After Chris had sent that text, she had checked her flight information again and took note that she'd be in the air 12 hours and that there is a 9-hour time difference to Berlin. She'd be landing in the middle of the night and would only see Luca for breakfast at the hotel. A small smile tugs on her lips. She missed the always smiling man and was glad to have him with her in Europe. When time for boarding rolled around, she hadn't gotten a reply from Street just a short check-in message from Tan, and the offer to call anytime. Chris declined that though and simply wished him a great time on vacation.

Street went home and got everything ready for his stay at the hospital. Buck would be driving him and also picking him up whenever he was allowed to go home again. He triple-checked he had his phone charger in his bag. There was no way he wouldn't keep his promise to call when he was out of surgery.

The day rolls by in LA and by the time Street wakes up again in his room, with a throbbing pain to his side it is dark out. He strains to reach for the bedside console and grab his phone, but the pain is too much, so he opts for the red button, hanging from the ceiling. After the nurse had injected the pain medication into his IV and it had taken effect Street manages to grab his phone. A few people have checked in and there was also a message from Chris from an hour ago indicating she had landed and reached the hotel.

Without thinking he just dials her number, simply wanting to hear her voice. When the line picks up, he smiles to himself but his face falls when he realizes it's just Chris's voicemail. For a second, he simply wants to hang up disappointed but then he still leaves a short message. "Hey, I just wanted to let you know I am okay and, in my room, again. Night,"

It takes them a few days of phone tag and texts to figure out a good time to actually talk to each other. Both their heads are filled with thoughts, hopes, dreams but also fears. Chris had been incredibly sad she had missed his first call. But she was glad to hear his voice on that first morning in Germany. And now waiting for the line to connect was agony too.

She needed to see his face, hear his voice and see for herself he was doing okay. Chris knew Street was still in the hospital and under heavy medication so she prepared herself but when the video flicked on, and she saw his smile she couldn't help but smile herself. Butterflies took off in her stomach and a soft "Hey," leaves her lips. "How are you?"

"I am good. Better now, that I can see you but nervous," Street admits quietly. He can see the surprise flit over Chris's face for a second before she presses her lips together, nods and admits "Me too."

After that they both laugh softly before Street turns just a bit more serious. "Why are you nervous though Chris? Germany that overwhelming?"

Chris quirks her brows. She hadn't expected him to give her an out and that makes her even more nervous. Her eyes start darting away from the screen and around the room while she tries to figure out what's next, but Street beats her to say something.

"Chris, hey, you have nothing to be nervous about. You're amazing. And everyone is gonna see that,"

That is when she finally finds the words to interrupt him. "Is that really what you want to talk about? Shouldn't I ask you how you are? You had potentially life altering surgery,"

"I told you, everything is going okay. On schedule as these nice doctors like to tell me," Street is a little annoyed that she brought up the negative outcome again. "I am more nervous about us. But we're still talking…" he can't help but tease at the end and laugh when Chris' eyes from to slits.

He can read her well enough to know she isn't really angry with him. More annoyed for the memory.

"I can hang up, if you'd prefer, but I actually think we should talk about," Chris lowers her gaze to her fingers for a moment before glancing back up "what happened at the airport and what that means."

Street nods and then his head turns away. Chris can hear him tell someone to "Just set it down here, thank you," and then turn back to her. "Breakfast just came, but we can talk while I eat."

The hopeful smile on Street's face makes Chris's heart soar. For some reason she needed him to show he is still there even if she has all those fears in her head and heart.

"I don't even know where to start," Chris fumbles a little. Her thoughts are swirling.

"I told you I was gonna miss you, which is true for the record, and then you kissed me," Street looks straight into the camera and catches the rosy color on Chris's cheeks. "And I also told you we're gonna figure this out. We're highly trained and skilled officers. We'll figure this out," Street feels the need to immediately block Chris's first exit. The annoying LAPD rulebook. "Listen I'd never ask you to compromise yourself at work, I can ask for a switch in teams when I am ready to go back…"

"No," Chris interrupts him forcefully and Street squints confused at the camera. "No," Chris repeats softer now, "you can't just do that. How would that look?"

Before Street can even try to argue back a notification flashes on his screen for a second incoming call. He sighs "Luca is calling me," "Go, take it. I have to meet him for dinner anyway," Chris is quick to reply and when Street just silently stares at her for a moment longer, she adds "We'll talk about this more, when there is time. And now pick up the call,"

Street switches calls and gives Luca, the "all is well" spiel also assuring him that Duke is leading his best life. Being pampered by Timo and his mom.

Over the next few weeks, he tries to bring their conversation back to what's next and figure things out. Chris expresses her various fears ranging from how Hicks, their team and everyone else will react to letting herself and women in the LAPD in general down. Somedays Street feels like he is talking to a rock, but he can't help the smile that always spreads on his face whenever a text or call from Chris appears on his screen.