Back across town, Jared had sent Caitlin a text saying he would be in town tomorrow, and asking if they could still catch up? Caitlin sat in her chair, in the courtroom staring at it.

"Ms Fardon?" The judge prompted for a second time with an inpatient tone, suddenly pulling her out of her daze.

"Sorry, your honour. My apologies." She stammered, adjusting herself and standing to begin her questioning. Molly had been sitting just behind her, with her client. She saw her staring at her phone and figured something was up. She wondered if it were related to what they had discussed. As soon as they had a short recess, Molly made her way over to her.

"You okay?"

"Me? Uh huh, why?" Caitlin asked collecting the papers from the table and placing them in her briefcase.

"Well, it's not like you to be off in fairy land when the judge calls your name, twice." Molly explained with inflection on twice as she eyed her with a slight smirk.

"Yeah, I know, I just…. It doesn't matter." Caitlin said shaking her head dismissively, closing the briefcase and picking up her handbag.

Molly stepped closer. "Hey," she began with her voice lower. "Talk to me. Is it Jared? Is he here?" She asked as she glanced about half expecting to see him standing there. Caitlin closed her eyes briefly and sighed. It seemed her new friend was quite insightful and observant.

"He's coming tomorrow." She answered, not looking at Molly. Suddenly relief came over her, that she had let that out. Knowing there was no use hiding this from her friend. Molly put her hand gently on her friend's arm.

"Wanna get some air and talk?" She asked kindly, to that Caitlin managed a nod. They walked out to the courtyard at the side of the courthouse and found a quiet garden ledge to sit on.

"So," Molly began slowly. "Why are you so nervous about him coming to see you? It's just that it seems like it's more than you being unsure of the reason for his visit." Molly asked. Caitlin contorted her face a little and kept her eyes on her feet.

"I just, I never thought I'd have to explain things to him."

"Explain what?" Molly asked confused,

"My life here, all of it. I was sure I would never ever see him again. But now…"

"Why would you have to explain your life here?" Molly asked still confused, before the worried look on Caitlin's face said it all. Molly quickly realised that she was referring to Danielle.

"Is this about Danielle?" Molly scrunched her eyebrows and grimaced a little.

Caitlin just nodded. "Well, I assume this is about her. SWAT were at the school that day and if Chris, she was right there, saw me with her, and if they did the math, well …. I mean the timing of his call makes sense."

"Right." Molly nodded, piecing it together. That was probably why Street had been interested in Caitlin. "So, can I assume that Jared doesn't or didn't know about her?"

"Nope. Not that that was intentional, but now he probably thinks the worst, and assumes I had his baby and never told him…"

"Are you worried he will be upset? Or awkward? Or that you will have to explain about Danielle? or?"

Caitlin just shook her head. "I'm okay with explaining Danielle to him, it's just..." she paused and fidgeted with her fingers.

"Caitlin," Molly gasped slightly. "You still care about him?" Caitlin continued to stare at her hands and didn't say a word. "Hey," she gave her a comforting smile. "I've seen this kind of secret longing before. You do, don't you?"

"I don't know." Caitlin shook her head to shake it all away. "I'm just… I dunno."

"Caitlin? If there is still something there, then maybe when he is here you should..."

"Should what? What am I meant to tell him? Come on Molly, after all that happened with us, am I supposed to expect a happy ending?" She shook her head and turned away. "And he is with Chris now anyway."

"How long have you felt like this?" Molly asked.

"Since the trial. When he came to talk to me. Seeing him again in person, in front of me." She paused. "Maybe back then I made a big mistake."

Molly pulled her friend into a hug and comforted her. "Do me a favour and just promise me you will meet with him, talk this stuff out. Be honest and just see what happens."

Later that night, Chris lay in her bed tossing and turning. Trying to sort one feeling from another. The worry and uncertainty were eating her up. What was she supposed to do now? Her own head had reasoned with her to call him and tell him how she was feeling but she was scared to hurt him, to make this worse. What if she was just overreacting? What the hell should she say to him? Eventually sleep won and she slept for a few hours.

When she woke up, she immediately reached for her phone, determined to call Jared, and talk this all out with him. But on her phone was a text from Street.

'Hey, seeing as we are off till tomorrow, wanna hike the canyon with me?'

Since when does he like hiking in the canyon. She muttered. But at the same time a good bit of fresh air might help her get perspective. So, she agreed.

'Okay, meet you there in an hour?' She typed back.

