The Good Ones Go

Several meetings and patient visits later Chelsea finally makes herself comfortable on the brown leather couch in their office. Rico is typing away on his laptop, and Chelsea listens to the soothing clicks of his keys with her eyes shut.

"What's going on with you lately?" Frederico asks curious as to why she looks so miserable.

Chelsea opens a single eye to glace in his direction. When she's sure he's staring at her she shuts it again before saying, "nothing." She's tried of her work life and her personal life mixing. She's tired of a lot of things.

"That's not true. You look like crap," he says, and she shoots him a threatening look. "Like the most beautiful crap I've ever seen, but still crap," he chuckles when he sees the way she looks at him. "And on top of it, you handed over that case, you're hanging out with some dude I've never met before who I know isn't your husband. Give me the deets," he's being persistent.

"There's nothing to tell. I don't really wanna talk about it. I'm sick of trying to talk about everything," she admits with a sigh.

Rico watches her run her hands through her hair, and it makes him more curious. "How'd you manage to piss him off so soon?" Rico jokes referring to her husband.

"Why does it have to be my fault?" She's getting defensive now. It seems to her like she's always the one to blame.

"It doesn't, but judging by your response I'm assuming it is," he counters. His pen is in his hand, and his thumb is clicking it melodically the way it always does when he's thinking.

"The case I handed over," she starts, "it's my ex's daughter." Chelsea doesn't want to talk about it, but she hopes if she gives him something he'll drop it altogether.

"Ahhh," an understanding glazes over Rico's features as he nods at her response. "Does he know you're not on it anymore?" he's curious.

"Yes. He's not happy I took it in the first place," Chelsea admits staring down at her throbbing feet.

"People get weird when they get married," Rico suggests. "My brother and his wife fought through their first year of marriage until she got pregnant. Guess the baby put things into perspective for them," it sounds to Chelsea as if he's hinting at something.

She chuckles, "yea, no way. Everything is already happening so fast. I really don't need that on top of it." She's definitely not ready for a baby. She doesn't even know if she's ready to be married.

A knock on the door causes the co-workers to turn their attention to the lanky man standing outside of the office.

Colson licks his suddenly dry lips as his eyes flutter to Chelsea's figure on the couch. "Chels, can we talk?" he manages to ask.

Rico clears his throat and gets up shutting his laptop. "I'm gonna go get some lunch. Do you want anything?" He asks Chelsea who looks pissed that he's leaving her alone.

"Just a coffee, please?" she asks with a sigh as the man puts his coat on.

"Large and black. See you in a few," he says as he walks out and shuts the door behind him.

Colson pulls his hands out of his pockets as he walks over to sit next to Chelsea. "I thought you'd see this through with me," he accuses her.

Chelsea can hear the hurt in his voice, and she sighs. "I'm sorry, Colson. It's kind of a conflict of interest. Dr. Goltsiker is great, though. I promise I left you in good hands," she needs him to understand.

"This is about Adam isn’t it?" he doesn't bother trying to hide his irritation from her.

"Richard, please," she doesn't want to do this with him. It's one fight after another, and she doesn't have the strength anymore.

"Why does he have to be such a dick? It's my fucking kid. What's he so fucking insecure about?" Cole raises his voice a little. He doesn't understand why Adam is being so selfish.

"We've got a lot of history, Richard. It might seem like no big deal to you, but Adam just doesn't want any problems, and I get it. He's right," she's trying to defend her husband. Just recently she was on the opposing side, but she doesn’t need Colson to think he got to her so quickly.

"Problems? What problems? My daughter has cancer. That's a fucking problem, Chels. The fact that that asshole is a jealous son of a bitch is really not anyone's problem," the words leave his mouth laced with venom. He's tired of losing Chelsea to this man, and it wasn't fair for him to take her away again. Not like this.

"Richard," Chelsea's tone is warning as she repositions herself on the couch and straightens her posture.

"Stop, Chelsea. I don’t want to hear your excuses. You left me. You married him. He won. There's nothing else to discuss. This isn't about me and you, it’s about Casie. I can't let anything happen to her, and your fucking husband is trying to get in the way of that," why can't he get through to her? Doesn't she understand he needs her? He needs her to save Casie, to save him.

