Chapter 7: Friends?

Beca was doing her best not to look bored or annoyed with the doctor talking to her while she sat on the cold leather table in a pristine clean, and almost purely white room.

"You didn't do any extensive damage. No more than what you've done before. But it'll be a couple weeks before you'll be allowed in the field. Rest up and try not to use that arm too much. Do you need any painkillers?" He jotted a few notes on his clipboard as he spoke.

"No, its fine. But do you have any sleeping pills, maybe?" Beca questioned while adjusted the strap on her sling.

"Are you having trouble sleeping?" The doctor looked up with concern.

"No. No, I just asked in case the pain woke me up or something." Beca stuttered as she slid off the table.

"I'll write you a prescription for some painkillers to have just in case." He pulled out his prescription pad. Beca just rolled her eyes as she took the slip from him.

"Thanks, doc." She mumbled as she opened the door and started walking down the hallway. She was startled to see Chloe sitting on a bench in the hallway reading a magazine.

"Hey." Beca tried to hide her confusion at seeing the redhead sitting in front of her.

"Hey!" Chloe quickly jumped up from her seat.

"What are you doing here?" Beca asked, trying not to sound as if she was annoyed.

"Well, I figured you might need a ride home...since all you have is that death mobile." Chloe shrugged.

"Ah…" Beca nodded. "My poor bike. She's going to be lonely here in the HQ parking garage."

"She'll be fine." Chloe rolled her eyes and motioned for Beca to walk down the hallway.

"Thanks, though." Beca mumbled.

"Sure. I mean, you kinda saved my life, so its the least I could do."

"There's lots more you could do, though." Beca gave her a playful wink.

"Don't push your luck." Chloe gave her a steely glare as she held a door open for Beca.

They walked semi-awkwardly to the parking garage while Beca tried to adjust her sling to be more comfortable. She also was trying to think of conversation, which usually was never difficult for her. They hadn't talked since they got back from France; Beca was too busy getting evaluated by doctors. It was their first true near death experience, and Beca's first real injury in the Agency and she was waiting for Chloe to get mad at her for the whole bomb shelter thing. She figured Chloe was holding back out of pity.

"So…" Beca rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand. Chloe just glanced at her expectantly. "How about we get the whole scolding thing over with now? And then you can give me a ride home."

"Scolding thing?" Chloe's brows furrowed as she found her keys in her purse.

"Yeah...like do your whole yelling at me thing. Let it out." Beca stood by the passenger door and put her hands on the roof, gesturing for Chloe to just get it over with.

"I have nothing to yell at you about." Chloe was genuinely confused as she held her door open, looking back at Beca.

"Oh come on...the whole bomb shelter thing. I ignored you and did my own thing. You hate that. I even shoved you out of the way to close the door. Just let me have it. I was stupid, impulsive, rash, all that jazz." Beca waved her hands at Chloe in a suggestion to 'bring it on.'

"I'm not mad, Beca." Chloe shifted, looking awkwardly at her feet. "I mean, I was a little mad in the moment. But honestly I was more pissed that you actually knew the code to the door when I had studied that whole freaking binder. And...you were...it was really brave. How you were able to disarm it and get to the roof, I have no idea. But I'm not going to yell at you for trying to save the lives of hundreds of people. And I'm certainly not going to yell at you for saving mine."

"So you're just being nice because I didn't let you fall off the roof?"

"No. I mean...I still hate you." Chloe let out a little grin suggesting she didn't actually mean that. "I just think you proved yourself to be a great agent. And you proved to be a really great partner." She nodded at Beca's shoulder. "You have the body injuries to back it up."

"Oh…" Beca wasn't sure how to react to such sincere compliments from Chloe. "Well, thanks."

"And thank you. You know for saving my life and shit." Chloe waved her hand flippantly as she got in the car.

As they started driving away from HQ, Beca looked through Chloe's ipod trying to find some music to listen to.

"Oh. My God. Liz Phair, Michelle Branch, Sarah McLachlan, Brittney Spears, Gwen Stefani? Serious woman power, huh?" Beca laughed as she scrolled through.

"Oh shush."

"Ah, Fergie!" Beca nodded and hit play as 'London Bridge' started playing. "Love me some Fergie." She winked. Chloe rolled her eyes, wondering why she had actively chosen to give the brunette a ride. Beca was bobbing her head and started doing a little shoulder shake when she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. She immediately stopped and grimaced, holding onto her shoulder..

