The next morning as she woke up, she sighed. Part of her was a little nervous about seeing him again. Given how she felt yesterday standing there that close to him. Would she be able to contain those feelings? Deacon had been right. She had accepted that, and she had talked to him. But she still knew that if she wanted this to work, she would have to one day be brave enough to tell him how she feels. But today, she was terrified. How could anything ever work between them when there were the rules and the obstacles in their way?

That shift at HQ was hectic. The day consisted of 4 callouts and little to no break between. Street had been watching her closely, he knew she was okay, and that they were okay and that made him happy, but he also worried. Was she just saying that? Was there something else worrying her? He wanted another chance to hang out with her. He wondered if she wanted another hand to do a bit more painting tonight. It was worth a shot to ask. So, after shift as she made her way out to her truck, he jogged to catch up to her.

"Hey," he called. Chris paused hearing his voice and turned around.

"Hey." She answered. Tucking her hair behind her ear.

"You um, want a hand to paint the rest or grab more of that amazing pizza?" He asked with a smile.

Chris smiled with a slight frown in the corner of her mouth. "Thanks, I do, I mean I wanna hang out." She saw his smile grow and then she instantly felt bad. "but I um have already made plans for dinner with Erika." She winced a bit.

"Oh, yeah, right well, hope you have a great night, I'm here if you need anything." Chris nodded and watched him scrunch his lips a bit. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then." He tapped his helmet on his leg and walked to his bike. She watched him walk away and felt her stomach sink. She unlocked her truck and opened the door as she heard his bike roar to life. She gave him a wave as he rode out passed her. But deep down she couldn't help but feel bad for not hanging out with him again. She knew how sweet and supportive he was, but she had planned this catch up with Erika a while ago. Truthfully though, a night alone with Street right now, feeling like she did around him, scared her a fraction. She needed a gal pal to bounce stuff off.

Soon Chris had been home, showered and was pulling into a space at Erikas with a bottle of wine on the seat next to her. As Erika opened the door, she smiled at Chris. "So, here is the amazing marksman all of HQ was talking about."

"Oh, stop it!" Chris cut in, "Any one of 20 David could have made that shot."

"Uh huh, sure, even Stevens was impressed. And that is huge seeing as he is the reigning Master Gunner champ. Oh and," she began to laugh, "You should have seen Rocker giving it to him about you…. Stevens actually looked worried."

Chris rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Enough of that. That is not why I am here." She smiled holding up the wine.

"Ok," Erika laughed slightly seeing the wine. "Then, I guess you better come on in." Erika walked to the kitchen and Chris pulled up a stool.

"Can I help you do anything?" She asked, looking at the plates and food on the bench.

"Nope. All done, it will be ready in a moment." Erika reached up and took down two wine glasses, pouring them both a glass. As she slid Chris's towards her, she watched her. She could see the turmoil and angst that was making her lips twitch and fingers drum on the countertop.

"Okay, first things first. Let's go straight into the good stuff. Tell me about the Jared situation." Erika began.

Chris inhaled and took a sip of her wine. "Well, it's over. So, there is no more Jared situation." She said bluntly, and with a coldness to her voice.
"Oh Chris," Erika moved to sit on the stool next to her. "What happened? Why? I thought you two were hot n heavy and in love?"

Chris exhaled with a sigh, "Maybe we were at one point, maybe it was just lust, maybe it never was what I thought it was." She said looking thoughtfully at her glass.

"Hey, talk me through it all," Erika said as she stood up and tapped Chris's arm, pointing towards the sofas. The two sat, eating pasta, and drinking wine, as Chris explained all the drama between her and Jared. She told Erika about the mess related to Street and how Jared had felt jealous of their bond or connection or whatever it was. Then the Caitlin stuff and how she had been feeling about all of that, so confused and lost.

"So, hold on. Back it up to the Jared being jealous of Street thing?" Erika said questioningly with a head tilt, making Chris sigh.

"Yeah well, I should have seen that coming." Chris muttered sipping her wine.

"Jared thought you had feelings for Street? Or … I mean, what am I missing?" Erika asked.

"Well, I guess it all flared up after Caitlin appeared in court. I was feeling scared, maybe worried that he still might have feelings for her so, he and I, we kinda um, we had a bit of an argument, or more a tense discussion about our respective pasts. I figured that, this new and improved me should be open and honest about that stuff. So, I told Jared about the moment Street and I had a while back, and that we were still close, that I cared about him. And then um, well, I guess add to that the Molly mess and what Street said after the breakup and …"

"Hang on, what did Street say to you after the Molly mess?" Erika interrupted, sitting up and widening her eyes.

"He, ah," Chris hesitated. A little reluctant to tell Erika more, but then she thought about why she was here. To unload and debrief and figure out her head, so she continued. "He all but confessed he still has big feelings for me, after he told me about ending it with Molly. And being honest…." She briefly glanced up and tilted her head, "I've felt those feelings for him too." She looked up at Erika whose shocked face slowly began to smile widely. "Listen, don't get carried away," Chris held up her hand. "There's nothing happening, I mean, I've tried my best to bury my feelings. Ignore them, move on, date someone else, but" she paused. "I just can't escape it. I mean I think I realise that I really do have big feelings for him." Chris curled her legs up and hugged the pillow.

Erika smiled. "Do you think you love him?" She asked softly, watching her friend.

"Street?" Chris said widening her eyes.

"Uh huh, you know it girl." Erika pushed a bit, still wearing a soft smile.

Chris twitched her lips before slowly beginning to nod. "Maybe. But I mean that is impossible right? I mean we are teammates, best friends, we can't…"

"Yes. Yes, you could." Erika said. "Stop throwing up walls or barriers to it. I mean, granted, it's a bit complicated to get around the teammate's thing, but there would be a way. And if like you said after all this, all these years, all these messes you both still feel it? WHY are you both being so stubborn and ignoring it?"

"It's not that simple." Chris shook her head. A wave of sadness washing over her.

"Why? I don't understand. If you can date Jared, a cop. Why can't you and Street make it work? Why can't you just talk to him? Be honest with him and try and work it out?" Erika suggested, watching her friend. Chris closed her eyes and her lips contorted. Erikas words had hit home. She was right. How come she could break her rules and date Jared, but was so, defensive towards any idea or suggestion of something more than friends with Street.

"I need time, to think, to see if I am right or ..."

"Or?"

"I dunno..." Chris shrugged. "I dunno." She muttered looking down as all that hit her and began to sink in.

"Hey, I'm not trying to push you or upset you, but if you both feel the same way, still have those huge feelings that have survived all of that, then I think using work as an excuse to not explore it, is well, dumb."

Yeah, maybe." Chris sighed. "Let's talk about something else." She added wanting to change the subject.