Back in LA, Chris had had her dinner, showered, locked up her apartment and was just sliding into bed when her phone buzzed. Street's name appeared on the screen. She closed her eyes and sighed.

'I'm sorry for leaving. You needed a friend and I feel like all I did was ultimately upset you.'

She hesitated and typed back.

'No, not your fault. I am just a mess right now. Sorry for putting you in the middle.'

She knew he would be hurting; she knew she shouldn't lie to him about how she felt. She lay there tossing and turning as her mind went around and around. She couldn't switch it off and couldn't get to sleep. She knew he deserved more, she was angry with herself for how it all had played out, and there was no way of shutting it off.

Street read her reply and exhaled. He just wanted her to be okay. He hated that she was hurting. That she was scared and lost and all of this because of a guy, he felt so helpless as there was really nothing, he could do to help her. He couldn't seem to even get just being supportive right. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, maybe he would have more luck in the morning.

After a while of staring at the streetlight's reflection on her ceiling, she threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Deciding a hot tea might help her unwind and sleep. She pulled on her oversized hoodie and walked to the kitchen. As she flipped on the kettle, she heard a soft knock on her door. Her mind raced. 'Who the hell?' she muttered. Walking over and looking through the peep hole she saw Street, shuffling nervously in his leather jacket, looking down at his feet.

She opened the door and blinked expectantly at him as he looked up. His emotion filled eyes said it all, as she folded her arms across herself, more self-consciously than defensively.

"No," he began seeing it. "I'm not here," he paused, and she heard the quiver in his voice. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I'm not here to talk you into fixing it. I am here to do a better job of being your friend. To listen."

Chris felt her own heart break a little. She couldn't speak, but she reached out and hugged him to her. "I'm sorry." She finally whispered as he stood shocked and frozen in her arms. "I'm sorry for shutting you out, for getting caught up in him and pushing you away, I just..."

He slowly smiled sadly and wrapped his arms around her in return.

"Hey, it's okay. I get it. I just need you to be happy." He answered in a whisper, as she buried her face against the familiar smell of his jacket, and her eyes closed. The strength it must have taken for him to come here, just to be there for her, just to help her, meant the world. But it also crushed her a fraction. She knew that this amazing man who stood before her right now loved her; she knew that without him ever having to say it. He loved her enough to put his own feelings aside and just be there. She remained still, savouring this moment before she drew back and swallowed.

"I can't say I'm happy. I ruined things. I hurt him and I hurt you, I shouldn't have let it go as far as it did…. I mean, I'm to blame."

"Hey," he began as he motioned for her to go inside and closed the door. "Sit and talk to me," he nodded to the couch, as he continued. "Didn't I tell you I'll be here to pick you up and put you back together, no matter what."

She just swallowed and nodded, taking another sip of her tea, and curling up on the sofa at the far end so she could see him as he got his own tea and moved closer. He lowered himself onto the other end and turned to face her.

"So, I guess you haven't called him?" He asked,

"No." She whispered. "I can't."

"Why?" He asked sliding a fraction closer so he could see her face in the dimly lit apartment.

"He um, hasn't tried to contact me either... so...I guess, I mean I guess that's that."

"Okay," he drew out slowly putting his tea down and waiting for her to look at him. "What if he is sitting, miserable, somewhere in Las Vegas right now, thinking the same thing, because you haven't reached out."

Back in Las Vegas, Jared changed out of his uniform at the end of shift and walked out of the station checking the time. He was running just a fraction early but decided to head straight to the bar where he had agreed to meet Caitlin anyway.

He got himself a beer and sat by the window, tracing the rim of the glass. Not really wanting to drink it. He was beginning to doubt why he had agreed to this meeting. He was lost in his thoughts as Caitlin walked in. She saw him sitting with his back to her. She observed him for a moment. He still looked lost, and she frowned her lips thinking how to help.

She ordered a beer for herself and walked to him.

"Hey," she tried to smile and project a happy and cheerful tone.

