It might not need an explanation but: Time Jump to after TLI/surgery
After a grueling recovery and rehab Street finds himself finally back in the gym at HQ without a physical therapist. His mind is running a mile a minute. His mother had taken off from the hospital as soon as she could, and with her condition and the overcrowding in the prison system, she had been released without parole. He hadn't even heard a peep from her in months, but somehow, she crept into his thoughts every now and then.
"You ready?" Tan's voice is accompanied by a pat on the shoulder.
"As I'll ever be," Street furrows his brow and lifts his hands. Tan had convinced him to work out together, and for some reason, he had decided on shadowboxing today. They had been at it for a little while, but somehow, he felt a bit too much on display today.
"What's with all the people here today?" he mumbles a bit absentmindedly and almost misses the raised eyebrow of his friend. "You do remember what day it is? Or do we need to get you back to the hospital?" Tan jokes with a laugh.
"Recruit visits," Street sighs, "And..." Tan prompts.
"They are coming back, I know. Just don't know how to feel about that…" Street admits sadly.
Tan starts moving his hands and skips a bit around in the ring, turning them. "You still haven't talked more?"
Street shakes his head. "No, I mean she hasn't reached out once…"
"Did you?" Tan fires back. "I talked to Luca almost every day…" Street replies, a bit defiant making his friend roll his eyes.
"I don't know if she even wants to talk to me…" he adds after a few punches.
"I guess now's your chance to find out," Tan lifts his hands and nods to the entrance mere seconds before they can both hear Luca hollering, "Who missed us?"
They pull off the gloves and climb through the ropes to greet a smiling Luca. Chris stood behind him a bit sheepishly, and Street thought embarrassed. They clearly had come here straight from the airport.
"Eager to work?" Tan teased Chris while Street found himself in a Luca bear hug.
"Not really, but he wanted to get home… and that's apparently here," Chris laughs back, but her laughter dies down when their eyes meet. Street isn't too sure how to react right now, but seeing as she hugged Tan, and Luca had hugged both of them… there couldn't be any harm in a hug, right?
Just when he is about to step over, Street hears his name being called from upstairs. He sends his friends a confused frown and grabs a towel to dry off his face a bit more.
He climbs the stairs to find Wendy, Hondo, and Hicks waiting for him in the commander's office. His steps falter, and he looks between the three of them. In his mind, there are only two possible scenarios for this trio of people waiting for him.
The first was that even though his results last week were promising, they wouldn't let him back in the field or, even worse, keep him off SWAT or the other option…
"Take a seat," Hicks offers and motions for the empty chair, but Street shakes his head. "I think I'd prefer to stand," he swallows and focuses on the commander.
The older man frowns and looks down at a file on his desk. After a deep breath, Hicks looks up, and Street knows what's coming.
"I regret to inform you that …" Hicks starts, and Street impulsively interrupts him. "Don't. I don't think I want to know the how and where. She's dead, right?" his voice involuntarily breaks at the end, and he sinks onto the chair.
Hondo steps to him and pats his shoulder. "You can go home and…"
"No, I can work if I am fit for duty according to my fitness test. I need to work," Street pushes up again.
Hicks and Hondo glance at Wendy. "I'd still like to have a conversation with you," the experienced psychologist says and motions to the door.
"Okay," Street nods and then waits to be dismissed. He just has to get this over with, and then maybe the day will get busy, and he can stay out of his head.
Unfortunately, the team is still on modified duties as Luca and Chris are stuck in meetings all day; therefore, all he can do is train and watch Tan rush out on calls. He had forgotten about that. During lunch, Street takes the opportunity to leave and get out of the building.
Chris had sent him a few worried glances but hadn't come over to ask anything, and with every passing hour, Street felt more like being stuck under a microscope.
Hicks just nodded to his request, and Street climbed on his bike to ride. Letting the wind and the speed distract him. He is wondering why he even feels anything about losing her. Wasn't this the best for all?
Street stumbles over his thoughts and almost crashes his bike in the process. This experience leads to him finally heading home.
He distracts himself with the things he usually would put off and is in the midst of cleaning the kitchen when Luca walks in.
"What's going on here?" Luca stares at him incredulous.
"I am cleaning. Isn't it obvious?" Street shrugs and turns back to scrubbing the counters.
"Street? What's wrong? What did Hicks want this morning?"
Street freezes, straight to the point. He swallows.
"My mom…" he glances over to his friend, and he can see Luca's shock. "Oh," Luca breathes out and then starts shifting, a bit uncomfortable.
"Do you need anything?" his friend walks closer, and Street shakes his head. "No, I actually don't want to talk about it."
"I can stay here, change my plans," Luca mutters along. "No, go. Hang out with your family. I'll be okay. Never had a family after all," Street replies harshly and turns his back to his friend.
He didn't want to be a burden. Plus, he still didn't know how to feel. Or why he even felt anything. Realistically, Karen had been horrible to him. And he didn't owe her anything. Not anymore.
Luca offered to stay home a few more times, but Street just kept ignoring him and, in the end, retreated to his room until he heard his roommate leave. His stomach grumbled and reminded him he hadn't eaten all day. Even though Street wasn't feeling hungry, he set out to cook at least something. He was about to finish the slightly wonky-looking meatball sub when a knock at the door startled him.
Street frowns and actually contemplates ignoring whoever it is, but realistically, he can't hide being home. The person outside had already seen his bike in the dive and the lights in the windows.
He wipes his hands and walks over to the door. He is already sounding out what to say to whoever it is, but the words get caught in his throat when he is met with the worried expression on Chris's face. Wordlessly, she steps forward and hugs him until Street utters, "How?"
Chris steps back and walks past him with a simple "Luca texted."
He should've known his friend would do that. But it still didn't explain why Chris was here. Now.
"Why are you here?" he blurts out the question, and Chris turns to him, a little hurt. "Because contrary to what you might think, I still worry about you," her eyes soften before she adds. "I still care about you."
Street scoffs lightly. "You have a funny way of showing that."
Chris lowers her head and mumbles, "I am here now, aren't I?"
"And what about the last three months? Or before that? Where were you then?" Street feels himself getting worked up, and before Chris can even attempt to answer, he walks to the door and pulls it open. "You had absolutely no interest in me then, and I don't need you here now. So leave!"
Chris's eyes shine a bit wet, and she is definitely in shock. She turns back to the front door when she reaches the garden gate, and Street finally manages to close the front door.
He can't let himself break down and let her in just for Chris to turn back the next chance she sees.