~ Chapter completed with assistance and inspiration from fellow writer Chris Cody ~
Several weeks passed as they began to adjust the new daily life of living together as a couple. Sometimes their shifts were in sync and they enjoyed plenty of time together. Chris especially loved being at home of an evening, cooking dinner together and relaxing with him. Usually their days off would somehow overlap, and they would enjoy time together. Streets savoured every chance he got to wake up to find her in his arms, he could never get enough of those moments. But sometimes however, their shifts weren't so kind, and they barely saw each other for an hour a day. Despite the challenges, they were both happier than ever before.
Saturday morning arrived and they were both rostered off, Street had planned to spend the day helping Chris begin to pack up her apartment. They were sharing a hot cup of coffee in the kitchen and making a game plan when Streets phone began to beep. He grabbed it and winced a little. Chris immediately knew from the look on his face that he was going in. He was frowning at it and she could feel his disappointment. Before he had the chance to speak, she stepped closer and put her arms around his waist, leaning against him and taking the cup from his hands as he dropped the phone back onto the counter and frowned at her.
"Hey, It's ok…. I get it..they need you" She said looking up at him
"I'm sorry" he said closing his eyes, "I really wanted to get you moved in today…..to actually do this" he said "and I know you were excited too. I can't wait to have your stuff here, for this" he said pulling her tighter against him and waving his hand around his apartment "to be ours".
Chris smiled and rested her head on his chest. "Hey… it's okay, we got this". Street lifted his hand to tilt her face up to him. He stared down at her big brown eyes and smiled sadly at her, before softly kissing her.
"I'm sorry." …..
"Shhhhh" Chris interrupted placing her finger on his lips. "It's ok" She hugged him closer, before letting him go and playfully smacking his ass, "Go on… get moving… don't keep Hondo waiting". Street laughed a little and squeezed her in his arms as he kissed her forehead, before grabbing his helmet, backpack and keys and heading downstairs to his bike.
"Be safe" Chris said as she stood their passing him his helmet after he clipped his backpack up and zipped up his leather jacket. He smiled at her lovingly.
"Piece of cake baby" He answered pulling her up to him for a slow passionate kiss.
She watched him straddle his bike, biting her lip as she watched him ride off with a wave before she returned to the apartment closing the door and looking about. 'Hmmm, maybe…. I can start this move on my own' she pondered.
She smiled and nodded to herself, grabbing up some things she needed before driving back to her apartment and beginning to pack up her things to move to Streets. As she wandered from room to room placing her belongings into the containers and boxes, she smiled to herself. It felt so right. Perfect. The smile was plastered on her face as she glanced around at the boxes and piles. The excitement that was raging in her stomach at the thought of having her stuff with his and actually really doing this serious couple thing with him made her a little giddy. She closed her eyes and inhaled with a smile. Finally. After so long she was actually truly, really deeply happy. She bit her lip and reached for her phone. Unlocking it she opened their messages and typed,
'Hey you, how's it going?' She hadn't had time to put it down on the table and it dinged, tapping the notification she read his reply with a smirk,
'Hey yourself, It's good, what u up to?'
She grinned….'I'm not gunna tell him that I'm moving stuff yet…I'll surprise him when he gets home' she thought. 'Nothing much, might go for a hike in the canyon later'
'Ok, be safe babe, we are about to head out'
'I will, you be safe too, I love you Jim' she typed. Even typing those words to him made her smile and her heart beat faster. She blinked slowly putting the phone down….'Jesus...' she shook her head muttering to herself 'how the hell did he get me so caught up in him?' She laughed at herself for acting like this and continued to pack her stuff.
'Piece of cake babe, I love you too beautiful' he replied. As Street slid the phone into his pocket, he too wore a smile ear to ear. His heart exploded with happiness that she was his, and he was hers and they were really doing this together.
"You good Street?" Hondo said patting his shoulder as he walked passed and swung open the back door of Black Betty climbing in.
"Yeah" he smiled "I'm great". Hondo laughed and shook his head. He knew Street was deliriously happy and that made him happy too. The rest of 20 David piled into Black Betty and as Luca drove off hitting the lights and sirens Deac and Hondo began giving the team the latest on the situation they were heading for. Street sat next to Stevens and he couldn't help but still feel a little weird that Chris wasn't there.
