Erin leaned back, arms crossed. "And what's changed?"
"I almost died today doing exactly what I was afraid you'd do. I went into a dangerous situation alone because I was too proud to ask for help and too convinced I could control every variable." Lena's voice cracked. "If Cross had hit me harder, if that debris had fallen differently, I would have died. And the last conversation we'd have had was me telling you I couldn't promise to trust you."
"But you didn't die."
"No. But lying on that warehouse floor, thinking I might not make it out, all I could think about was that you'd blame yourself."
Erin's composure cracked. "Of course I'd blame myself. If I'd been there?—"
"If you'd been there, you might have convinced me to wait for backup. Or you might have prevented Cross from igniting those chemicals." Lena reached toward Erin's hand, stopping just short of touching. "I don't know what would have happened, but I know it would have been better than me going in alone."
"That's not a promise to trust me. That's just sentiment."
"Then how about this?" Lena moved her hand the last few inches, covering Erin's fingers. "When we question Danny Morrison, I want you there. You and your expertise will be invaluable."
"You'll be on medical leave."
"Next week, then. Or whenever the doctor clears me." Lena squeezed Erin's hand. "The point is, I'm asking you to be my partner on this case."
"And personally?"
Lena met Erin's eyes, seeing the hope alongside the caution. "Personally, I love you. I should have said it sooner, but I was too scared of what it meant."
Erin's breath caught. "Lena?—"
"I love you," Lena repeated. "I love your competence and your passion and the way you never back down when you're right. I love that you're better at fire science than anyone I've ever met, and I love that you don't let me get away with thinking I know better."
Tears flowed down Erin's face. "I love you too. I've loved you for weeks. But love isn't enough if you can't trust me."
"Then I'll learn to trust you. Because partnership means trusting each other to do our jobs, even when those jobs are dangerous."
"Even when those jobs might get me hurt?"
Lena's instinct was to promise protection and safety. Instead, she forced herself to say, "Even then. Because the alternative is this…me lying in a hospital bed because I was too proud to trust you."
Erin studied Lena's face. "You really mean it?"
"I really mean it."
"Because if we try this again and you go behind my back?—"
"I won't." Lena's voice was firm. "If I have concerns about your safety, I'll talk to you. If we disagree about something, we'll work it out together."
"And if I think you're being overprotective?"
"Then you'll call me on it, and we'll figure out a better way."
Erin leaned forward. "This isn't going to be easy. Learning to trust each other and work together without stepping on each other's authority."
"No, it's not going to be easy. But it's going to be better than working apart."
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise me that the next time you get a lead on Cross's buyer, you'll include me from the beginning."
Lena didn't hesitate. "I promise. We solve this case together, as partners."
