Clear Blue Sky Ch. 3
Evelyn watched as Hondo ripped into Street, effectively kicking him off SWAT, a part of her was torn, him lying to go to his mother was bad, but him going to his mother, made some sort of sense. However, after finding that she organized the false claim about Hondo a month or so back, didn't exactly put Ms. Street on the sympathy list. She watched as Chris went after him, but when Hondo told her to stop, she did.
She walked over to them, "I'm sorry you had to do that Hondo." She placed her arm on his shoulder. She knew Hondo in a different manner than the rest of the team, hell she knew his mom and sister Winnie.
Chris glared at her, "What does it matter to you?" she growled out.
Trying to keep her cool, she knew that Chris never liked her, she still was trying to figure out why, but that didn't matter right now, she was upset, "Because he is a friend, and he's your friend, and" looking at the rest of the team, "you're losing a teammate, that's not easy."
Chris looked at her, from the moment she was hired, Chris wasn't a fan, but right now she knew that she wasn't trying to be a bitch, "Yea. Thanks." Turning to the rest of the team, she nodded and headed out.
Deacon put his hand on Evelyn shoulder, "What's up with you two?" he asked curiously. This was the first time Chris openly barked at her.
Turning to look at the rest of them, "It's always been like that between us, I can't for the life of me tell you why." Honestly, she thought it was in her head, given the fact that it never happened in front of anyone.
Luca watched Evie, he could see that she wasn't kidding, "Really? Why didn't you say anything?"
The rest of the team nodding in agreement.
Shrugging her shoulders, "Cause it doesn't matter, she is professional when she needs to be, we don't need to be friends." Feeling her phone vibrate, it was Jessica. Looking at the guys, "Got to go."
Hondo watched as she walked towards the offices, it really pissed him off that she wouldn't tell him about Chris throwing her shade. Turning to Luca and Tan, "Figure out why Chris acts like that. As far as I can see Evie hasn't been rude to anyone."
Both of them nodded.
Knocking on Jessica's door, she heard a come in. "Hey Boss, what's up?" she asked as she walked towards her desk.
Letting out a big sigh, "Street. Was it a mistake to put him on the team, because of Buck?" she said sitting down in her chair.
Oh, so this wasn't a boss to employee talk. "No. Until the Raymond thing, Buck had a clean record as a team leader, and even though he made a mistake, he's still an amazing cop. So, you trusted his judgement."
Grabbing two glasses, she went to the drawer that held Evie's favorite whiskey. Pouring them a little in each glass. Taking a sip, "And," letting the liquor slide down her throat, "I don't think he was wrong. Street is a great SWAT officer, but his home life is complicated, you know that. He was a kid from an abusive home, his mom straight up shot his dad, grew up in foster care, I could almost guarantee she's very manipulative."
Jessica heard what she said, taking a sip of her drink, "Yea." Closing her eyes as the liquor warmed her inside, "So, should I let this play out? Or should I interfere?"
That was a hard thing to answer, but she knew about her history with Hondo. "Do you trust him?" she asked.
Looking up, Jessica couldn't help but smile, "You know I do." While they ended their relationship because of the police reform she and Plank got pushed through, the love didn't just stop.
"Well, then, you must trust he knows what he's doing. I know Hondo, there is a reason for it all." Downing her drink she looked back at her friend, "My guess, Street makes a lot of excuses, perhaps he wants to get him get a little more self-reflection going through his head."
Jessica couldn't help but agree with that statement, "Yea. I can see him doing that. Thanks for listening." Standing up she indicated it was time to head home.
They chatted as they walked to their vehicles, "Night Jess."
"Night Evie."
Over the next couple weeks, Evie spent a lot of time in the armory with Street, currently she was helping him fix the sound gun, "Damn it, Street, why are arguing with me?" She snapped. Putting down the soddering tool.
Holding his hands up, "Sorry, I just want to do a great job. OK?"
Nudging his shoulder, "I know, but can you trust me? I know what I'm doing. You are my apprentice; I am the master. Learn from me young one. I have vast knowledge of tech!"
Bowing at her, "Yes master!" Laughing at her face.
Rocker watched from the ring as they goofed around inside the armory. Looking at his sparing partner, he gave a hard left hook, knocking him down. "Sorry Stevens. You good?" he asked.
Shaking it off, "Yea. A little hard boss!" He said standing up.
"Yea I was feeling it. Sorry about that." His eyes darting towards the two in the cage.
He wasn't the only one watching them, Luca was staring him down, trying to keep from snapping at him.
As they joked around, Chris came in, looking to talk to Street, but of course he was with Evie. Rubbing her face, perhaps she could give a little insight. "I need to talk."
Evie looked up, realizing that it she wasn't speaking with her, turning to Street, "I'll see ya later." Making a move to get up from the circuit board she was working on.
"Actually, I'd like your opinion too." Feeling pretty vulnerable.
Shocked, Evie sat back down, and waited for her to speak. As Chris explained everything going on with Keira and her fiancé Ty, Evie just blinked. What?!