"Captain said Uni's are holding the perimeter and that they have now lost communications with the 4 officers who were pinned down inside" Hondo said, speaking with urgency in his voice. "Stevens and Street, you will take the 3 side. Tan and Luca take the 2 side, and Deac and I will make entry through the main doors". They all nodded at Hondo as Luca's voice "Rolling up in 10" rang out through the truck. Hondo swung open the door "Fill the gaps" ….. "Stay liquid" they shouted back as they were once again in action. Street couldn't help but think of Chris as his feet landed on the ground and he followed Stevens to the building.
Meanwhile back at Chris's apartment she was beginning to carry boxes down the stairs to her truck. She knew she wouldn't get the furniture done on her own today, but at least she could start with the smaller stuff. Start merging her things, her photos, décor and belongings with his. That made her smile as she trotted happily down the stairs, lifting the box into the back of the truck.
'Mmmmm maybe two more then I'll need to go unload' she thought to herself looking at the back of the truck. As she climbed the stairs to retrieve the last two boxes she wanted, she grabbed the railing and paused. A pain began to shoot through her abdomen, and she felt dizzy and light headed. She spun around and sat down on the stairs trying to catch her breath. 'woah… that's weird' she whispered to herself… 'better have more water and slow down'. She slowly pulled herself up and walked up the stairs, taking a long sip of water and leaning on the kitchen cabinets. She winced a little at the discomfort she felt, it was kind of making her feel almost nauseous. 'God, I didn't think I did that much to feel this bad' she frowned at herself glancing around her apartment that was looking a little bare now. 'I'll just head back with what I have,' she hoped she would feel better by then and be able to unpack the boxes before Street got home.
She locked the apartment back up and drove off towards Streets. As she cruised down the interstate, she felt the nausea surge again….'shit, maybe I ate something?' she frowned and pulled over at the gas station. 'I think I am actually gunna puke' she muttered as she climbed out quickly and beelined for the bathrooms. Standing in the stall she swallowed hard and breathed deeply before leaning over the toilet and vomiting.
'Oh God' she muttered, wiping her face and leaning back against the wall. She tugged her phone out of her pocket and messaged Street.
"U busy?"
She rested her head back and breathed a deep breath as she flushed the toilet and opened the stall to wash up.
"Just riding back for debrief, why?" Chris frowned at his message and pondered if she should worry him,
"I'm not feeling good, I just puked in the bathroom at the gas station"
"Where are you?"
"Gas n Sip on the 110 near W 21st"
"Are you okay? Stay there I'll come get you"
Hondo had been watching Streets face as he typed, "What is it Street?" he asked
"Um" Street hesitated, he knew Chris didn't ever want their relationship to impact him at work, but this was important… "It's Chris, she ahh…. Isn't feeling well and she is at a Gas Station on her own" he explained glancing up at Hondo who was beginning to match Streets worried expression.
"Where?" Hondo asked with a bit of urgency in his voice.
"110 Interstate near W21st" Street answered. Before Street could say anymore Hondo reached over and tapped Luca's shoulder. "Let's go" he said pointing in that direction as if to tell Luca to divert there.
"Oh, I can um swing by once we get back….. I don't think she needs us all there that urgently" Street said glancing around.
"Hey Street" Hondo said leaning across and patting his knee, "Chris is family" he nodded. Street nodded back with a small smile. Luca diverted Black Betty to the Gas Station and as they pulled in a few minutes later Luca grinned, and Tan chuckled seeing Chris leaning on the front of her truck. She had her head between her arms which were holding the hood and she was looking down at the ground. As she heard the engine behind her she stood up and spun around, shaking her head at the sight of 20 David and Black Betty.
"Ohhhh, she looks …... ahhh" Tan started turning to Street, "Kinda pissed?" Luca finished as he smiled broadly, waving at her through the windscreen.
"Shit" Street muttered at Hondo rolling his eyes, "she will kill me for this you know" he said shaking his head at Hondo as he climbed out. Street swung around the corner to face her. Before he could open his mouth, she held up a finger at him, shaking her head and rolling her eyes motioning to Black Betty.
