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The car ride back to HQ was unusually quiet. Overall the operation went well and 20-squad was able to save the small family of hostages and capture the three suspects into custody. It was a simple robbery but turned into a hostage situation when they found the family to be home.
Your performance however could’ve cost the team worse. All you could see was one of the suspects grabbing the little girl and pointing a gun to her head, dragging her further into the house and into the safe room where the wife had kept her most priced jewels; which they were after. You remember her screaming with tears streaming down her face and acting on pure instinct instead of sticking in formation with the team.
It was the wrong call, you know that. Even as a new recruit you know that. It wasn’t what you learned in the academy and yet all that training went out the window and you had a one track mind in order to save her life. Which you did, running after them and shooting the suspect before he even had a chance to point his gun again.
After the op was over Hondo was quick to scold you for your actions and you took his criticism to heart. You wanted to do your job correctly and up to his standards and seeing the frown on his face directed at you made you want to curl up in a ball and hide forever.
A shower was much needed and you let the burning hot water soothe the humiliation and embarrassment you felt with yourself. The last thing you wanted to do was quit that would be taking the easy way out. But you’ve worked so hard and come so far to not give up.
It was mostly quiet after you finished your shower and you were left alone with your scrambling thoughts as you dressed. The door to the locker room swung open and Chris walked in still in her tact gear. The look on her face was not happy still and you turned away from her judging eyes to put on your shirt.
”What were you thinking?” She starts.
”You already know what I was thinking, save the little girl.” You replied.
”Yeah but you don’t go out of formation to do it. There’s a reason why we stay together, stay in pairs so no one gets hurt; including yourself.”
You closed your locker with a little more force than you intended. This was not how you wanted your first op to go and already you were off to a bad start with everyone it seemed.
”Did Hondo tell you to talk some more sense into me?” Her eyes shifted to the side but she didn’t say anything. You already knew the answer was yes.
“Look I agree it was sloppy work, not my best but when I looked into that little girl’s eyes and saw how scared she was I froze and realized that this might be the last image that she saw; a barrel of a gun staring her in the face and I didn’t want that.” You sighed and leaned your back against the lockers. “My mind switched to auto pilot and my body acted on instinct.”
Chris stepped closer to you. The expression on her face more softer than when she first came in, like she understood exactly what you were going through.
She placed her hand on your shoulder. “I’m not gonna lie and say that this job is easy and every call you make is gonna be the right one. But it’s our job to assess the tough situations and use the best option to get everyone out safely as possible. And that involves relying on your team more often than not. That’s the way we all make it home safe at the end of the day.”
You nodded unable to trust your voice to come out clear and not get choked up on the tears that ran down your face. The pad of her thumb brushed softly against your cheek, wiping them away.
You gazed into her brown eyes feeling a small flutter in your stomach. It was a secret that you had been harboring a crush on her even before you joined the squad. Seeing her around HQ and stopping to have a conversation with her from time to time only seemed to grow your infatuation. And that time you guys had sparred together and she had gotten you pinned beneath her only added fuel to the torch you were carrying for her.
You knew all about the policy in having relationships between officers but you couldn’t help yourself, the eagerness got the better of you once again. You leaned in slowly, keeping your gaze on her lips. She leaned back a little, hesitant, then paused.
The hand she still had on your cheek curled around to the back of your neck to hold you in place and she closed the gap between you, capturing your lips in a gentle kiss.
Your heart hammered away in your chest and you gripped her vest to draw her closer. She followed pressing you back against the locker, deepening the kiss. Her other hand gripped your waist and you moaned. Just as you opened your mouth to guide entry for her tongue she abruptly pulled away and stepped away from you, going towards her locker.
Seconds later the door swung open and Tan walked in. He gave you a small smile when he saw you, oblivious to your actions just moments earlier.
”Hey, uh I hope Hondo wasn’t too hard on you earlier. I get it. I could count how many mistakes I’ve made when I first joined. But I think you’re a great officer and we’re lucky to have you on our team.”
You nodded hoping he couldn’t see the flushed look you had on your face. “Thanks that really means a lot.”
He smiled brighter and you glanced over at Chris and she was already watching you. You could see the blush she had on her cheeks and you warmed knowing that you were the cause of it.
”If you guys are up for it you wanna grab a bite to eat? I know this great burger place a few blocks from here. My treat.” Victor offered.
”Yeah sure let me get cleaned up and I’ll meet you guys outside.” Chris finally spoke up grabbing her toiletry bag.
You agreed and he grabbed his stuff from the locker and exited. You slung your bag over your shoulder and stepped closer to Chris.
“Buy me a drink and I’ll let you see what this tongue could really do.” You whispered lowly in her ear then turned to join Tan outside. Only glancing back briefly to see her stunned expression.
You were gonna like it here after all.