Chapter 6
After the day it had gotten official that Street would be down for a while, because of the liver donation Tan had made a point of being extra diligent and kept an eye on Chris. He'd seen them hugging outside just minutes before Hondo had informed them about their upcoming assignments. The weeks rolled by and yes, Chris and Street seemed to be talking but he could see something was still bothering Chris. So, after shift on Saturday Tan steps to Chris. "You wanna grab a drink before heading home?"
Chris turns to Tan with a furrowed brow and her eyes dart around the locker room for a second before nodding. "Yeah, might be a good idea to talk. Not drink,"
She wasn't fooled by his question. Not really. Chris could guess her friend had noticed the shift but could also see the lingering tension. She couldn't help it. She was scared for Street, but more so of losing him.
Half an hour later they slide into a booth, both with an iced drink.
Chris is tracing the top of her glass, waiting for Tan to open the conversation.
"Are you all set for Monday?" he starts carefully, pulling Chris back to the present. She shrugs a little non-committal and offers a silent "Yeah,"
"Who's driving you to the airport?" Tan continues his questions. "A cab or are you offering?" Chris laughs at him.
"I'd offer but I think our flights leave at different times and you'd never make it in time," he shoots back and Chris stops laughing. Her eyes focus on Tan while she tilts her head from side to side.
"Bali, with Bonnie. Hicks approved it today," Tan explains with a slightly embarrassed blush before turning serious again. "Have you asked Street to drive you?" he asks before taking a sip of his drink and still keeping a watchful eye on Chris.
"I can't," she breathes out slowly before quickly adding "He has his hospital check-in Monday. He needs his rest."
Chris leans back and crosses her arms a little defiantly.
Tan takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. He has to tread carefully now.
"I am sure he'll get enough rest at that hospital," he starts jokingly and then adds softer "Have you told him why you're so worried? You do know he won't do this alone. We're all here for him,"
Tan reaches over the table and squeezes Chris's hand. She lifts her eyes and he'd swear they'd shimmer wet but after the blink of an eye all he can see is Chris's controlled but sad smile.
"I can't do that," Chris says out loud and silents adds 'to him'. "Can we please change the subject? You still have to explain Bali and how you will be there for Street from your vacation…"
Tan stops short from retorting that that isn't much of a change in topic if they still talk Street but he somehow senses that Chris is already thinking too much.
Since Sunday is a workday for them Tan gets up early to try and get a workout in before shift. Walking into the gym he can already see Chris and Street working out on different sides of the area. A small huff escapes him, and he walks over to greet them both. When he reaches Chris, he can't help himself "Have you asked Street to drive you yet?"
Chris turns her head and glares at Tan. He said it loud enough for Street to hear and stop the treadmill to walk to his friends. "Need a ride to the airport?" he asks breathing deeply and wiping the small sheen of sweat from his forehead. "I can do that. Why haven't you asked before?"
Street's eyes are focused on Chris who looks about ready to murder Tan, who in turn decides it's best to leave.
"I didn't want to bother you. You have enough on your plate," Chris whispers. Street reaches out but before his fingers can land on her arm an alert comes through on all their phones. "Duty calls," Chris immediately switches to work mode and heads for the locker room.
Street jogs to her side. "I'll drive you. Just text me the time, okay?"
His eyes bore deeply into hers and Chris can't do anything else but nod and actually text him the details immediately.
The rest of the day she forces herself to focus on work and that keeps the somersaults in her stomach in check.
She barely gets any sleep the night before her flight but with 9 hours time difference that might not be too bad. She can sleep on the plane. Still, she is dreading the goodbye. There was a reason she tried not to be alone with Street at that moment.
When 3 am rolls around Chris is already sitting fully dressed on her sofa. Her bags neatly stacked next to the door, waiting for that soft knock on her door accompanied by the vibrations of her phone on the table.
Keep it together. Runs as a mantra through her head.
The ride to the airport is silent and somehow Chris knows that Street won't just pull up to the terminal and throw her out of the car, so she manages to suppress the sigh when he turns for the parking structure.
"You didn't think I'd just let you jump out of the car?" he jokes hearing the soft sigh next to him and when their eyes meet for that second, he can see a hint of something he hadn't dared to believe in anymore. Street gulps down the lump and the words that threaten to spill out of his mouth right then and there. After a deep breath he concentrates on finding an open spot to park the car.
They silently walk to the terminal and Street waits at the windows when Chris checks her bags.
Chris swallows stepping to him.
"I should," her arm flies in the direction of security.
"I guess this is goodbye then," Street pushes of the window and opens his arms for a hug.
"I am going to miss you," Chris mumbles into his chest and closes her eyes when she feels Street's head lean down onto hers. "I am going to miss you too. But you're coming back," he pulls back slightly to study her face and adds "Right?" with a grin.
Chris laughs lightly and slaps his chest before burrowing her head against him again. She squeezes him once before stepping back slightly but tangling their fingers.
"When I am back," she starts and her eyes dart from his face to their linked hands and back, "When I am back, we should talk. Really talk."
Chris can see it in his eyes. Street knows about what but he still asks. "About what?"
"You were right," is her simple reply before she finds herself wrapped into a tight hug again.
After minutes of just standing there wrapped up in each other Chris's phone vibrates with her reminder that it is time to go. She pulls back and stares up into his face. Street's thumb slowly moves to her cheek and wipes away a stray tear that had escaped her eyes.
"No tears, you're coming back," he whispers while smiling at Chris.
She nods silently and then pushes her heels off the floor to place her lips onto his in a soft kiss goodbye. At that moment time seemed to slow down around them and Chris knows immediately that even if this will hurt now, she made the right decision.
When they pull apart, they both need a second to gather their thoughts but the smile on their respective faces tells the other that this was just the beginning. Chris glances down at her watch and their still linked hands.
"I gotta go," she sounds sad, and Street pulls her close one more time. "When you're back we'll figure this out. I promise," he places one last kiss on her temple before Chris grabs her bag and leaves. Turning ever so often until she reaches the security checkpoint.
Street leaves when he can't see her anymore and when he has arrived back at the house, he notices a text. "Call me when you're out of surgery, x." He knows Chris is already in the air but he replies "I will," anyway.