"Remind me never to annoy you at work again" she said gesturing to Luca and Tan who were smiling and waving out the window at them.
"Hey" Street began, stepping closer to her and grabbing her shoulders to face him. "Stop worrying about them, are you okay?" he looked at her, scanning her face and she could feel the worry he felt.
"Yeah…. I ah… no… I just…. I don't feel that great" She mumbled, kind of embarrassed. Street pulled her in to hug her.
"Hey, I um, wasn't planning on bringing the team but Hondo insisted we come straight away, and you know….", Chris exhaled leaning on him and nodded "Yeah…. I know". Hondo had stepped out but wasn't approaching them, he leant on the side of Black Betty and gave them some space.
Chris pulled back and looked at him in his tactical uniform and then back at Black Betty and the team,
"Look, go back, finish your shift and I'll see you at home later… I promise I will be ok to drive home. It's just probably something I ate or a viral tummy bug… I'll be ok". Street frowned at her and took her hand.
"Or, I can just drive you home now, then go back to HQ to finish up… it's not far from here and … the guys can…"
"Jim," Chris interrupted tugging both his hands and raising her eyebrows at him. "I will be fine babe… honestly... I feel better now and it's only a few minutes to home. Just go… finish up and I'll see you in an hour or so… I shouldn't have bothered you" Street cradled her face in his hands and looked her in the eye,
"Are you sure you are ok?"
She blinked slowly and nodded "Yes Jim, I'll be fine" He sighed and hugged her again,
"I hope so, you better text me as soon as you are there then, okay?" Chris smiled and nodded "I will babe, now go on… don't keep the guys waiting" She turned at waved at Hondo. He smiled and waved back, and she wandered back to Black Betty at Street's side, his hand still in hers.
"Hey," Luca called from the window "You okay Chris?" She smiled and nodded at him with a small wave, "yeah, I'm good", she answered.
"You sure you are Chris?" Hondo said stepping closer, "I can leave the kid with you and he can take you home?" ….."No …no" she interrupted "You guys go back and finish up your shift, I'll be ok to drive the few minutes home". She smiled at Hondo and squeezed Streets hand glancing at him.
"I promise I will be fine, and I will message you when I'm back at the apartment, okay?" She said eyeing him seriously. Street sighed a little, still not feeling the best about leaving her there. "Okay.. you better" he answered leaning down and kissing her quickly. She drew back and smiled at him, widening her eyes at him a little "Go on… go… I'll see you at home". She motioned for him to get back in Black Betty. As he climbed in, she waved sheepishly at Stevens and Deacon who both wore a little smirk watching their exchange. Street closed the door with a wink,
"message me" he added. She rolled her eyes and waved him off, before turning to walk back to her truck. She grinned watching Black Betty disappear out of sight. It was nice that they really cared, and she kind of felt silly now for annoying him at work. As she reached her truck, she paused opening her door, thinking about how she felt and what the hell had possibly made her feel so bad. She sighed and decided to go grab a new bottle of water before driving home. As she walked down the isle of the gas stations store towards the back row of fridges she wondered if they had any anti-nausea medications, she slowly perused the toiletries and medical products, sighing a little when she couldn't really see anything. She froze for a second as the next lot of products caught her gaze. Immediately her mind began to race, and she felt her pulse quicken….
"Oh shit" she muttered as she looked at the date on her watch. 'I'm a few days late' the realisation hit her as she looked back up at the home pregnancy tests sitting on the shelf. 'No…... it couldn't be that…...shit could it?' her eyes were wide, pulse racing and head swirled as she tentatively picked up the box and looked at it. She chewed her lip nervously…'fuck…..I guess I hadn't really thought about that seriously…I mean yeah those few times we…..' she bit her lip and tilted her head mentally calculating how long ago the times were when she could remember they had had heat of the moment sex and not used protection, 'Jesus…. What do I do if …." She stood with her head swirling around and around for a minute …..'only one way to know I guess… and I gotta know' she put the box under her arm and walked to the fridge to grab a water.
