Chapter Text
"Like pretending your feelings for me don't exist, doesn't make them go away either?"
"Don't go there."
"Just sayin'"
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"It is my problem! You're my problem!
"Wh-what does that mean?"
"Remember when you told me if you lost me, you'd never recover, because of, because of how you felt? I can't lose you either."
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"Is that you admitting we're perfect for each other? "
"Except for the whole for the no fraternizing with team members thing? "
"Which is why we need to talk about us preferably before you get on a plane and fly away for the summer."
"You gotta give it up, our situation is impossible."
"I'm not ready to concede that point, not yet."
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"Look, we've tried ignoring our feelings, we've tried moving on. This thing is real, always has been. That's as simple as it gets."
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"I don't think I can go to Germany until you're out of surgery and I know you're okay."
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"We still don't have a solution to our problem."
"So we'll just keep talking. We're two highly skilled police officers with extensive trainings in negotiation, we'll figure it out."
"Okay."
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"Call me after the surgery."
"The second I wake up."
Street sighed as he rolled over again, readjusting his pillow under his head. Staring at the ceiling he kept replaying the stolen conversations he'd shared with Chris in his head. He reached out and picked up his phone, it glared 11:52pm and still no new messages. Not that he was expecting any but after that kiss he just couldn't get her out of his head. It was like a giant wave had crashed over him, knowing that Chris felt the same way. Feeling her lips against his, her forehead resting on his and those eyes looking up at him asking him to call after his surgery. His heart swelled thinking about it and ached knowing she'd be gone for months.
Throwing the covers back, Street got up, grabbed his shoes, jacket and keys and slowly cracked his bedroom door open to check the hallway. Luca's door was shut and no light came out from underneath, his roommate must've called it in early due to the need to get up early to leave for the airport. Quietly, Street sneaked down the hallway and out the front door closing it softly behind him.
The LA streets were getting quiet this time of night so getting to Chris' apartment didn't take much time at all. Street looked up to her apartment from the parking lot as he took his helmet off and saw a glow coming from her window. He made his way upstairs and took a deep breath as he knocked on Chris' door.
He could hear Chris make her way to the door and pause, clearly checking through the peephole to see who would be at her door after midnight. "Street? What are you doing here?" she asked as she opened the door. Street took one look at Chris standing in an oversized, black hoodie, ripped denim shorts and fuzzy socks and all his coherent thoughts disappeared from his head. "Street?" Chris repeated, leaning her shoulder on the door and looking at him expectantly.
That woke him out of his daze, he shook his head, "Sorry. Hi."
"Hi back," she responded with a little half smile, "so you want to tell me what's going on? Why are you here in the middle of the night?" opening the door wider and gesturing him into the apartment.
He walked past her through the door and turned back and watched as she locked the door gently behind them. He smiled at her, a big grin, dimples and all. "What?! What are you smiling at? Street!"
He couldn't help but chuckle as he stepped forward and reached for her. Leaning down and touching his forehead to hers, just like earlier in the locker room, "I just had to see you", he whispered as he closed his eyes and kissed her softly. He felt her hands run up his chest and around his neck as he circled his arms around her back to hold Chris closer. Street had never really understood the whole fireworks, shooting stars thing until now. It was crazy how just a simple kiss could make his world spin. But then again this was Chris. His best friend. His partner.
Chris pulled away and smiled, "Well when you put it like that, it is nice to see you too, but I am in the middle of packing. You know I've got an early flight tomorrow," pushing gently on his shoulders to put a little space between them.
"I know," Street groaned, "you don't need to remind me."
"Come on you big sook, you can talk it all out while I pack. I'm almost done anyway," Chris said as she took his hand and led him down the hall to her bedroom.
When Street walked into her bedroom, it was clear he'd interrupted her. He could see a large duffel bag in the middle of her bed half-filled and piles of S.W.A.T. uniforms, clothes and tactical handbooks covering the rest of her bed. Chris crossed the room and sat in a small area of space on her bed. She looked up at Street standing in her doorway and raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. He sighed and slipped his leather jacket off and draped it across the back of the chair in the corner of her room. Sitting on the edge of the chair with his elbows resting on his knees he looked at her, "I - I just, uh..."
"So much for great negotiating skills," she scoffed as she continued to fold and shove things into her duffel bag.
Street ran his hands over his face, "I just, this, I mean. It just sucks. That you, then I... and we... and then you leave and I have this surgery and you'll be off in Germany kicking ass and then I'll be here, on desk duty and armory duty for 6 weeks while I recover and I just ca-"
"Street. Stop, you're spiralling", Chris interrupted, "I'm not going anywhere."
Street shot her an admonishing look.
"You know what I mean, yes I'm going to Germany. But I'm not running away from this. From us. Yes, we still haven't found a way around our problem but now we both know where we stand with each other."
Chris zipped up her now full duffel and placed carefully on the floor by the door.
"I just gonna miss you, that's all," sighed Street as Chris walked over to him. She reached down and pulled him up and looped her arms around his waist as his hands fell to her hips.
Resting her cheek on his chest, she laughed, "I'm gonna miss you too, you dope but I'm glad you're here now."
Stepping back with a grin on her face she let her hands glide down his arms to find his hands and gave them a little squeeze. "Come on, it's late. You have a big day tomorrow, I have a big day tomorrow, we both need some rest. Let me just go clean up in the bathroom first. You need anything?"
"No," Street shook his head and glanced down, realizing for the first time he still was in his sweatpants and faded LBPD training t-shirt from earlier that night, "I guess I'm ready to call it a night."
When he could hear the shower running, he kicked his shoes and socks off and took a moment to glace around the room. It was simple, a few clothes strewn around, some photos on the dresser. He recognised photos of her aunt and uncle and cousins who he had met at a family barbecue and a group photo of their S.W.A.T. family laughing and looking relaxed at a party at Deacon's place a few months back. Street padded over to the bed and pulled the covers back, leaving Chris' usual right side for her. He had just opened one of Chris' discarded tactical handbooks to flick through as the bathroom door swung open and Chris came out.
His heart began to beat faster the second his eyes connected with hers. "Uhhh, wow." he said so quietly he was surprised she even heard it.
"You can put your tongue back in your mouth, Street." Chris rolled her eyes at him. "It's just a tank top and pyjama shorts. Not exactly risqué."
"I guess I just can't believe after four years..." his words trailed off.
"I know. Me too." Chris finished for him, getting into the bed next to him.
She leaned across and kissed him. He didn't think his heart could beat any faster, but it surged even more. His hands cupped her face as he deepened the kiss and his heart continued to race as she responded. Savouring the moment for just a little longer, he pulled back and kissed her lightly, once, twice, before opening his eyes to see her looking right back at him. Both sharing a look that said everything. Comfort, assurance, trust. Partners at work but now also in life. Love.
"Goodnight, Chris," he whispered.
"Night, Street," she smiled softly as she shuffled down the bed to get comfortable. He leaned over to flick the lights off before resting his head on the edge of the pillow facing Chris. He could make out her face from the dim glow coming the from the streetlamp through the curtains. He was so close to her he could feel her breath sweeping across his face.
Street grazed his hand down her arm to her hip and gave her a gentle tug, an invitation which she gladly took to cuddle in closer. She tucked her head under his chin, pressed a kiss to his chest, tangled her legs in his -
"Ugghh," he let out a whine, "Your feet are freezing."
"Shut up and sleep, Street."
"Okay.”
He could hear Chris' breathing slow and even out as she drifted off and as his eyes closed all he could think was finally.