When Tan came back from his honeymoon his first task, after getting settled in at home, was calling Street and checking if his friend was home yet and up for some company. They set a time for the next day since Street was busy with rehab.
Tan grabs his phone and sends Chris a text. "I am back home. Remember if you need to talk about anything… I am here. And now for a serious question: how is it going in Germany?"
Chris had replied short, thanked him and asked him to check up on Street, which was what he had planned anyway.
So, the next day after work Tan showers at HQ and then heads out to his friend's house with some takeout.
When Street opens the door for Tan Duke tries to rush out into the drive, shoving Street a little awkwardly and making him double over in pain. Tan quickly drops the pizza cartons on the sideboard and supports Street to the sofa. "Where are your pain meds?" he asks and Street waves to the kitchen counter.
When Tan comes back over with a pill and a tall glass of water Duke sits in front of Street and licks his hand. "He didn't mean to hurt me. Guess he was just excited for someone to go on a walk with him," Street grimaces and then quickly swallows the pill.
Tan studies his friend intently. Trying to figure out what the next step should be.
He didn't only come here to check in on Street. He had to admit he was a little worried about Chris. Did Luca know about any of her struggles in the last few months?
"Okay, I'll make you a deal," he starts laying out the plan he had come up with in the last few seconds," we're gonna have that pizza while Duke runs around in the fenced in garden and after that I'll take him on a run or a long walk. Give you some time to rest,"
"You don't have to… Timo just didn't get to a long walk with Duke today," Street mutters and tries to get up from the sofa but falls back into the cushions with a groan.
"Stay put. I'll grab what we need," Tan waves him off and moves about quickly.
The two of them munch on the pizza and Street fills Tan in on how rehab is going. He is struggling to gain back the strength he had, and needs, with just the exercises the physical therapist has been giving him. "Don't you think you should take their plan more serious? They know what they are doing," Tan raises an eyebrow at his friend.
Street scoffs. "Yeah, if I never wanna get back to work,"
Tan turns his head confused. "Did they say that?"
"No, just… this is so slow and" Street flaps his hands a little helplessly, "I feel useless. I mean I can't even take Duke for a real walk. More than down the block and back isn't possible."
"Stop, we're all here. And I'll make you another deal, I'll help with training. But you gotta promise not to do it alone," something tells Tan, this attitude right now is what Chris must've heard and gotten worried. That's why she wanted him specifically to check in on Street.
After the pizza has been devoured Tan sets off on his task of powering out Duke with a long walk. He takes that time to figure out if circling back to Chris and all that has been brewing in his mind is a smart idea. And he has almost nixed it by the time he gets back to the house.
Tan uses the key he took to let himself back in. Unsure if Street might have fallen asleep and in any case his friend didn't need the pain of getting himself off that sofa more than necessary.
Tan sees Street with his phone in hand and a soft smile on his face, but Street puts the phone down quickly when he notices him.
Tan just leans against the counter and quirks an eyebrow. "Nice nurse coming over?" he laughs.
Street coughs in response, prompting Tan to walk to him worriedly and even Duke makes a beeline for the sofa. "Hey, buddy," Street pats the Labrador's head "I am okay."
"Don't make me laugh," he glares at Tan. "And seriously, what made you think that text…" Street trails off when Tan just lifts an eyebrow at him again.
"That smile, on your face, right now…" Tan starts and then stops opting to let Street take the lead. But instead of a witty response Tan sees his friend freeze. Street's eyes dart around the living room like that proverbial deer in the headlights looking for a way out of danger.
"How long?" two words that could take their conversation to a dangerous place.
After her morning workout Chris picks up her phone again with two messages. One from Street and one from Tan. She smiles quietly to herself. They had fallen into a comfortable rhythm of calling and texting each other whenever possible and kept in touch that way. She had been so worried when she heard that Street had been allowed home after only two weeks in the hospital. But knowing Tan was there this evening, had calmed her a fraction. Now she was curious what both men had to say.
She swipes open the message from Street first. Expecting the same old recap of his day and a good morning but no, this time it was a little different. He had added a "Can we talk?"
Chris checks her watch. 7 am in Germany is 10 pm LA time and then she simply pushes the button to connect the call, not even bothering to check the message from Tan.