After paying for them and walking back to her truck she pushed the box inside her handbag as she sat there thinking. 'God…. What if? what if I am pregnant?' she thought to herself glancing down at her own belly and then back to her own reflection in the review mirror. 'Should I call him now and …. and….. God… No say what? I gotta know first'. She sighed heavily as she threw the truck in drive and began to drive home. She parked in her spot and did several trips up and down the stairs taking the boxes up. She didn't feel too bad anymore and took it slow, but as she pulled her handbag from the front seat, she paused looking at the tests again….'Jesus… I gotta know and then I will focus on unpacking the boxes before he gets home'. She sighed at the pile of boxes on the table as she sat her bag down and walked into the bathroom. She took the test, placed the cap back on, washed up and carried it out to the coffee table. Placing it down and covering it with the instruction page so she didn't peak at it before the 5 minutes were up.
She busied herself with unpacking some of the boxes, glancing at the page covering the test stick each time she wandered passed and then glancing at the timer on her watch to see how much longer. When the alarm dinged to announce 5 minutes were up, she froze. Butterflies filled her stomach as she stood in the kitchen looking over at the test. She breathed deeply and hesitated before walking over and placing her hand on the page covering it. 'God…. I gotta know… but ….I kind of don't too' she thought. 'maybe I should wait for him to come home and we can look together?' she pondered. 'No … because what if it isn't that at all and I get his hopes up or maybe scare him or ….' She paused 'god just look already' she muttered as she lifted the page away and picked up the test stick staring at the window.
Meanwhile at HQ, Street, Deacon and Tan stood packing up their lockers and laughing about Luca's mistake at lunch today.
"Oh, just you all wait" Luca said closing his locker and heading for the door… "I'll remember this treatment the next time one of you make a mistake". They all laughed and Tan patted Luca's back "It's all good bro we got you" he said smiling.
"Hey, I hope Chris is feeling better." Luca said pointing at Street. Street nodded with a smile, "yeah let us know if you guys need anything" Tan offered as he followed Luca out the door. "Thanks guys" Street replied with a wave "Night",
"Night see you tomorrow" they answered as the door banged closed. Deacon looked sideways at Street,
"so …ah, you better hurry home to see if she is ok" he grinned.
"Yeah, I will… at least I know she is home safely" Street smiled
"Any idea why she was sick?" Deac asked closing his locker and facing Street.
"Ah, she thinks it was something she ate or a tummy bug type thing" Street said closing his locker and flinging his backpack on his shoulder "…weird though because she never gets sick…...like ever…"
Deacon smirked, "I know like Annie…. her immune system is amazing…. you know…. the last time I saw Annie vomiting like that she was….." Deacons phone began to ring as he stopped mid-sentence and pulled it from his pocket, nodding to Street as if to say sorry, Street smiled and nodded back waving for Deacon to answer it. Street picked up his helmet and turned waving to Deac who was just finishing the call.
"Sorry, it was Annie… I gotta get moving, we have a performance for Matthew to get to tonight… let Chris know we are thinking of her" he said walking with Street from the locker room. Street was eager to get home and check on Chris. He got on his bike and rode home, desperately wanting to focus on making sure she was taken care of and maybe spending tomorrow getting her moved in.
Chris was sitting on the couch, holding the test. Her mind was racing. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Street should be home any minute. She tapped the stick in her hand and as she went to stand up, she heard the door opening…'Shit' she stuffed the test behind the pillow and sat back down.
"Hey" Street said seeing her, "How do you feel?" he dropped his helmet and bag down and walked to her. Sitting opposite her on the coffee table and holding her hands
"I um…. Ok, I guess… I haven't vomited anymore…" she answered not meeting his gaze. He watched her as she ran her top teeth over her bottom lip and fidgeted a little.
"Chris? what is it? What's wrong?" he asked running his hands up her arms and pulling her in to hug her. "Do you need to go lay down, a hot shower, or some water… or a hot water bottle?" he floundered, desperately trying to find a way to help her feel better. She smiled at his fumbling, closing her eyes to compose herself a little.
"No…. it's um ok…. I honestly feel ok right now…just" she looked up at him drawing back "…. I um" she closed her eyes and paused.
"what?" he said smiling, trying to read her a bit. Chris slid her hand under the pillow and grasped the test slowly so Street wouldn't notice. Breathing in deeply she held his hand and glanced at the boxes she had bought here. Street followed her gaze and smiled.
