That question

"What are you planning to do now?" Lanie asked Alvarez after she gave him a blanket and a pillow. He shrugged then, faced her while holding his waist. 

"Uhm, continue the investigation secretly?" he casually said before sitting on the couch. "For sure they will give us new cases, pending cases or… throw my team in some station," he added. Alvarez didn't seem bothered about what those higher ups will do to them just because they chose to investigate fairly and do their jobs right. He didn't bother because he knew that he had those evidence and they had… Tyler Lancaster. He looked at Lanie who was standing not far away from him. And of course, they had her. The witness. 

"Okay. So, how's the case going? Any update?" she asked. She sat down on the single couch, ready to listen to him. He tilted his head while looking at her. 

He shook his head. "Still nothing. Mr. Lopez's case got me busy." Lanie nodded. She was looking at the window, thinking something deep.

"Why? Did you find something?" he asked. She looked at her. Their eyes met. And then Alvarez knew, she found out something but she is still debating if she will say it or not. 

He sighed when Lanie shook her head. "Nothing. I was busy with my work." she said. He nodded and smiled a little at her. He lay down on the couch and covered his half body with a blanket. 

"Patrick…" he looked at her, shocked. This was the first time Lanie called him to his first name. She always called her Alvarez or Lieutenant. Lanie seemed to notice that so she gave him a loop smile. 

"I want to talk to a friend this time. So, let's forget that you are a Lieutenant." She said sincerely. This was also the first time she asked for a friend. That she wanted to talk to a friend. He knew Lanie didn't open up herself easily to other people even to her friends at work she didn't open herself that much. 

"Why? Did you trust me that much that you want to talk to me… as a friend?" he asked and got up. Lanie shrugged. 

"I still don't trust you that much but I want to have someone to talk to right now. There are so many things inside my head. Plus, you are not that dumb so, why not?" she said. He looked at her offensively. He didn't know if he would feel good because she wanted to talk about those things that were messing her mind for the first time or he would be irritated because of what she said. 

He only shook his head. This girl is really unpredictable. "Okay. What are these things that are messing your messy mind, friend?" He said playfully. She sighed. 

"Do you know… uhm… ways to get to know a person? I mean, to know a person better?" His jaw dropped at what she asked. Really, Lanie? This question? He thought it was somewhat serious because knowing Lanie, she will always ask questions that will make him think deeper. He didn't expect that she would throw this kind of question to him. 

"Don't give that look!" His eyes narrowed at her more then, gave her a malicious smile.

"Are you dating?" Or do you like someone? That's the reason why you asked that?" Her eyes grew big then, waved her hands and shook her head defensively. 

"Of course, not!" she shouted. He laughed hard because of her reactions. Lanie threw the couch pillow on him. He raised his arm so he could block the pillow that she threw. When he still didn't stop laughing, she got up, got another couch pillow and went to hit him. 

"Ugh!!! I hate you!! It was not like that, you idiot!" she exclaimed while hitting him using the pillow couch. 

"Okay! Okay!" he said, still laughing. "Stop it, already! Okay! Okay!" she stopped hitting him and gave him a glare. He raised his arms, surrendering while he still had that smile. 

"Okay. Even though it's obvious that you are dating- OUCH!!" she hit him again. Lavarez grabbed the pillow in her hand and threw it on the couch. 

"Okay. Okay. I'll stop now. Chill. You said you want a friend tonight? You're brutal to your friend." he said and held his chest, looking at her dramatically. Lanie glared at him more before shaking her head. 

"Based on my experience, if you want to know someone then just go out with him!" he said. Lanie looked at him, slightly shocked. 

"Why would I go out with him?! Are you crazy? I just want to know him. I didn't say I want to date him!" she said, exaggerating. Alvarez smirked. He got her. Now he was curious who this guy was. Lanie cleared her throat when she saw him raise his brow.

"Who is this unlucky guy?" he asked curiously. 

"Why do you have to know? I just want information about him, that's why I need ways to know him." Lanie sat again and crossed her arms. 

"Just ask who he is. Or do what you did to your friends when they told their story to you." Lanie sighed and shook her head.

"That's my other problem. He was playing hard to get." He nodded and had that meaningful smile on his lips. 

He chuckled. "Playing hard to get, huh? How can you say so?"

"Because he made me choose." His brows furrowed. 

"Choose what?" Lanie looked at her then sighed. She seemed frustrated at something.

"He made me choose between him, telling about himself or…" she bit her lip. He tilted his head, waiting for her to continue.

"Or him, helping me in my mission." Suddenly, Alvarez became serious and attentive. 

"Your mission?" Lanie nodded. 

"Yes, mission. My mission... to close that tragedy case." Alvarez looked at her seriously as he processed what he said. He is not that dumb, like he said, for him not to understand what she was trying to say right now. 

"And what did you choose?" 

"I chose both." she said softly while playing with her fingers.

He brushed his hair using her fingers. Now, he understood why she asked for a friend right now. She asked for a friend because that question was between her personal life and her messed up life. 

And because that question… was about him. That question was about Tyler Lancaster.