Sweet welshcwtch wanted Sharon to overhear a conversation... This starts up in season 2 at the beginning D.O.A. and the arrival of "Good Old Jack Raydor." Disclaimer:the mistakes are mine, but the characters are not.

Conversations Overheard

"Good Old Jack Raydor," he mused. Provenza rolled his eyes at his partner in disgust. "What?" Andy asked with a shrug, "I liked him."

After verifying the Lieutenant from Hollywood was acting out the order of their superior officer Provenza slid his phone into his back pocket. Together he and his partner questioned the witness who had just returned from his unsuccessful ambulance ride with the victim. The other members of the team gathered evidence and statements, trying to get the scene wrapped up so they could continue the investigation elsewhere.

Provenza thanked Doctor Field for his attempts at resuscitating the victim, and simultaneously rescued him from his partner's never ending blood pressure medication questions. Directing the conversation back to the present he dismissed the doctor, asking that he stay available for further questioning in the days to come. As the doctor left, Julio approached the Lieutenants with the collection of phony licenses he had uncovered from the vehicle. As they shuffled through the cards Provenza let out a sigh, if the location of the crime had not shot it up the pipeline to Major Crimes, the multiple identities and victim's subsequent death would have definitely raised some alarm. He took the evidence and watched the younger man head off to collect a few more statements from the crowd.

Provenza took the opportunity to turn to his partner, "How can you have even been serious earlier? Really? Good old, Jack Raydor? Do you even remember that asshole?"

Andy shrugged, "What? He always seemed fun."

"Seemed, being the operative word there," Provenza pointed out. "And what has changed your tune? I have had to listen to you on and off for years discuss how much the Captain deserved something better? How sad it was that she appeared to be holding on to something that was never going to be?" Andy didn't respond. He simply turned back to the crime scene. The additional officers were still holding the perimeter to keep the press back to a respectable distance, allowing the squad to continue to collect any remaining evidence. "Hmm?" His partner pressed.

Andy groaned, "Well, yeah, I mean I know he's an ass. Don't you think I, of all people, know that?" He turned back to his partner and waved a hand in the air, "Yeah, I know he's an ass, I spent more than one night out with him lamenting on our mutual woes. I may have even joined in, maybe even coaxing him and agreeing with him, at the time, that his witch of a wife had it out for him. But, now? Now, I have changed. Maybe he has too. She's waited this long, maybe he's back. If nothing else I know that it was all shit back then, I was a shit too. I see how much she cares about her family. How she obviously wanted the fairy tale. She deserves it. Maybe this is how that can happen for her."

A little uneasy with the emotional turn of the conversation Provenza scrunched his nose in disgust, "Ye' Gods man. Pull yourself together. You changed yeah, but according to the grapevine that piece of work is still living it up in Vegas. He cleaned her out back then, and I'm sure he's back now to do just that. Vegas is pricy, especially when you have a gambling problem. He is probably here to just butter her up, play to her heart, and then leave her again. If you cared at all you would at the very least be a friend and make sure she has someone there to talk to when it all inevitably comes crashing down. You definitely won't be reminiscing on the good old days with your buddy, Jack. Besides he wasn't that good of a friend then anyway if I remember correctly."

"I know, that was a long time ago. We have already said that things change. She obviously isn't the witch, and he is no prince charming."

Provenza chuckled, "That he definitely is not. Be careful, she hears you saying stuff about witchiness she may send you to a training just for old times sake."

Andy smiled at the joke, "Yeah, those were the good old days. Gosh, it was fun to get her all riled up. Looking back I don't know how she didn't just shoot me. Who would have thought we would one day be here."

"Yeah, let's end this trip down memory lane. I don't think I can listen to you recall all of your favorite fights, they were weird enough to witness back then." Provenza gave a skived out shiver to prove his point, "Although, I think it may be worse now with you following her around constantly and forcing everyone to be kind to her."

The two stood in silence, letting the conversation hang in the air between them. Andy held back from responding. He merely smirked back at his partner, not wanting to reveal anything more about the evolution of his feelings toward their Captain. Thinking back to everything they had discussed he knew his partner was right. Jack was bad news, and he needed to play it cool to keep personal histories out of the Murder Room.

