As he reached her side he smiled at her,

"It really was an amazing shot, Chris." To which she flicked her eyes to him and smiled a bit.

"Thanks, but you could have made it too." She conceded bumping her shoulder against the locker room door. That made him smile. And happy to the core that they could still be like that with each other. He shook his head with a grin and headed in after her.

"So, can you answer my question now?" He asked as the door closed behind them both. She took a small bag from her locker and walked to the sink. She looked at him in the mirror and sighed.

"Well, long story short, it's now officially over." She looked away from him and down into the bag. Street swallowed a nervous lump and stepped a fraction closer with his hands in his pockets.

"And how do you feel about that?" He asked. A little nervous to know what state she was in.

"You and I both know that it's for the best. I mean, I wanted it to work, but I, well maybe I was wrong." She said looking back at her own reflection.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked, studying her.

She put down the towel and turned to face him. "Honestly? I think I just need some time. Time to just process all of this myself and figure out where I am at and what I need to do next."

For the remainder of their shift, Chris kept to herself. She felt better now that Street had heard it from her. That it was over. But she definitely didn't feel ready to tell him the rest. The bits about her realising she still has feelings for him.

As he watched her working away in the armoury a while later, he couldn't help but wonder what she had meant about 'figuring it out, where she is at and what she needs to do next?'

Over the next week of shifts, he knew to give her that space. And she was grateful for that. She wasn't actively shutting him out completely like she had before, but she really just needed some time. To process the end of her and Jared and come to terms with what that meant for her moving forward. Chris was and easily put all of her focus into their cases, and training. She wanted to do well in these last rounds of the TLI's and that meant training hard and being sharp. Deacon had watched her pushing herself physically in the gym every night after shift. He knew the TLI competition was a motivator, but he also had observed the slight shift with Street. He had noticed Street staying clear and not wandering around with her when he got the chance. He wanted to ask her what was going on.

As Chris's alarm dinged, she hit the end button on her watch, that was tracking her heartrate and workout. She flung the towel over her shoulder. Grabbing her bag and wiping her face as she headed out.

She was walking to her truck thinking about when she should text Street again. She had been wondering how he was doing? She knew he was worried about her. He had sent a few texts over the last few days, his way of reminding her gently he was there, but not pushing her in person to talk.

"You okay?"

"Here if you wanna talk."

But Chris had simply kept her response to a
"Thanks, I'll let you know when I am ready."

As she opened the door of her truck, Deacon's voice came from behind her.

"Chris?" She turned and smiled lightly.

"Hey." She continued to look at him as if waiting for him to ask something.

"Wait up, I, you got a minute?" He asked.

"Yeah what's up?"

"Well," he began with a slight chuckle. "I um, I was gunna ask you the same thing?" Chris looked at him quizzically. "I've ah, seen you pushing yourself hard the last few days, I was …"

"Yeah TLI's are announced this month and .."

He cut back in. "And yes, I know your training harder than normal and focusing on that, but is everything else okay?" Chris sighed and lent back on her truck as her shoulders dropped and her head hung. Deacon just watched her for a moment.

"Is it Jared?" He asked quietly.

She felt her lips twinge as she nodded. "Yeah, we ah, broke up a week ago."

"Oh Chris," Deacon stepped forward and placed his hands on her upper arms, pulling her into a hug. "I wanna ask if you're okay, but I am guessing that's a no?"

Chris let out a slight chuckle. "I'm just trying to refocus, to figure this out."

Deacon stepped back, "So what happened?" He asked.

"It just wasn't supposed to be I guess." She tilted her head.

"Who ended it?"

"I did, but he didn't exactly stop me." Deac heard that hurt in her voice. He furrowed his brow, figuring there was more to this… "Caitlin?" He asked.

Chris swallowed and nodded. "Partly. It just, it all was a mess and not working like it should and I just am processing it all." She explained.

"Look I am here if you wanna talk. About any of it." Chris nodded and went to say thanks, when he continued. "I've seen Street lately, giving you space, but he seems pretty anxious and glum, and I figure you two aren't exactly talking too much and…"

"Yeah," She let out. "Stuff is a bit weird and…"

"and he's your best friend remember." Deac reminded her.

Chris didn't answer just shrugged and shook her head dropping her eyes. "It's a mess Deac, I just don't know a way out and …"

"Shutting Street out won't help you know. You see him almost every day. You two are important to each other and that friendship is pretty solid. He IS worried about you." She knew Deac was right. She knew her taking space would be hurting him. That she couldn't do this forever.

"I just can't," she paused and held up her hand. "I can't figure out how to let him back in without….," She looked up to Deac.

"Without what?" He asked frowning.

"Without getting how I feel confused."

"Oh." In that moment Deacon realised what she might have been getting at. That she had realised she has feelings for him. He paused licking his lip thinking of what to say. Wondering if what he read into that was right. "Chris like I've told you before. You need to 'TALK' and let someone in. I mean, yes, do you and focus on the TLI's but please be honest with yourself." To that all she could do was nod. "I won't say a word, I am your confidant." He gave her a small wink, "But promise me you will find a way to talk, to him especially, and not just bottle this up or stuff it down in there somewhere."

"I'll try." She nodded.

"He cares about you Chris. We all see that." He finished; she could see the knowing glance he gave her. It made her swallow hard. But having Deac say what she had been thinking, helped.

And after a goodbye he was gone, and she sat in her truck to work out what next.