"I told you that Goltsiker is the best," she reiterates trying to calm him down.

"Yea, but I called you, and you bailed the first chance you got," he's hurt. Maybe this is about more than Casie he thinks to himself, but there's no way he'd let her know it.

"Things are different now, Cole. I can't just jump when you ask me to jump," she's trying to explain to him that she's not at his beck and call anymore. That's been done and over with for a while.

"I'm not asking you to jump. I'm asking you to save my little girl," his tone finally settles into sorrow as he speaks the desperate words he never thought he's have to say.

Chelsea doesn't know what to say. She can't get him to understand unless she confesses that she still has feelings for him, and that's something she can't do. She hates to hurt him this way, but she has to protect herself. She's lucky when the office door swings open, and Rico walks in with her cup of coffee.

He walks over to hand it to her before saying, "I ran into your friend on my way up."

Before Chelsea has a chance to question him Travis walks in behind him. His hands are in the pockets of his black and white bomber jacket as he strolls in eyeing the man sitting next to her. "Trav, what's going on?" she asks standing and taking a sip of the now lukewarm drink in her cup.

"It's 3:30," he says looking at his watch as if it should be obvious that he's picking her up. "Figured you'd want to spend the night again," he concludes confirming that he's there to save her from the miserable conversation she's having.

Rico looks up when he hears the statement come out of Travis' mouth. He knows she's on the rocks with Adam, but he didn't realize it was that bad that she's spending her nights at someone else's house.

"That much trouble in paradise?" Colson asks with a raised eyebrow. He's suddenly feeling smug.

The look that Travis gives him is indescribable. Chelsea swears if looks could kill that Colson would be in pieces already.

"And look at that, thirsty Travis is here to save the day as always," Colson smirks. He wants to get under their skin. Chelsea hurt him. So did Travis. Why is he always around to pick Chelsea up? He's never seen a man act like such a puppy before. "Those leftovers she gives you must really be something, man," he adds arrogantly.

"Watch your fucking mouth," Travis' hands clench into fists. His knuckles are red, and he's struggling to control himself as he glares at the man in front of him. "I'll break your jaw this time," he threatens as he stares him down.

"Okay, that's enough. Let's go," Chelsea states grabbing her coat and purse off the couch and pushing Travis out through the doorway. She hears Colson shout something from the office, but the click of her heels against the granite tiles drowns his voice out, and she's glad.

"Travis," she scolds when they get into his Porsche.

"What?" he sounds irritated as he reverses out of the parking spot.

"What the hell was that about?" the tension between the two men is worse than between Cole and Chelsea.

"I may have punched him at your engagement party," Travis admits keeping his eyes on the road.

"What?!" Chelsea is shocked. She remembers how mad she got when she realized Travis chased her ex away, but she didn't know how. She always assumed he said something stupid, and Cole couldn't be bothered to fight for her.

"He doesn't know how to stay in his lane," Travis shrugs speeding down the expressway to his house.

"Travis," Chelsea sighs, "you really gotta stay out of this."

"I try, but you keep dragging me back in," he retorts with a snort.

Chelsea gulps. He's completely right. She rolls down the window and lights a cigarette ignoring the disapproving look her friend is giving her for breaking the no smoking rule in his baby. She stays quiet the rest of the way, and a wave of relief washes over her when they pull into the driveway, and she can finally get out of that claustrophobic car.

"Chelsea!" Travis calls after her realizing she's upset. He jogs after her into the house, but she's already upstairs. When he makes it up there she's already undressing and reaching for a pair of leggings from her drawer, and it seems like it takes her forever to pull them on as his eyes stay glued to her bare milky thighs.

"I didn’t mean it like that, Chels, I swear," he starts when her clothes are finally on, and she's standing staring at him. "I know you're having a tough time right now. I guess it's just getting to me too," he admits to her rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"No you're right. I keep dragging you into all my messes, and you don't deserve it," she says. "I should be the one apologizing. I'm constantly invading your privacy and asking you for favors as if you should put your own life on hold for me, and I'm sorry," she really does feel bad as she looks at him standing only a few feet away from her.

Travis takes a couple steps until he's square with her body.