Street of course, "Wow, I got to meet this guy, getting one hottie to marry him and with his fiancé's permission…"
Evie punched his arm, "Dude, shut up." Looking at Chris, "Well, you're bi-sexual, right? So, what is your hang up?"
Chris chewed on her cheek. "I mean it's not conventional. People would judge, my family would flip." While her family was excepting of who she was, it took a long time to get there.
Cracking her neck, "No, it's not traditional, but so what, Chris you do realize one of the coolest things about you is that you just do what you feel is right. I mean, I would say, meet him, find out if he's some creeper, who knows, you could have two loves."
Street nodded, "She's right, that one of the things I adore about you, you don't give a fuck about what others thinks about you. And they could be the loves of your life."
Grabbing the sound gun, "I can't believe Luca ran this over." Looking at them, "Thanks." Giving Evie a small nod.
Street, "He DID! Ass!" If it wasn't for Luca being his SWAT teacher for the next few weeks, he'd go yell at him.
That didn't stop Evie, heading out of the armory, she found him leaning against the ring talking to Rocker. "You know Luca, I really dislike you! Lying about who ran over sound gun." Folding her arms over her chest.
Holding his hands up, "Sorry Evie."
Poking his shoulder, "Listen up, I already have Street causing me tech headaches, do not become that. Be like Rocker, he's not violent against tech." Giving him a big smile as she looked up at him.
Rocker smiled back, wrapping his arm around her, "Yea, Luca. Treat the tech with respect."
Luca rolled his eyes, but he could see that he was needed for his team. "I'll do better. See ya sweetheart." Heading towards the locker room to get ready for to catch the girls robbing the diamonds.
Looking up at her friend, "I think he's lying to me. Seriously, you're the biggest one in SWAT and you don't destroy all my work. I really do appreciate it!" She could see that his hands were still wrapped up from his boxing.
Looking down at her, he started to pull the tape off his hands, but it was giving him a little difficulty. "You're most welcome Evelyn."
Taking his hand, she slowly undid the tape, "So, why do you wrap your hands like this?" she asked as she reached for his other hand to start unwrapping it.
Rocker was enjoying the feeling of her hands on his. Looking at her face as she concentrated on trying to do it gently. "To protect my bones from breaking as I hit things." Realizing he's never seen her go anywhere near the ring or bag before. "Do you know how to fight?"
Her eyes shot up to his, "Um, no. Never had to. I don't even think I've thrown a real punch." Biting her lip, "Benefits of living on 500-acre mountain."
Taking her by the hand he pulled her towards the punching bag, picking up a pair of gloves, putting them on for her, he watched her face as he put them on and tied them for her. Holding the bag, "OK, well, let's fix that, shall we."
Looking down at her hands, then back at him, "And why would I do this? I'm really not into embarrassing myself."
Letting go of the bag, he stepped into her space, "Because you might need to protect yourself, I might not be there Evie." Tucking her hair behind her ear, "You can't embarrass yourself. I promise."
Feeling a blush creep up her face, "OK. Teach me."
Hicks and Jessica were standing up on the second-floor platform overlooking the weight room, Hicks leaned over to Jessica, "Do you think she even has a clue that he's in love with her?"
Jessica watched Rocker instruct her friend on proper punching techniques. Smiling, seeing that she was listening intently and doing as she was instructed. "No. She's pretty oblivious to how amazing she is. But her ex did a real number on her, very emotionally abusive, I suspect physically too. She's still healing from all that." Not wanting to go deeper into her friend's history. It really wasn't her place.
Hicks growled a little bit, she reminded him of Molly, hell, she was like a kid to him, "Well, I suspect you're helping her through some of that?"
Jessica nodded. "Of course. She's getting there."
Evie hit the bag for about 30 minutes and felt sweaty and gross. "How much longer?" she asked him.
"One more set, then hit the showers!" he teased her.
As she worked through her next set that he taught her, she heard a loud squeal, "CRICKET!" The voice causing her to freeze and stare at the bag hoping it would make her disappear.
"CRICKET!"
Closing her eyes, she groaned, looking up at Rocker, she could see his concern, "If I ask you to strangle me, you would, right?" she asked him as she turned around.
Turning around she came face to face with her older sister, "Mandy," looking down at her swollen belly, "What are you doing here?"
Pulling her baby sister into a hug, "I needed to see you of course. I missed you, Cricket. What are you doing with those gloves on, that's not very ladylike?" Looking at the giant man standing next to her, she extended her hand, "Howdy, I'm Mandy Powell, Cricket's older sister. You are?"
Taking her hand, he could see some family resemblance, but she must take after her father, seeing that her hair was a darker brown, and she had matching eyes, "Donovan Rocker."
A tinge of jealousy peaked through, as she saw her sister place her hand on his shoulder, but that was Mandy, she could get anyone to fall for her, even a supposed first love. Sighing out, "Mandy, does Dan know you're here?" she asked. She loved her dearly, but she was truly a tornado.
"Of course, silly, I told him I needed to spend some time with you before the baby came. Ain't no baby coming out today!" she teased.
