"Um, wow, okay. We are on our way. See you soon." Street said a little flustered as he slid his phone back in and looked up to Chris, "The TLI results are in. Hondo and Hicks are there waiting for us."
"Oh shit." Chris muttered, "we better hurry."
It started to spit rain drops as Chris lifted the helmet. "Oh, it's gunna rain?" She looked up at the sky, "let's take my truck."
She tossed him the keys and smiled as she headed over and climbed in. The ride across town to the bar was comfortable but a little quiet at first. Neither really knowing what to say. Chris kept smiling thinking about their kisses and then she would chew her lip to try and straighten her face as she felt him watching her.
Street was grinning too as he glanced over. But he was still nervous, not really knowing what this was, or what would happen.
After a while he inhaled and asked, "You nervous?"
She looked to him, "You mean about the TLI thing?". He nodded. "Uh, a bit I guess, but it will be what it will be." As she suddenly thought about the possibility of one of them winning and being handed a ticket to Germany for 3 months. She swallowed hard. Had she just done something stupid like, opened a door that would end in tears for them?
"You nervous?" She asked back.
He chuckled a bit and nodded. "Hell yes! ...and not just about the TLI's." Chris instantly knew he meant what had just happened between them. She glanced across at him and he shot his eyes back to hers. There was a softness, but also fear in them. He licked his lip and reached a hand over the centre console to cover hers. "I'd just like to know what…"
"What this is?" Chris cut him off as she looked at their hands. She slowly turned hers over to hold his. It made him smile and eye her briefly as he drove.
"Uh huh." He nodded. "Not that I am complaining one bit, but…"
"Hey, I um, I don't know." She answered. "But you know now how I've been feeling and … yeah...I haven't figured the rest out yet."
He squeezed her hand. "You know I want this right?" He smiled looking at her.
"I know," she nodded, "I just dunno how this works, cause back there can't.."
"Can't happen again?" His eyes widened in fear.
"Street," she sighed. "We're teammates …and the rules." This time when she said that he could hear the fear in her voice. The angst about the roadblocks to a 'them'. "It's not as easy as just start a relationship." He nodded. Knowing what she was saying was correct.
As they finally arrived at the venue, Street turned to her and licked his lip hesitantly.
"So? When we go in there…."
She felt herself smirk at his question. "When we go in there, we are teammates, like always." Chris chuckled, eyeing him. "No funny business. Hicks is in there about to tell us who won the TLI's, this is all but a work function now." She stated.
"Yeah, you're right." He nodded looking back to the restaurant.
"But hey," she gently brushed his hand with her fingertips, making his eyes shoot to her. "We will talk later about….. this." She motioned between them. Even saying 'this', or 'us' felt odd, but strangely comfortable and perfect to her. She smiled and he did too. Nodding at her and intertwining their hands.
"Whatever happens in there," he nodded his head at the building. "You have made me the happiest I've ever been." He said sincerely. Chris couldn't stop herself. She leant over the console and kissed him hard.
"Me too." She whispered biting her lip as she sat back. "Now come on before Luca calls again." She added, making him laugh.
They climbed out, sharing a glance before they entered the restaurant.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Hondo announced. "They are here!" His best wrestling announcer voice on full display. They both laughed and headed in different directions around the table, to say hello to everyone.
"Okay, come back here, both of you." Hicks gestured standing up. "You two are my finalists in this year's TLI's."
Soon Chris found herself standing face to face with Street as Hicks stood between them.
"And this year's TLI champion, off to Germany for 12 weeks to represent LAPD SWAT is …" Chris held her breath. She smiled at Street and couldn't help but feel his nerves. She was nervous too. What would happen when one of them is gone for 3 months?
"Jim Street!" Hicks said loudly as the team and their partners broke into cheers. Chris was the first to wrap her arms around him.
"I'm so proud of you," she whispered in his ear. "You are amazing." As she drew back the smile and look in her eyes made him hug her tight again.
"Thank you Chris. This is all you. You made me the man I am.' He whispered as she leant back and looked at him. In that moment she knew just how much she loved him and realised she was more than willing to make some changes in her life to accommodate that.