Chelsea tries to control her breathing because the closeness is taking her somewhere she shouldn't be. Her eyes trail down his neck glazing over the tattoos peering from under his shirt. When he pulls her into a hug she swears she's melting in his grasp. The sigh she lets out is unconscious, and it surprises her when it leaves her mouth.

Travis pulls back to look at her. His thumb rubs along her porcelain cheek as he swallows and licks his lips. The way she stares at him is mesmerizing, and it makes him weak in the knees.

"I love you, Chels," he admits biting his lip in anticipation. He hates himself for saying it, but she'll just assume he means as a friend he's sure.

Chelsea gulps, and he notices instantly as his eyes flutter to her neck and then her pout. "I know. I love you too, Trav," she tells him with a sigh.

No more than a second passes before Travis' lips are on hers. She gives in instinctually, allowing her own lips to mold to his and pushing her tongue forward until it's massaging his. They stay connected for a few seconds before Chelsea pulls back in shock.

"Oh my god," the words leave her lips in a whisper. Her hand is reaching up to touch her lips momentarily before she freaks out and runs out.

"Chels, wait, I'm sorry," Travis is back on his toes again running down the stairs after her. It's not long before his hand is around her wrist pulling her back into him. She's so close to him she can feel his breath on her face, and it scares the hell out of her because she wants to reach up and kiss him again.

"No, Travis, I can't - we can't," her thoughts are getting jumbled around in her head as she tries to figure out how she'll get herself out of this.

"No you're right, I'm sorry. It was a mistake, and it won't happen again," he reassures her, but his heart sinks a little bit as the words leave his mouth.

Chelsea nods trying to relax, but the burn from his touch on her arm is too hot. "I've gotta go," she concludes wiggling away from him and grabbing her coat and purse from the foyer.

"Let me drive you. I don't want you waiting for the bus, it's cold out there," Travis seems adamant.

Chelsea doesn't have the strength to fight anymore so she nods her head and watches as he collects his keys and wallet. The 15 minute drive to her house feels like an eternity, and she doesn’t know how many cigarettes she puffs through waiting to get home. They've made things awkward with each other, and Chelsea doesn't know if they can bounce back.

When they're pulled up in front of her home she throws what's probably her third cigarette butt out of the window and utters a small, "thanks," without looking his way. Travis doesn't say anything back, he just watches as she unbuckles her seatbelt and jumps out of the less claustrophobic Escalade.

Chelsea walks to her front door slowly, her heart sinking when she hears Travis' engine rev up. She glances back, but he's already gone, and now she feels scared. She doesn't really know why he kissed her, or why she kissed him back, but if she's really honest: she liked it. It was the first time she felt at peace in a long while. Travis has always been her rock, and the thought of losing him terrifies her.

When she walks into her home Adam is standing in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee. He's in a pair of slacks but shirtless, and Chelsea has to force herself to ignore how handsome he looks. He gives her a silent nod when she walks in, and she sighs dreading what she's about to do.

"I think we should take some time apart," she suggests nibbling nervously on her lip as she stares at her confused husband.

Adam raises his brow at the idea as he sets his mug down on the quartz counter saying, "Chelsea lets just sit down and work through this."

"I kissed Travis," she blurts out fidgeting with her fingers nervously beneath the protection of the jacket in her hands.

Adam's brows quickly furrow as he struggles to find his words, "I thought you said nothing happened, that you just couldn't sleep." Adam is baffled. He doesn't know what's happening or why she's dropping this on him out of no where.

"Not then. Earlier today. He came to pick me up. I kissed him," she admits, but she omits the fact that she wants to do it again.

"You kissed him or he kissed you?" Adam asks wondering if she's covering for her friend. He feels the anger growing in his belly as his fists clench behind the counter.

"God Adam, how many times do I have to say it? I fucking kissed him, okay?" she feels the irritation building inside of her. Maybe Colson already exhausted her reservoir of patience because it seems like she has none for Adam. She throws the black trench coat on the counter before sitting down on the leather bar stool.

"Why?" Adam is trying to figure out how they are falling apart so easily. His eyes are following her every move trying to find an ounce of remorse, but he can't. She doesn't seem sorry for what she's doing to them, and he thinks it might be over.

"I don't know, Adam, it just happened -" she tries to defend before he interrupts her angrily.

