Molly sits in her living room for a while and cuddles with Luna. The scene inevitably has been on her mind on repeat. The day when she couldn't help but ask Chris for advice. How long had Chris known it would end. That it had to end.
Her subconscious had already put two and two together, but that didn't help either.
The more Molly thinks about it, the more she understands that it wasn't Chris's job to end the relationship. But it feels still like a betrayal that she had not been warned.
Stop. Stop. Molly stops herself.
She knows that for the situation at that time she must not measure her friend against today's relationship of trust. Chris was Jim's girlfriend and it was clear that she would keep his secrets.
Even if it was over a year ago and she thought she had closed that chapter. It hurt. She felt betrayed and disappointed. Pissed off.
The next morning and some dreams, some of which were very painful, Molly gets up and makes two cups of coffee. Luna is ready at the door.

Chris has been up for a while and has set the table for a cozy, extensive breakfast for two. For a little moment, she thinks about whether it's all too much. What if Molly doesn't come at all when she hears the familiar tap against the door and the gentle barking and it makes her smile.
Luna is at the door and, with a little luck, Molly too.
Chris pulls the door open and the cheeky bitch has disappeared right into the apartment. Molly looks at her uncertainly and holds up a cup of coffee.
"Come on in," says Chris, stepping aside while she takes a cup.
Molly sees the table and asks suddenly but jokingly "What do you have to apologize for?"
Chris gives a short shrug and then looks ruefully at her friend. "Everything,"
"No, Chris you don't need to apologize for anything. You've done everything right. I would have liked more of a warning but looking back I can say I should have known."
"I'm just still unsure because Molly there is still something ..." Chris tries to start, but Molly shakes her head. "I can guess. And to be honest, as long as you just tell me that you weren't together when I was still there ... " "I promise. There was nothing. Never." Chris interrupts quickly only to then consciously stare guiltily into her cup.
"Molly, you have to know something else. Otherwise, this was another lie." Chris says quietly and looks for Molly, who is sitting petrified in her chair.
Chris raises her hand and reaches for Molly's. "If our friendship is to have a chance, I have to tell you everything now. Even if it's not my story. not entirely."
Molly continues to look petrified and thinks feverishly about how she can stop this conversation. She has the slightest inkling that Jim told Chris what he was feeling well before he broke up with her and she would like to say that all of this is in the past and therefore unimportant, but it wasn't that simple. To know that you were never the only person. Always a second choice. A replacement model.
Chris almost sees the thoughts racing through Molly's head.
"Listen. Yes, he told me a few days after Erika's death that he could only think about me, but Molly you can't think that you weren't important to him. The separation wasn't easy for him either."

"Chris stop," Molly holds up one hand and briefly wipes under her eyes with the other. "I personally really don't want to know if it was hard for him. After what did you just said, all I heard was that I clung like an idiot to a relationship which has long been over, perhaps never really existed. And I really don't think that I should feel sorry for him for a second."
Chris flinches a bit, because Molly's voice sounds harsh. But after a few moments, Molly's expression softened again and a smile is back on her face, albeit a forced one.
"Let's really change the subject and enjoy the food. You made a great effort and to finish the subject: I'm not blaming you."
A bark comes from under the table and the two women laugh. "Somebody heard food there." Chris smiles and pulls a can closer.
After Luna is happy with the pig's ear the two women can enjoy their breakfast in peace.

Over the next few weeks everything is going it's normal way, even when Molly is informed by her boss that Deac's security company and therefore very likely Street and his team will take over all personal security assignments for the firm with immediate effect. Fortunately, she has no such cases on her calendar at the moment. And right now she really doesn't want to see him.
Chris had promised her to try for a conversation and then not to have it in her apartment. Chris could even understand the request very well.

