He heard the front door open a few seconds before she appeared in the living room.
Crane had been sitting beside the morning fire, his coffee untouched as his mind kept wandering back to the moments with the Leftenant the previous evening.
"Leftenant…" He said, looking up at her through confused eyes. "You are back so soon from work?"
She sighed, removing her jacket and placing her keys on the end table next to where he sat.
"I am." She said as she walked over to the opposite end of the couch. "I kind of needed to talk to you about something. And didn't want to do it over the phone."
Crane nodded, motioning for her to sit down across from him. "Can I get you any coffee or anything to eat?"
She smiled. "No, Crane. Just …. Just let me get this out before I lose all nerve."
He saw the troubled look on her face and immediately winced.
"Leftenant… look, there is nothing that you need to 'get out'. Nothing more you need to say. Last night… I knew you view it as a mistake. And the last thing I want to do is cause this stress upon you. There need not be any unnecessary conflicts between the two of us… We are fighters together in this battle. And if that's all we can be to one another as we fight side by side, then so be it." He paused. "As long as we are side by side… I won't want for more."
She winced at his words and cut him off before he could say any more.
"Crane, I was offered a promotion to Regional Chief…"
His lips immediately curled into a smile. "Leftenant… that's amazing."
"In Oregon, Crane." She said abruptly. "I'd have to move to Oregon."
The realization of what exactly she was telling him hit Crane like a ton of bricks. His worst fears were realized. And as much as he tried to keep the disappointment, the fear, hidden from her; he knew he couldn't.
"Oregon…" he said softly, his eyes drifting downward, for fear of them betraying his true emotions.
"Yes. And that's why I needed to talk to you about it." She said hesitantly. "Oregon is far away Crane. I… I wouldn't be much of a partner to you all the way on the other side of the country." She stopped, fearing she would say too much. "And I'm not sure I could leave you here… dealing with everything alone."
He looked back up at her, sighing heavily.
"Leftenant… this position is what you have always wanted. Is it not?"
She chuckled softly and looked down at her hands. "It is Crane, but..."
"Well then you must take it." He said, cutting her off. Forcing his mouth to say the words his heart begged him to speak aloud.
She looked up at him, shocked at what she had just heard.
"Crane…" she muttered softly.
"No, Abbie." He said almost forcibly. "Our fight together… Our enemies should not be given the power to prevent you from living your dreams."
He paused, watching her closely. "You have given up so much, Leftenant. For this cause, this fight. You've sacrificed your dreams, your health, your sanity at times…."
"You need to do this for you." He finally said, louder than before. "Me, Jenny, Joe… we can hold things down while you are across the country. And if we need you, you know we will call."
She watched over him, her face a mix of shock and unbelief.
"I'm not sure what I was expecting you to say Crane… but those words weren't it." She snickered softly.
"What did you expect?" He said, his face entertained.
"I half expected you to throw yourself in front of the door forbidding me to leave."
Crane thought about her words and smiled.
"I never want to be the thing that keeps you from reaching your full potential, Leftenant. You are a valuable agent. And this world needs you." He said genuinely as she looked on in astonishment.
She reached across the table, laying her hand over his gently.
"You never cease to amaze me, Crane." She said softly as a strained smile appeared on his face.
"You are the one worthy of that statement, Leftenant." He said, looking down as her fingers began to gently stroke his.
Abbie looked down, realizing suddenly what she had been doing and pulled her hand away.
"I should get back to the office." She said suddenly. "Speak with Agent Reynolds and let him know what I've decided."
Crane nodded, rising up from the couch as she reached to grab her things. "I am sure Agent Reynolds will be sad to see you go."
She stopped abruptly. Turning around to face Crane with a pained look on her face.
"Actually… Agent Reynolds was offered a promotion as well, Crane. He'll be the new Director in the same region as myself."
She saw the shockwave hit his body and looked away. How could she have forgotten to mention that detail…
"Oh…" Crane said softly, as he turned away to gather his coffee mug. Avoiding the Leftenant's eyes as he brushed past her to the kitchen.
"Well then… I'm sure it will be good to have a familiar face in an unfamiliar place, Leftenant."
"Crane…" she said, as he brushed past her again on his way to his bedroom.
"I shall see you upon your return today, Leftenant." He said, closing his bedroom door and cutting her off.
…
Abbie hadn't returned back to the station until almost 5pm. Her mind was a million places after her discussion with Crane and she had gone to one of her favorite spots in the woods to process her thoughts.
It didn't take her long to realize she was angry. Angry at Crane…for not forcing her to stay. For not making it known to her just how much he needed her in that moment. For allowing her to pursue her dreams, even if it meant doing so without him.
She knew this wasn't fair to him. But she didn't care.
She felt unwanted. Not needed. Even after all of the words he had spoken to her previously. Because in this moment… in this real life moment of having to decide what path her life would go down, she wanted Crane to make her choose him.
And she realized at once that it was herself who she should be most angry with.
Angry for not allowing herself to voice her true desires, her true thoughts and feelings for the man she had grown to care for these past three years.
When she had arrived at the office, it was empty but for a few lights on in the building. One of which she knew was Reynolds.
"Abbie…" He said, a slight smile forming onto his face as he saw her approach his office. "I almost thought you were going to ditch me and make me tell the Director you didn't want the position."
"I don't, Danny." She said as she stood by his door. "I can't take the position."
He stood up, the smile leaving his face as he walked over to where she stood. "What are you talking about, Abs?"
She hesitated. "I am officially turning the position down."
He sighed heavily, standing right in front of her now.
"Abbie, don't do this. Ok? Let's talk this out for a minute because I need you to understand what you are really turning down here."
"Danny, I know. Believe me, I get it. But there are things that I can't leave here. Things I can't turn away from…"
He snickered, turning around to face the window, running his hands along his face.
"You mean, Crane?" He said, turning back around to face her. "Jesus, Abbie. He has that much of a hold on you? Because the Abbie that I knew a few months ago would never let any men keep her from her dreams."
"It's not Crane. Well, not just about Crane. Look Danny, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you. I just can't that's all."
"Abbie there is no guarantee that an offer like this will come again for you. Turning this down… it won't look good in the Director's eyes."
She looked down at her feet. Knowing in her heart that the words he spoke were true.
"I know. Which is why I've given it a lot of thought. I have. But I still come to the same conclusion each time, Danny. And that's no."
His face stressed, he closed the distance between them.
"I'm not sure I'm going to be able to let you go this time around, Abs." He said softly, his fingers grabbing her hand as she shifted uncomfortably.
"Danny…." She said as she looked into his eyes. "You are going to make a great Director. And I've always been and will continue to be your biggest supporter. I just can't give you anything more…."
He smiled softly. His other finger brushing her cheek. "I know, Mills. But there will never be a day where I don't stop caring about you."
He leaned in to kiss her cheek as she closed her eyes. This man had captured a piece of her heart not so very long ago. But things were different now. Her heart belonged, unintentionally, to someone else. Even if she couldn't fully admit it.
When he pulled away, she opened her eyes and smiled.
"Knock 'em dead Danny." She said, turning to leave the building.
Her thoughts only on one person as she sped to her house.