Hours earlier…..
Crane heard her car leave a few minutes after he had retreated to his bedroom hastily.
He couldn't allow the Leftenant to see him like this. His emotional state would have done neither of them any good in that moment.
She was leaving him. He thought as he laid down on his bed. Leaving their journey… their partnership… their friendship behind to chase her dreams.
And even though his words had told her she needn't stay. His heart wanted to shout out to her in anger and in fear. His heart couldn't forget the words she uttered telling him he was not alone in his feelings of want and desire.
His heart loved her. And screamed at him from his bedroom to go stop her. To tell her what it would do to him if she left. To remind her of all the good they do when they are together.
But he hadn't. He had let her go without a fight. Without even an admittance that he didn't want her to leave. That he wanted her to stay.
And even though in his heart he knew it wasn't true, he couldn't shake the feeling that she had picked Reynolds over her. And he cringed thinking of her in another man's arms. Even though he had no claim to her heart. Nor to her happiness.
It wasn't until later in the evening when he finally got up the nerve to do what he should've done earlier.
Hoping he still had time to convince her to think twice about her decision, he drove to catch her still at the office.
He pulled up to the building, seeing only a few cars there. Hers being one of them and almost lost his courage.
But he willfully forced himself to go in and see if he could change her mind.
As the elevator doors opened, his vision was immediately transfixed to the right. There, against the door, leaned the Leftenant. He stopped abruptly, seeing Agent Reynold standing closely in front of her. Her hand in his, as they appeared to be having an intimate conversation.
Crane watched as he leaned in, kissing her cheek, and lingering a little too long to be deemed appropriate for work behavior.
And that's when Crane knew. She had picked him. She had picked the life she always wanted. Her dream job. Someone to share it with. Someone who knew her, who 'got' her and all of her wit and charm. Someone who wouldn't need to be babysat and coddled through this 21st century because they had lived in a time unlike the present.
He turned back and pushed the elevator doors closed.
Returning to his car and driving back to the house they shared….
If only for a short while longer.