"Oh hey," he returned a small smile as he stood up to give her a gentle one-armed hug.

She took her seat opposite him. "So how are you doing?" She asked, and as she watched him trying to think up an answer, she widened her eyes. "And don't give me that 'Okay or fine' crap. Anyone can see you're not."

He blinked and nodded at her. "Yeah. Well. I am not okay, not happy, not fine."

"Good that's a start." She smiled, with a chuckle, motioning for him to continue.

It made him chuckle slightly too. "Why do you want to hear about my pity party anyway?" He asked glancing up to her.

"Jared." She said as she took a sip. "I don't want to see you hurting." She offered. He sighed and took a sip of his beer.

"I, well, I screwed up." He said, not looking at her.

"Why? What happened?" Caitlin asked kindly. "And please," she continued looking at him and waiting for him to look at her. "Don't try and spare my feelings. If me suddenly appearing, and then the Danielle thing, was a factor, just tell me."

He blinked a few times and nodded. "Yeah. I guess the Danielle thing, and my visit to see you, to ask about that was the catalyst here." He explained.

"Why? She isn't yours and ..."

"I um," he interrupted. "I don't think the fact, that I met her and spent time with you two…... I mean I think she felt like that was me exploring the possibility of feelings I might still have for you." He grimaced and couldn't look back at her.

"Oh," Caitlin let out an involuntary gasp, as she tried not to let her cheeks blush.

"She actually asked me if I have thought about an 'us'." He said motioning between the two of them, as Caitlin dropped her eyes quickly from his. Scared he would see she had wondered the same. She didn't have the nerve to look him in the eye right now. He watched her between his own awkward glances about the room. "And I, um, I had to be honest and tell her that I had thought about it, yes." Hearing him say that made a small flutter happen inside her.

"But," Caitlin got out. "Now that Chris is "gone"," she said holding up her fingers in speech marks, "You have realised that you actually love her, right?" She smiled bringing her eyes back to his. She felt a surge of confidence deflecting his focus back to Chris.

"I um, I really don't know to be honest. All of this has made me reconsider things and …... I..."

"Jared." Caitlin interrupted. He drew his eyes up to her. She paused, making him look her dead in the eye. "If you do still want her you need to tell her." He looked back at her for a second. He knew she was right, but he couldn't help but want to not focus on he and Chris and just enjoy time with her like old times.

"Yeah, but maybe not, I mean, she has always had this thing with Street. Well, not a thing, like a couple, but those two have a connection, a bond, that's friggin' deep. I mean what if she is trying to sort out stuff with Street. What if she really loves him? What if I was just in the way of that? She hasn't text me since that night. She …"

"Hey, you are never gunna know if you don't talk to her." Caitlin repeated.

"I'm sorry." He said looking up.

"Why?" She said confused, scrunching her eyebrows.

"I never considered how you felt in this. I..."

"Okay." She inhaled, sat up and squared her shoulders. "I'm gunna be something I should have been years ago. Honest and brave." She took a sip of her beer whilst holding up her finger at him to wait and not say anything. "Seeing you again. Unsettled me. Not in a bad way per say, but those few times at the courthouse made me wonder a whole lot of "what if's". Then when you reached out and wanted to talk. For a moment, yes, I got my hopes up. You are an amazing man, Jared. I do still care about you," she saw Jared smile and glance down. "But I know I had my chance and I let you go, so now I've gotta live with that." She added sadly. It was then she felt him reach for her hand as he gently stroked her fingers.

She looked up and felt a surge of emotion as he gazed back at her. She swallowed to again gain the confidence to continue her speech.

"Seeing you play with Danielle that day." She paused as a smile took up her face. She then glanced down to hide her giddy grin and continued. "Yes, my motivation may have been selfish. I did picture an 'us' a 'happy family', but I understand your feelings are elsewhere."

Jared suddenly found it hard to breathe. Caitlin still cared about him like that? Still wanted that? He was a little blindsided and a whole lot of confused right now.