"Ha." Chloe glanced over. "Serves you right."

"This is me." Beca pointed at the apartment complex as Chloe put the car in park. "Thanks for the ride."

"Do you…" Chloe shook her hair out with her hand. "Need any help? With your shoulder and everything…"

"You wanna come up?" Beca tried to hide her grin, hoping Chloe would say yes.

"I mean, just to help you get situated." Chloe shrugged as she turned the car off.

Beca unlocked her door and motioned for Chloe to go in first. Chloe hesitantly walked in, very curious as to what Beca Mitchell's apartment would look like. She didn't have an exact image in her head, but what she saw was certainly not what she was expecting.

"I need to shower later...maybe you could help me with that?" Beca leaned forward a little, grinning mischievously.

"Keep it in your pants, Mitchell." Chloe deadpanned.

"That wasn't a no." Beca tilted her head hopefully.

"No." Chloe shot her a glare. "So your place is interesting." She changed the subject as her eyes wandered around the small apartment. It was a loft apartment. The bedroom was upstairs with only a half wall giving it privacy. There was a treadmill facing a large screen TV in the main room. There was a whole wall of vinyl records and a corner with a record player and large speakers. The other wall had numerous books, various genres ranging from true crime, comic fiction, autobiographies, and classics. Chloe studied everything she could without acting like she was in a museum.

"Want a drink?" Beca tossed her leather jacket over a recliner chair.

"Um. Sure." Chloe thought it odd to be drinking at three in the afternoon, but considering they were benched for the time being, it couldn't hurt. She followed the brunette into the small kitchen. She stopped in her tracks and her mouth gaped open.

"Cat's got your tongue?" Beca grinned as she grabbed two glasses. The kitchen was almost completely empty. There were few dishes or appliances besides the stove and microwave. The biggest thing in the kitchen was a liquor cabinet that took up the whole side wall.

"How can you stand this kitchen?" Chloe couldn't help her judgmental tone. She opened the fridge absentmindedly, not asking permission. "Where's your food?!"

"I usually order out." Beca shrugged. "Drink of choice?"

"Surprise me." Chloe answered flatly as she opened the one cabinet. There was ramen noodles, some tuna, and a few boxed meals. "Do you never cook for yourself?"

"Please." Beca scoffed as she poured a concoction into her mixer. "I only cook to impress. Spaghetti's my go-to."

"A child can make spaghetti." Chloe crossed her arms and leaned against the tiny counter.

"Maybe you can stay tonight and I'll make you some?" Beca looked over her shoulder and shot Chloe a wink.

"Hard pass." Chloe laughed as she accepted the drink from Beca.

"I'm more of a bartender anyway."

"And a pretty good one." Chloe took a sip and nodded in approval. "So, Beca. I just wanted to tell you…" She fidgeted with the glass and shifted awkwardly. "Our last mission...it brought up some memories for me."

"Oh?" Beca moved closer, understanding the serious tone of her partner.

"You were amazing...and literally a hero." Chloe half-way rolled her eyes, hating to give the brunette such a compliment. "But it just reminded me of my last partner."

"Agent Price." Beca nodded.

"Yeah...he...he was a gift to the world." Chloe exhaled, fighting back tears. "And you reminded me of him. But it also reminded me of my failures."

"I have a hard time believing you've failed." Beca set her glass down and moved closer, understanding the seriousness of Chloe's words.

"I blame myself for his death. But I don't want you to feel sorry for me or anything." Chloe added quickly. "I just...I'd like to talk to you about him sometime."

"I'd like that." Beca nodded.

"Maybe we can get coffee and I can tell you about him. And we could just maybe talk as friends for once."

"Friends?" Beca grinned slightly.

"Maybe. We'll see how things work out." Chloe grinned back as she relaxed against the counter.

"I like my odds." Beca moved closer. Chloe suddenly sensed the flirtatious tone the conversation had taken on as well as her own flirtatious body language. She quickly stood up straight and finished the drink.

"Well. I have some paperwork to do, especially now that you have a legitimate excuse to not help." She narrowed her eyes in jest. "So, I'm going to head home. Unless you need anything else?"

"Well…" Beca pretended to think. "I could probably really use some help in the shower. One arm will make it difficult."

"I think you can handle it." Chloe rolled her eyes and walked past Beca. "I'll see you tomorrow though?" She picked up her purse and looked expectantly.

"Tomorrow. Definitely." Beca nodded and smiled sincerely as she watched Chloe leave her apartment.