Noticing Andy lost in his own thoughts, Provenza shook off the moment and slapped his partner on the shoulder, "Let's get this wrapped up. You take Buzz along to check out the victim's apartment. I will take Sykes with me after I update the Captain. Have everyone meet back up in the Murder Room mid morning." Andy nodded in acknowledgment and stalked off toward Buzz.

"Now, don't go around moping like wounded puppy all day," he called after his retreating power we. "We still have a job to do, no matter who is in town or not."

Andy waved a hand in his direction, ending any further discussion. "Buzz, you and your camera are with me," he called out as he reached his vehicle.

Provenza pulled his phone out from his back pocket to see that the screen was still open to the recent calls tab. He tapped the top name, "Captain Sharon Raydor." The line immediately went to voicemail; he looked down at the screen in confusion. He had just spoken to her on that line. Scrolling down he read through the outgoing calls:

"Captain Sharon Raydor - Mobile"
"Captain Sharon Raydor - Mobile"
"Captain Sharon Raydor - Home"
"Captain Sharon Raydor - Mobile"

His breath caught, he had called her mobile earlier in the evening. After that number had gone directly to her voicemail he had clicked on the home phone option. That is when Jack had answered, inevitably adding a whole new layer to the rest of the day. Provenza knew he hadn't called her a third time in that sequence. He shook his head; it must have been some kind of a phone glitch. "Technology, no matter how many updates it isn't perfect," he thought to himself as he tapped the screen to call the Captain at home once again.

"Ahh, Captain..."

—

Back at the condo, Sharon was still reeling from Jack's middle of the night arrival. Yes, he was her husband, and sure he did have a key, but that did not change the fact that he did not live with her. Furthermore, he was not exactly welcome. Especially, only hearing very little from him over the last few years, and having absolutely no warning that he was planning a visit today.

After hanging up with Provenza, she had ushered Rusty back to his room, promising a more detailed explanation in the morning, and had shown Jack to the couch. She ignored her estranged husband's hints about "his age", "his back", and the "size of the couch", by simply replying that he could always find a hotel that would suit his needs. He quieted quickly and allowed her to return to her room, alone, without further complaint.

Now alone in her room, Sharon paced the floor in an attempt to calm her rising ire. Not only had Jack shown up unannounced, but he had also answered her home phone. While she could deal with him here, she had no plans of introducing her marriage issues into the lives of anyone else. Her Lieutenant now knew more about her personal life than she was comfortable with, and Rusty had been awoken in the middle by a strange man in his home. The boy had reacted appropriately, but she knew that was also going to be a long discussion later in the day. It was easy enough to explain away an absent spouse, but Jack in all of his bravado could con anyone into believing he was just the fun guy who had been wronged in life.

She could scream. She wouldn't do it now, but she could. It was only a matter of time before he showed back up, but why did it have to be now? Sharon plopped down heavily on the end of her bed and threw her head back. She stared up at the ceiling for a moment replaying the events of the evening. Leave it to Jack Raydor to show up in the most inconvenient manner and throw her life into a potential spiral. Once again he proved that he had the most impeccable timing. He seemed to have the uncanny ability to detect the exact moment she was feeling settled in her life, and then to show up and shake everything up.

Determined to not let Jack "win" this one she opted to just stay the course. She would be strong, give him his two nights, and then send him on his way. There was no need to change their arrangement. No reason to start anything, good or bad. He wouldn't be around long enough, and wasn't worth the effort. She would just 'kill him with kindness' and hope for the best. It had been decades since she had entertained any idea of him being a true partner in her life, so now her sense of dedication to her God and love of her children was the only thing allowing that man to stay anywhere near her and her home.

Sharon stood swiftly, deciding to ignore the Jack situation until later, and for now to just start the day. The Lieutenant would be calling back at some point to update her on the case; she may as well get a head start on it by showering and getting ready. Maybe she would pick up coffee and bagels for the team on her way in. It would be the perfect time for a caffeine and carb pick-me-up for them after being out on Mulholland all night. The fallout from the early morning rollout would definitely result in a longer than average day for everyone. She would more than likely be forgoing her normal breakfast tea for at least one cup of coffee herself, maybe two.