The next weekend Molly and Chris go on to their usual jogging route keeping Luna entertained and tiring the dog out before spending the day at the beach and just soaking up the sun and relax. They hadn't actually run very far when Luna suddenly stormed forward and started jumping around a solo jogger up ahead.
In an instant, Molly freezes on the spot and turns away. Chris does the same after she has recognized Street and walks back to her friend. "Is everything okay?" she asks quietly.
Molly shakes her head almost imperceptively and takes a deep breath. "I just, I don't think I want to see him right now. But you two should talk and maybe work this out." She passes on the bag with Lunas playthings. "Here, there are some biscuits in there too. I might as well head home and prep for court." is the short explanation Chris is given before Molly pulls her into a hug and disappears.
Chris turns around when she hears someone clearing their throat behind her.
"Hey," Street offers with slight insecurity in his voice "What a coincidence."
Chris rolls her eyes. "Not much of a coincidence since you live close by." is her dry assessment. Luna just fixes the bag with her things impatiently, sitting in front of Chris softly wagging her tail.

Street is a little surprised at first but after a second he realizes that Molly probably told Chris. Slowly he sits down in the warm sand and waits for Chris to do the same. Reasoning that that might be the sign she is really ready to talk.
A short while later Chris flops down with a huge sigh.
"Why?" is her opening question while she watches the waves crash onto the beach, and stroking Luna's head. The dog has laid down between the two of them. Now being a barrier and a bridge at the same time.
"Why what?" Street can't follow her train of thought and is confused.
"Why did you lie? Why couldn't you just tell me you'd moved back? It would've spared me the embarrassing trip to Boston." Chris feels herself getting angry and only realizes that she spilled too much when Street sits up straight and stutters out "You were in Boston? You really wanted..."
"Yes, and now I really don't know why. But Molly thinks it is important. So.." Chris explains and looks at him expectantly. She waits for an explanation but Jim just stares silent out at the horizon.
Now was his chance but he had no idea what he could or even wanted to say right now.
So he stays silent until Chris continues speaking.
Her voice has soften a little.
"Can we talk about last year? I want to try and understand what happened. Why you needed to leave." she stops short of making any more remarks. she knows passing the blame right now wouldn't help.
Jim lets his fingers wander of the side of his torso. The side that is marked by the scar.

"You know that the healing process wasn't ideal" he starts his explanation quietly and turns his head to see if Chris is listening. She just nods her head. "But I never told you that the same day the hospital called me about my mom, I had another round of bad news. I had a check-up with the medical team of the LAPD and they informed me that because of the slow healing and the delayed regeneration of my liver, I couldn't come back to active duty. Ever."
Chris had been stroking Luna's coat but now her hand stops "Why didn't you say something?"
"I didn't know how. Chris I was all alone here. I had no one to talk to. So I quit and left after our conversation".
"You could've talked to me. I would've been here for you. We were talking about a future together. We," Chris stops herself for a moment realizing where her thoughts are moving but she adds the rest anyway almost in a whisper. "We could've worked us out."
After that, she focuses back on Luna and the caress of the chocolate-colored coat.

After what felt like an eternity of silence Chris feels Streets fingers tentatively touching her hand and softly grabbing a hold of it. She slowly turns her head to face him and when their eyes meet she already knows what he is going to ask.
"And now?"

Chris pulls her hand back and Luna howls in protest. Chris quickly pulls out a rope for the dog to play with and keep her quiet. She feels herself getting angry and agitated. With deep breaths, she tries to keep herself calm but it doesn't keep her voice from sounding angry.
"Now? There is nothing left. You disappeared without a word. And now you are back you think everything is okay? Are you crazy?"
"Chris I was all alone. You weren't here!"
Almost as soon as the words have left Streets mouth Chris is jumping up and grabbing the bag as well as motivating Luna to follow her. "Okay, we are heading home now, come on," she says softly to the Labrador before turning her angry eyes back to Street. "Then you can stay here alone again."

Chris has barely taken a few steps when she hears him yelling for her to stop"Chris, please. Wait." But she has no intention to stop walking and give him the impression he still has any effect on her. After a few more steps Chris feels him grabbing her wrist and spinning her around.
In the turn, she has lost her equilibrium and falls against his torso a little unceremoniously.
Jim sees immediately that Chris will start yelling at him but he is also sure she felt the same thing just moments ago when he held her hand. She has to.
Without thinking too much about the consequences he crashes his lips against hers and tries to pour all his emotions into the kiss. He would swear he felt her kiss him back immediately.
For a short moment, time stops and it is just them but suddenly and without warning Chris pulls away, pushing him off.
Without another word, she heads for the next path off the beach and leaves Street standing there alone and reeling.