Not far into the hike, Street could sense Chris was off. She was withdrawn and really quiet. He had to work super hard to get her to crack a smile. He didn't want to push her though. Sticking his nose in and asking too many questions would surely only piss her off and cause her to shut down on him completely. So, he figured he would wait until they got back to the lookout and carpark.

As the platform on the hillside came into view Chris smiled. This sure felt good. She sucked in a deep breath of the fresh air and glanced at Street. He saw her smirk and raised his eyebrows.

"Last one there's a rotten egg." He laughed as he began to run up the hill.

"Hey, no fair!" She laughed as she took off after him.

As Street's right foot hit the platform, he was about to turn to her to laugh up his victory, but instead of her being just behind him, she was about 40yards back, sitting on the ground clutching her ankle.

"Oh shit!" He muttered. "Chris, are you okay? What happened?" He called running back down to her.

"I'm fine, I just landed funny." She swiped at the air as if to push the pain away.

"Here, let me help you up," Street said moving to her side and placing his arms under hers.

"Oh, ow, no I'm good." She stammered as she began to get up but trying to bear weight on it was a dumb choice and made her stumble back into his arms.

"Okay, I got you." He smiled, steadying her.

"Thanks." She fumbled trying to get her weight off him.

"Well, you aren't driving anywhere like that. I'm taking you to the hospital." He said firmly, pointing up to the carpark.

"Street no, just drive me home, I'll be fine. A bit of ice and it's all good." She answered.

"No, hospital. That's your bad ankle and you can't afford and ongoing injury." He explained as he took her weight and helped her up to the platform. She huffed, annoyed, but smiled as she glanced away. He always looked out for her.

As they climbed into her truck and drove towards the Emergency Room Chris's phone buzzed. The text from Jared read.

'Hey, I am all packed. Planning on leaving as soon as I wake up, just need sleep.'

Her stomach felt sick again reading it. She wondered where those butterflies she used to feel about him when he said he was coming, were gone. Why did it suddenly feel different?

'Okay, Sleep well. See you soon. Night.' She sent back to Jared, then wondered if that was too cold or abrupt. She sat lost in her head, staring at the scenery flying past her window.

"Hey Chris?" Street said for the second time.

"Yeah?"'

"You okay?"

"Uh huh." She nodded less than convincingly.

"Jared?" He asked, motioning to the phone in her hand. She just nodded. "Is he coming? Now?" Street asked, glancing at her.

"First thing in the morning." She answered, staring blankly ahead. He watched her for a moment longer.

"Then why do you look so, so,"

"Scared, confused, nervous... take your pick." She mumbled not glancing his way but turning to stare out her own window.

"It's a complicated situation Chris. It's normal to feel like that?" He offered.

"Is it?" She shot back. Slowly looking across at him. "Is it normal to be questioning your whole relationship?" She felt his eyes immediately shift to hers. He looked at her for what felt like minutes but was mere seconds. Inside Chris was kicking herself for saying that out loud and especially in front of Street. She continued to stare ahead as he pulled into the parking lot and came to the door to help her out.

As he opened her door and reached for her hand, she spun out her legs and slid her weight down off the seat. Her arm slipped from the door, and he managed to catch her in his arms. Their bodies against each other. Time seemed to slow down. The touch of his hand on the bare skin of her lower back, made it all ten times worse. There was that rush again. It hit her right in the chest. She couldn't move, she looked at him and he looked at her, and if it weren't for the car alarm somewhere close by, she had no idea what would have happened. They both cleared their throats and moved apart as much as they could whilst he helped her, his arm around her taking her weight.

Once they were inside and she was up on the exam room bed, waiting for the doctor, she dared to glance at him again. He stood quietly near the door as the nurse made her comfortable. She hadn't said a word to him, but she wondered if he had felt that too.

"The doctor will be in soon." The nurse explained, snapping her out of her own thoughts.

"Thank you." Chris smiled kindly as the nurse took her things and left. Once she had closed the door, Street spoke,

"Can I suggest something?" Chris's eyes shifted to him, and she looked at him sideways. She was dreading what he wanted to suddenly talk about.

"What?" She asked with a tinge of fear in her voice.

"That you pick up that phone and call him. Maybe you explain your nervous, scared, having doubts or whatever it is Chris, he deserves to know. Just like you told me with Molly. You need to be honest with him." She continued to stare at him, for a few moments. Wondering if any of what he was saying was because of what just happened. "You know I'm right. He deserves to know this. Not me." And with that he stepped closer. "I'll wait in the waiting room." He squeezed her hand gently and smiled a reassuring smile.

Chris sat looking at the door for a second as she realised, he was right. She needed to take her own advice and be honest with Jared.