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Street was out of town for a training Hicks had insisted on when Chris was released from the hospital. He was a little sad that he couldn't pick her up and drive her home, but remembering the rules set forth by Hazel, and as Nick had explained all of the therapists offering this type of 24/7 service, it probably was for the best.
But if he knew one thing: if this situation was going to be at all comfortable he needed to at least try and apologize or talk it out with her. Not even he was exactly proud of the man he had been back then.
Chris collapsed onto the sofa gasping for air. "Why did I chose a second floor walk up again?" she manages to get out with long pauses between each word.
"Stop talking. Just focus on your breathing. We need to get your heart rate back down. In, two three, four, out, two three four," Hazel interrupts her and switches into professional mode. Her voice remains calm. And when Chris is breathing easier again, Hazel walks back down to grab her things.
Chris is alone in the living room. Confined to the sofa until Hazel gets a tour of the place and settled in. She sends a quick text to Street to just let him know she is home safe.
Over the next few days Hazel works steadily on gently coaxing Chris to listen to her body better. To feel out her maximum energy and then really stop to take a break. "I'll go grab some groceries. Do you need anything while I run out?" Hazel calls out from the living room after Chris steps out of the shower. A luxury to shower alone after weeks of needing help, even if the rubber mat is not exactly fantastic to look at, it does give grip under her feet.
"No, I am okay. You really don't have to go shopping for me. You're not my personal shopper," she calls back gripping the sink to stop herself from slipping on the slightly wet tiles.
"Don't worry. I'll be back as quick as I can. Be careful and I want to find you on the sofa or in your bed, when I come back," Hazel laughs slightly. Already guessing that Chris won't really listen to that.
Chris plops down on the sofa when she is dressed. Her phone starts softly vibrating.
"Hey," she sighs answering. "You sound tired," is Street's worried reply.
"Yeah, standing up in the shower, probably wasn't my smartest decision… but that chair.." Chris whines. "It's not supposed to be pretty, it's supposed to help you! Where's Hazel, can't she help?"
"Just what you'd like to see, huh?" Chris teases him and Street coughs a little embarrassed. "Not what I meant!"
They are interrupted by the sound of the door bell. "I gotta get up, Hazel forgot the key… or is testing me." Chris tells him and slowly pushes off the sofa. "I'll come by when I am back. Straight from the airport," Street promises before hanging up.
Chris just presses the buzzer and opens the apartment door a crack before moving back to the sofa.
When the door moves she raises a hand "See I didn't move, much. But you forgot your key,"
"I didn't know I had one," Chris sits up a little bit too quickly hearing an unexpected voice drone over from the door and her heart rate monitor starts going crazy.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to…" "Stop it, Tan and get over here," she motions for him to take a seat. "What brings you by?"
Chris manages to get out before she has to seriously focus on her breathing exercises.
Tan studies his friend while she is calming down. He can't help and be worried. Ever so often his mind flashes back to that moment in the dark warehouse.
When Chris eventually sits more comfortably and is breather normally again he starts talking.
"How are you feeling about being home now. After a week of doing this…" he waves his hand around a little aimlessly. Chris can see he is trying to look just normally curious but she can read her friend pretty well.
"You know, don't you?" she quirks an eyebrow and adds "about Hazel and her connection to me… and Street."
Tan's head tilts a bit confused at the end there and Chris rolls her eyes while he tries to regain his composure.
"Figures he'd only tell you half of it," she tries to laugh off the awkward moment. "It's been great so far. Yes, it was a little awkward. Especially the first time she helped me getting around in my bathroom. But she lets me shower on my own now. And I am feeling like I am making more progress here,"
Tan can't help but smile at her. She sounds genuinely happy.
"Sounds promising, but you gotta work on your reaction to visitors…" he smirks and Chris tries to throw a pillow at him, but sadly it only flies as far as the coffee table. "and your aim apparently."
Tan comments while readjusting the pillow behind her back.
They continue their conversation about this and that until the front door opens. Tan's eyes immediately take in the attractive female walking through the door packed with a few grocery bags.
"Let me help with that," he jumps up and takes the top few to place on the counter.
"Thanks," is the first surprised reply, followed by an "I didn't know you had a visitor. I'll put these away and I'll be in my room."
"You could join us," Chris interjects. "This is Tan. A colleague and friend," she starts making introductions and Hazel holds out her hand. "Nice to meet you. Hazel, physical therapist and shopping assistant," she jokes before turning to Chris.
"No, Chris. I am here as a therapist. I should give you more space for visits," she remains firm and just puts the groceries away and retreats to her room.
After the door has fallen shut behind her Tan and Chris share a look. "What did just happen? Didn't you say you're friends?" he queries.
"I don't know. I gotta talk to her later I guess," Chris shrugs and when Tan's phone indicates it's time to leave for work she pushes off the sofa to give him a hug.
"Thanks for stopping by and say 'Hi' to Bonnie for me," Chris waves him off and falls down onto the sofa. She half expects Hazel to pop out of her room now but nothing happens. So, Chris pushes up again and reaches for the walking stick before crossing the room and knocking on Hazel's door.
"Is everything okay?" Hazel lifts her eyes up off the book in her lap and seeing Chris sway slightly she is up in a flash, guiding Chris to sit on the bed.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You were weird before…" Chris studies her friend a bit worriedly.
Hazel sighs. "Chris, you're gonna have visitors and I can't, I shouldn't be around for all of them. The professional thing to do is to retreat. Which I did. Nothing is wrong. You should enjoy privacy with your friends," she explains squeezing Chris's hand.
"I thought we were friends too," Chris mumbles.
"I'd like to think that too, but I am here as your therapist and it's okay. Did you need anything else? Dinner?"
"No, I was wondering if we can do another session though. I sort of had an attack when Tan came over. I thought you forgot your key, he accidentally scared me…" Chris trails off seeing panic in Hazel's eyes. "Nothing serious. Calm, deep breaths helped immediately,"
Only after the last part the therapist breaths easy again.
"Okay, one more session and I am ordering food," she concedes.
They have almost finished when someone is knocking on the door.
"You go shower. I'll grab the food," Hazel calls out and makes sure Chris is on her way to the bathroom securely before turning to the front door.
In the hallway her eyes land on Street holding up two bags of take out. "I just paid the delivery guy and brought my own," he explains before Hazel has a chance to say anything. She steps aside and wordlessly starts cleaning up the workout mat and bands.
"I'll just grab some of the food for myself and I'll be out of your hair," she mumbles with her arms full and eyes lowered.
"I am sorry, I wanted to surprise…" "Don't. Chris will be happy to see you. Have a nice evening,"
After that the door to her room clicks shut, leaving Street behind alone and slightly confused. But as soon as Chris steps out of the bathroom and he can see her smile all weirdness is forgotten.
He crosses the room in quick strides to wrap his girl up in his arms before claiming her lips in a very much needed kiss. "Welcome home," Chris whispers against his neck, while Street feels her leaning against his body for stability.