Rubbing her face, "Why didn't you call, I could have made arrangements or something. I'm working right now." Mentally punching her sister in the face.
Holding out her hand, "I know cricket, I'll just take the house key and head over to your place, I'll see you later."
Knowing that there wasn't any arguing with her, she handed over her house key. "Love you cricket." With that Mandy bounded off like she always did.
Rocker watched Evie go from happy go lucky to stressed in a second, "So, that's your sister?"
Tilting her head back, "Yup." She wanted to scream or something. Looking at the gloves, "Can you please take these off? I'm going to find a dark hole to cry."
Lifting her hands, he gently removed the gloves, "Why?" generally curious about her reasons.
Stretching her fingers from being in the gloves, "I love my sister, I do. But we are not even remotely similar other than the same DNA. She's this force of nature, and I always feel like a little girl around her, no matter what I do." Letting out a long sigh, "So, strangle me? Please." Giving him big puppy eyes.
Putting his hand on her shoulders and leading her towards the locker room, "That's going to be hard pass."
Snorting at him, "Rude." Thinking of a million reasons why she didn't want to go home, but not finding a good enough reason to not to. "Well, dang, I guess I should get going, and face the inquisition. If I don't come in to work tomorrow, it's because I drowned myself in the tub."
Rocker couldn't help but laugh, "Please don't, I would miss you too much." Realizing what he said, he quickly diverted his gaze to the wall, "What inquisition?" he tried to change the subject.
Blushing slightly at his statement but could see that he didn't want to expound on it, "About my love life, or lack thereof. Why I don't have a boyfriend, why aren't you looking for a boyfriend, why don't you want a boyfriend, or my personal favorite, when are you going to settle down and have kids?" Cracking her neck, she looked at him, "She doesn't understand, for her all that relationship stuff came easy, for me, I'm weird and awkward. I keep trying to explain this to her, but she chooses to see the glass half full."
He didn't get to respond to her as her phone rang, he watched her face as she answered it.
Frowning, seeing his name pop up. "Hey Dan, what's up?"
"Just checking to make sure my wife got to you safely."
"Yea, she just popped into my job, unannounced took my key. Does mama know she's out here?"
She could see Rocker looking at her, giving him a small smile. Mouthing shoot me.
Shaking his head, he pointed to the locker, giving him a quick hug, he watched as she walked into her locker area to clean up. As he washed himself off from his day, he couldn't help but think about what she said about being weird and awkward, he didn't see any of that. To him, she was perfect.
Entering her house, she could smell her sister cooking. Fried Chicken. While she made it occasionally, it was nice to have someone make it for her.
"Hey Twister, thanks for cooking." She said putting down her keys and phone.
Looking over her shoulder, "You're welcome cricket, I see you had some sweet tea already made, good. That's one thing I found out here, they don't make good, sweet tea." Putting the plate down on the table for them.
They ate in relative silence, but as predicted her sister when full force on her about the guys.
"Oh, come on cricket, that one man, Donovan, he's gorgeous why aren't you trying to snag him?" she asked.
Rolling her eyes, "Because, he's way out of my league. Guys like him do not date nerds like me." Holding up her hand because she knew what she was going to say next, "Mandy, it's like telling you, you can't bake, it's just what makes you happy right? Well working with technology makes me happy, if I must stop being who I am for someone, would I really be happy?"
Taking a sip of her water, she actually got it, she couldn't lie about who she was, "No, it wouldn't. I never really thought of it that way. I just want you to be happy like I am. You deserve everything, especially after what Tommy did." The last part made her so mad.
Rubbing her sister's belly, "I know you do. So does mama. I will happen eventually. If not, I'll be one hell of an aunt." She could feel the baby kick, "Have you found out if it's a girl or boy?" she asked.
Shaking her head, "No, going to let it be a surprise. Mama says it's a girl, Dan say's a boy." Tilting her head at her sister, "You? Any guesses?"
"Boy. We need one of those in the family. Plus I'm sure mama would love to spoil a little boy."
Yawning, "True." Looking around, "Cricket, you've done really well for yourself. I was thinking of you inviting your friends over for dinner tomorrow night, we could give them real down-home cooking?" Giving her the biggest doe eyes, she's seen in a year.
Groaning out, fine, she knew that 20D and 50D were actually off tomorrow night, so, picking up her phone she sent a mass text to anyone that wanted to come. Looking at her sister, "I swear twister, keep the embarrassing stories to a minimum, or I will call daddy and tell him who really stole papa's shine." She threatened.
At 27, Mandy was still terrified of her daddy finding out. Holding up her hands in surrender, "Deal!" Standing up and heading towards the guest room, she looked over her shoulder, "Oh, and Travis and them are in town, they'll be here tomorrow night as well."
Grabbing the pillow she tried to smother her face, but to no avail. But a ping from her phone got her attention, everyone including Chris responded with a YES, for a Tennessee BBQ.
But it was his that made her heart flutter.
TEXT:
I wouldn't miss it for the world Evie.