Chris took a few days to recover from Hawk's spot-on assessment of her situation, but in the end, she conceded and typed back, "Yes, so please don't expect too much from me."
Over the following weeks, their typed conversations had become an almost integral part of her day. Somehow, she always managed to sneak in a short text or conversation between her responsibilities, and the nights alone weren't so bad anymore, even if he was just virtual company.
She stumbles over her thought of trusting him, and the warm feeling in her gut every time a notification from Hawk pops up is undeniable.
Today's case is keeping the team plenty busy, but not enough for her not to notice Street acting weirdly. He's been preoccupied with his phone pretty much all the time the past few weeks, but today was something more. Her suspicious nature just keeps getting validated as she walks out of the café and hears his hasty-ended conversation with whom she assumes is the mysterious foster brother. Why Street feels so indebted to that criminal is beyond her.
And his reaction to her coming with or helping… something just doesn't sit right with her. What if Street screws up again? This time, there won't be a way to fix this.
Chris is caught up in her swirling head worrying, but the app's alert for a new message pulls her out. She can't help but smile.
"Hey, you seem distracted. Everything okay?"
"I'm just worrying about a friend," Chris says, not wanting to go into too much detail right now.
"Oh, sorry. Don't worry about getting back to me then. Go be there for her!"
Chris swallowed, reading his reply. She'd promised no lies at the beginning, and she had to correct this.
"Him, and I am not sure he wants my help right now."
"Him? Anything I should know? *Wiggled eyebrow emoji*
Chris stares at her phone and tilts her head from side to side. She didn't want to lie, as easy as it would be, but she simply couldn't unpack all that had been to this man. Not like this. Not without being able to explain and react and, most of all, see his reaction.
She swallows before typing back.
"He is a friend. And he needs my help, whether he wants to admit it or not. I just know it!"
"I can practically hear the temperament through the screen. Maybe give him a day or two and reach out?" Hawk types back and Chris smiles to herself.
"Thanks. I'll try that. Enough about me. Tell me about your day. Anything I can help with?"
"No, not right now. But listen, I will be out of town for a bit, helping my brother move, so I might not be as responsive as I am right now. If I can help or you need an ear, I'll be here still, okay?"
Chris frowns. This is the first time Hawk even mentioned a brother. It had always been his roommate, and she distinctly remembers that he told her he didn't really have a family. Should she call him out on that? Her fingers hover over the screen momentarily, and she decides to tread lightly.
"I understand. Family is important. Go and help, and maybe we can talk more about your family after that. Is there a reason why you haven't mentioned him before?"
"Sorry," Hawk types back, "I guess you could say we were estranged for a long time; it is only recently that we reconnected. I am glad he reached out for help."
After that, Hawk has to hit the road, and Chris realizes he hasn't mentioned where he is going or if he is driving or flying or whatnot. She hadn't even thought to ask.
But to her utter surprise, she still woke up to a message every day over the following days. She was exhausted from her work and worried about Street, who, after having gone AWOL, had decided to throw his job away.
She did what she should've done the first time: figure out where that stupid brother lives and demand answers. She probably wouldn't have left if Tan hadn't been with her.
Now, she is sitting in her room again, trying to sort through her thoughts and feelings. She is typing and retyping a message to Hawk, not knowing how to put it in words. She stares at the screen and his last message from just minutes ago.
"My brother's move is moving along smoothly. It should be done by the weekend. How's your friend doing?"
What was she supposed to say?
"Like I told you, he refused and still refuses my help. There is nothing I can do anymore."
A shudder runs down her spine, sending the message, but maybe it is for the best if she keeps her distance.
"You can't save everyone, you know. I am sorry your friend disappointed you."
"How do you always know what to say to make smile?" Chris types back in wonder.
"Had a good teacher, I guess, but I admit, I am not always taking her lessons to heart myself. Maybe I should, though."
Chris rereads the message multiple times and then types back the mirror image of an earlier message from Hawks: "Her? Anything I should know? *wide-eyed emoji*"
"Touche, but no. As in your case, she is a friend. Before meeting you, I'd have said my best friend and confidante."
Another two weeks rolled by with just a few messages here and there. Somehow that move seems not so smooth anymore as Hawk is still out of town. Or at least he is telling her that.
But the reveal that Street had been undercover all this time pulls her focus. God, dammit, I shouldn't have given up. She scolds herself and almost immediately works on getting her hands on the file. This was just a classic Street move. Helping family. Consequences be dammed.
"We're finally seeing the end. I should be back in town in a few days. I am glad this job is done." Chris almost flinches, seeing the notification on her phone, getting ready for the raid to get Street out of the mess he was in.
"Yeah, about that… isn't your boss gonna fire you with all the delays?"
It was about all she could manage. She wanted to accuse Hawk of lying, but what proof did she have? Hell, she doesn't even know what he works. They hadn't talked about that yet.
Chris slides her phone back into her pocket and focuses on her work. She has to be 100% to get Street out, and these creeps off the streets of LA.
Only three days later, a new message from Hawk arrives in her notifications:
"I understand you don't trust me anymore. Maybe you never really did. I am sorry about that, but I could really use someone to talk to—someone who's not judging me or pitying me. I really did help my brother move out of a bad situation, and my boss supported that idea. Unfortunately, my efforts were futile. In the end, my brother made his decision. Thank you for hearing me out."
My original outline had one more (final) chapter... a good friend encouraged me to try and expand the story. So bare with me and thank you for your patience.