Half an hour later she had taken a quick shower, was dressed for work, and was attempting to do her hair. Over the sound of the blow dryer she heard the home phone ringing once again. She quickly cut off the power to the dryer to listen. Another ring had her running across the room from her en suite to her bedside table. She was able to grab the landline before it rang again, and before Jack decided to take it upon himself to answering, again. Upon verifying the caller ID she answered the phone.

"Ahh, Captain we -" Provenza began.

"Good evening again, Lieutenant," she interrupted. "It is alright now, but is there a reason you are not calling my cell phone this evening?"

"Um, well, Captain, I tried but the phone went directly to voicemail both times," he explained. "So, in lieu of sending a uniform to your building, I decided to use your home number." Sharon pressed the cordless phone between her ear and shoulder as she searched the bedside table for iPhone. She remembered plugging it in and placing it on the table prior to going to sleep last night, but it was not there. At least she thought she had plugged it in, but a quick scan of the empty table and the surrounding floor showed her that indeed her phone was missing.

As the Lieutenant continued to detail the case she got down on her knees to peek under the bed. Luckily, or unluckily as it turns out, she found it under the bed. It had apparently fallen off the table, pulling itself away from the charger at some point during the evening. She rolled her eyes and reached out to grasp her phone. Since it had been off of the charger it also had no charge, which explained what the Lieutenant had said about the voicemail. This was definitely turning into one of her least favorite days to date. As she plugged the phone back into the charger she heard a cough on the other side of the line.

"Oh, yes sorry Lieutenant. Sounds like you have everything in motion. I will meet you all back at the Murder Room. Please keep me updated on any changes. My cell will be back on line for the rest of the morning. So there will be no more need to call this line. I apologize for not being more accessible this evening."

"No need to apologize, Captain. It happens." Provenza paused, not really wanting to address the last phone call, but deciding to offer at least some support, "Um, take some time to get everything situated over there. We will see you shortly."

"Yes, Lieutenant. See you then." Sharon ended the call and dropped her head to her chest. Definitely a coffee type of morning, maybe even the whole pot.

A ding alerted her that her phone had at least woken up enough to begin charging. She glanced down at the screen and saw a number of missed calls; one from Jack and three from Lieutenant Provenza, as well as a couple voicemails from the Lieutenant.

Sharon unlocked her phone to clear the notifications. Already knowing the reasons for each of the calls she wanted to make sure to clear the red circle off of the phone icon. It was one of those things that annoyed her, having the red alert seemingly screaming at her for attention. She clicked the recents tab to clear that and then over to the voicemail tab. Just as she was about to delete the messages she noticed that they appeared to be much longer than the normal fifteen second or so update. Curiously she pressed speaker and then the symbol of the triangle to play the messages.

"Good old Jack Raydor?" came the muffled voice of Provenza, followed quickly by Flynn's confusion and subsequent clarification of the question. Before paying too much attention to the content she smiled to herself, realizing the Lieutenant must have once again pocket dialed her. However, her amusement quickly turned to embarrassment as she realized what the two men were discussing.

She ran her hand through her hair as Andy described his early friendship with her husband. She did not want to be listening in on this conversation, she should not be listening to this conversation, but she couldn't bring herself to stop. Sharon was slightly upset that her team was discussing her personal life, but a part of her was curious enough that she couldn't just turn it off without knowing what they were saying.

As Sharon continued to effectively eavesdrop, she shook her head for a moment wondering how she could pretend she had not heard their exchange. A sad chuckle did escape her lips when the older Lieutenant had uttered the term friend, showing the fact that the two men did seem to care about her. However, the personal nature of the discussion was still humiliating. And as she continued to listen there was a something about the way Flynn described her that she could not quite handle. Something in his defense of her, that made her feel a little uneasy. This was definitely going to be a day. "Good old, Jack Raydor indeed," she sighed to herself as she stood to finish getting ready. Yes, definitely a whole pot of coffee would be needed to get through today. No question.

Just to insure she wouldn't have to deal with the two of them too soon she unlocked her phone one more time. She typed out a quick text. "Lieutenant, please have Julio meet Rios and I at the morgue once the scene is cleared." There, that would buy her some time.

TBC