"Things don't just happen, Chels, people make choices," he says, and she remembers all the times those words left her lips.

"Like I said," she tries to stay calm, "maybe we should take some time apart."

"For what?" Adam is irritated now. "So you can decide if you wanna leave me for him?"

"Adam," she warns, "it's really not like that." She actually doesn't know what she feels, but she needs some time to work through it all.

"Then what is it like, Chelsea? Because from where I'm standing you don't look so great," his words cuts through her as if she's nothing. It hurts hearing him say it, but she knows he's right - she probably looks like an asshole.

"Fine. You wanna get a divorce? Let's get a fucking divorce!" she shouts. The anger is boiling inside her now. She doesn't understand why he's blowing this out of proportion, so if that's what he wants then so be it.

"That's not what I want, Chels," Adam sighs, but he also doesn't want her doubting everything they have together.

"Then just give me some goddamn space," she pleads. She really does love Adam, but she doesn't know how to sort her feelings out right now.

"I've given you space and look what you've done with it. I was worried about that piece of shit ex of yours this whole time when I should've been worried about my piece of shit friend," he yells at her.

"Okay maybe I should’ve just stayed at Travis'," she sighs giving up. This is pointless - they're walking in circles.

"Yea, and maybe you should've married him instead," Adam wants to hurt her too.

"Adam," Chelsea gasps taken aback by his words.

"You're with him more than you're with me. You trust him more than you trust me. Every chance you get you're crying on his shoulder. You two are fucking perfect for each other," his words are accusing her of more than he intended, but there's no going back now.

"I can't believe you," she scoffs and shakes her head.

"I can't believe you either," he retorts. "I've given you everything I possibly can, and it's still not enough. MGK has your heart, and Mills has your pussy, seems like you're not interested in me," the words may as well have been laced with poison because that's how they feel to Chelsea who has to fight to keep breathing after they hit her ears.

"Fuck you, Adam," the words leave her lips so easily, and she almost feels like she's ten years in the past arguing with Richard.

"I'm sorry, Chels, okay? Shit has been rough lately," he sighs regretting his words instantly at the sight of her hurt expression.

"I'm done, Adam," is all she says before picking up her jacket and purse once more and racing toward her red Golf.

Turning her ignition on she lets out a heavy sigh knowing she probably shouldn't run back to Travis, but he's the only place that feels like home. She drives there mindlessly deciding she'll figure the rest out when she's parked in his driveway, and when she is she just can't bring herself to get out of the car.

She doesn't know how long she sits there, but at some point she finally dozes off from the exhaustion. After what feels like days she jolts awake to a violent tapping sound. When she opens her eyes and looks up she can see the sun coming up in the horizon, and Travis is half naked knocking on the window of her car. She turns her battery on to roll the window down, and Travis' raspy voice travels to her ears like a song.

"Chelsea, baby, come on, come inside," he insists. The worry is his words is evident as he contemplates how long she'd been sitting out here in the cold with her car turned off. "Chelsea," he repeats, and when she doesn't move he reaches through the window to unlock the door which he swings opens before pulling her out of the car.

"Travis, stop," her words want to protest, but the tone of her voice is almost begging him to carry her inside.

When he manages to get her out of the car he reaches inside to close the window and take her keys out, noticing the only chain on them is one of the Eiffel Tower he brought her from Paris a couple years back. He grabs a hold of her hand and leads her inside, upstairs, and into his bed.

"Travis," she wants to tell him it's a bad idea. She doesn't know if she can control herself around him anymore.

"Shut up, Chelsea, just lay down. Can't you see you're fucking exhausted? You're going to make yourself sick," he warns her as he slips into bed himself before yanking the blanket up over them.

His words resonate with her, and she fights her eyes from shutting so soon as she looks over his concerned face.

"I love you, Travie," her whisper tickles his ear when her words reach him.

"I love you too, Chels," he reassures watching her eyes flutter to a close. He lets out a sigh before shutting his own. If he hadn’t gotten up to go to the bathroom and by chance caught sight of her through the window, how long would she have stayed out there? He glances at her once more before resolving that she's safe now, and with that thought he eases himself to sleep eager to wake up and see her in a few hours.