"You are not worried that I would be upset about you moving in some stuff, are you?" he asked smiling at her.
"No…... I ah… I know we talked about that and that was the plan for today anyway so I figured I would make a start and surprise you when you came home" Street looked about noticing some of her stuff mixed in with his.
"I like it" he smiled squeezing her hand… "I like our stuff together… It suits…. It's the start of us... big grown up, serious relationship, us" he joked laughing, but as he looked back at her he saw that she wasn't giggling or smiling…. She had a serious expression and he immediately frowned at her…
"Chris, what is it? talk to me?" he said sitting next to her on the couch, his hand still in hers and one on her leg.
She sighed tilting her head, "Grown up... serious us... hey?" she looked at him. He had a puzzled look on his face. "Yeah" he said with caution in his voice … "that is what this is… isn't it?" he asked slowly. She looked up at him and squeezed his hand. "Jim, are you 100% sure that this is what you want?"
Street frowned at her and raised both of his hands to cup her face…. "Chris!" he exclaimed, looking deeply into her eyes before standing up flapping his arms in exasperation…. "Jesus…. How can you think you even have to ask that? of course this is what I want Chris…." He lowered himself back to the couch and reached out to grab her hands in his. "Come on you know how much I fucking love you…that I desperately want this with you…... only you…. you are my everything Chris" he gently stroked the back of her hands with his thumbs as he looked deep into her eyes. "I wanna spend the rest of our lives together, you know all of this… I've told you so many times, so babe why?….where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
Chris dropped her gaze and swallowed hard, scrunching her eyebrows. "I um… don't wanna feel like I am rushing you into this.." she started "Chris… babe…." He shifted and knelt in front of her between her legs and held her hips "hey… you moving in here is not a rush at all. We have been inseparable since the hospital months ago… we haven't spent a night apart since then and it makes absolutely no sense for you to hold onto an apartment that you are never in. Come on… we have been through this, a million times" he paused and looked at her "or…" he thought for a second… "am I rushing you?...Is this all too much too soon?" he asked locking eyes with her and scanning her face.
She smiled at him and blinked slowly… letting her teeth trail over her lip again. She sighed… "No Jim… of course not… I".. she leaned forward resting her forehead on his "I um… I'm sorry.. I just wanted to make sure we were both still on the same page" she nudged his head up so she could look him in the eye. Street looked back at her and kissed her lips softly… "good cause we are both on the same page" he whispered, as he sat back a fraction, he saw a smile slowly spreading across her face.
"Good, glad that made you smile again" he said brushing her hair back behind her ear gently. She danced her eyes with his 'god here goes' she thought…. "um well.." she began keeping her eyes on his and she slowly drew her hand up which was clasping the test. "After you guys left me at the Gas Station I um… might have realised something and needed to be 100% sure about it" she smiled looking down at the test in her hand.
Streets gaze was confused but followed hers. She watched his face as he saw the test in her hand. She held it face down so he couldn't see the result, but he immediately finally knew what was going on. "Oh Chris" he let out a sigh, grabbing her face and kissing her softly…... "Why didn't you just say something?"
She smiled at him, "I wanted to know the result before I came to you" she said softly, stroking his hair with her free hand.
"And?" he asked impatiently scanning her face, trying to read her. She held up her hand for him to take it and see for himself. Street looked at it and then back at her. She nodded at it, telling him without a word to take it and see for himself.
He slowly reached his hand up to her hand, he noticed his hand was shaking a little and he smiled nervously at her. His eyes not leaving hers for a second. He closed them slowly as he took the test with his shaky fingers. She watched him breathe in deeply. He opened his eyes and smiled at her before he looked at the result… "hey, you know whatever this says, if you are…. No, I guess if we are …. pregnant or not right now… it's gunna be ok right?"
She smiled at him and kissed his lips "I know" she whispered drawing away. "look already!" she laughed. They both dropped their gaze and he slowly turned the white stick over to reveal two dark pink lines. The smile grew even wider as he looked back up to her and grabbed her tightly in his arms…. "I love you" he whispered kissing her deeply. "I love you too Jim" she answered as they both stared smiling at the positive test.