for a few minutes.

After a few moments she made her way out to the front steps and towards the parking lot, she pulled out her phone and called Deacon.

"Chris, How'd the rest of the day go?" He answered in a slight laugh.

"Hey Deac, Good, I think. Back tomorrow for round 2." Deacon could hear the defeat in her voice.

"So, you're calling for an update on what I have found out about the case?" He asked probing her.

"Yeah," Chris sighed, she was dying to know about what Deacon had found. She desperately needed that distraction. As she paused waiting for his answer, Deacon wondered, he could hear something in her voice that told him it was more than just a call for an update.

"Well, Lynch is keeping her cards close to her chest, but Hondo and I did find a link between the shooter today and an old case of Lynch's." He paused slightly seeing if she would jump in with enthusiasm. But she didn't; confirming Deac's thoughts that she was deflated and a bit off. "It, looks like," he continued, "a witness from her case went into witness protection. We also had some US Marshalls arrive at HQ today and spend a long time with Lynch and Hicks."

Chris let out a sigh. "Yeah, that would make sense." She paused climbing into her truck. "Can you send me a few notes to read over? I need to get my brain in order, its eating at me."

"Okay," Deac sighed, "But this better not come back to bite me."
"It won't." Chris added, "I won't do or say anything, I just need to understand."

"Okay," he answered, again pausing to see if she would offer anything else up, but when the silence echoed down the line he continued, "hey is everything else good with you?"

"Uh huh, just exhausted, was a shit of a day."

"Understandable, but remember you promised to talk to me when things are hard." He continued with an almost authoritative tone. Chris remained silent. Knowing that Deacon had likely picked up on the uncertainty in her voice. "Come on, what is it?" he prompted. Chris inhaled and blew out her breath slowly. Closing her eyes as she answered him,

"Jared,"

"Oh, did u guys fight or he upset you or..." Deacon was starting to list off scenarios he could think of, that ran through his head when Chris answered.

"His ex-girlfriend is lead defence counsel." Deac was quiet for a while as he processed that.

"Oh wow! Well, that's beyond awkward I guess."

"Yeah, they um, broke up messy and haven't spoken in a few years and I, I just dunno how I feel right now." Chris went on to explain.

"Well, how did Jared react?" Deacon asked.

"He was um, as shocked as I was. He thought he'd never see her again."

"So, where is he now?"

"Talking to her." Chris added with that defeated tone again.

"Oh, okay, well that explains why you are sounding off."

"No, Deac, it's not like he just ditched me to go talk to her. I told him to talk to her. He said he wanted to know why? Why she just left him that night."

"Okay, I get that, but now you're hating that he is in there talking to her."

"Yep." She said tracing her fingers nervously around the steering wheel.