Inevitable

Chapter 1

"What's going on with you?" Asked Provenza sitting in the chair in front of Andy.

It had been a few days since Andy seemed to be distracted. It looked like his thoughts were miles away almost all the time and his posture had begun to be dangerous, not only to him but to his companions during service hours.

That particular friday, after numerous disapproving stares and constant failures, Andy had opted to stay at the police station handling the paperwork rather than participate in the monitoring and consequent capture of Thomas Bernnard.

Earlier Amy, Tao, Sanches and Buzz said goodbye and left for a pub drink and celebrate the solution of the case. Provenza even considered follow them, but fraternizing with the children would end ruining his image. Furthermore, the vision of Andy so desolate in his chair made Provenza decided to stay back and try to make him talk.

Andy face Provenza but took a few seconds to answer his ask.

"There's nothing wrong with me." He said as if it was something obvious and that everything was fine, but failed completely.

"So it seems. Something is going on, what happened? Something in your exams? Any other remedy that is trying to be reluctant to accept?" Provenza studied Andy with redoubled attention with his tough stance as he leaned back in his chair and stretch his legs, keeping his arms crossed against his chest as he watched. "There is nothing wrong with taking it you know." Provenza's tone looked like he was mentioning something personal, like Andy was having sexual problems.

"No, nothing like that, my exams had good results."

"Something with Nicole?" Insisted Provenza.

"No. This time Andy's negative seemed more real.

"Has something to do with your ex-wife?"

"Nothing happened." Andy said with his voice slightly changed, sounding a bit hysterical, making it clear that this was not a conversation he wanted to have.

"It's been almost a week that you're look like this. You almost killed us the last time you decided to drive us to the crime scene and you have not talked to anyone anything but the extremely necessary. What is happening?" Provenza leaned over the desk still watching his colleague carefully.

A weary sigh escaped from the lips of Andy, who leaned his body backward running his hands over his face. He seemed tired.

"There is nothing Provenza. I'll be fine."

"Andy..."

They stared at each other for long seconds, the tension increased significantly in the empty room and neither of them said anything for a long moment.

"I noticed something that surprised me, that's all. It's silly, anything that doesn't pass with time. Seriously, there's no need to worry about it."

"If it's nothing serious you wouldn't be so distracted."

Andy faced this friend for long moments with a serious expression on his face.

"I think I'm in love." He finally said between his teeth in a low voice, looking over his shoulder to see if there was no one close enough to hear him. "Are you happy now?"

"In love? You?" Provenza laughed and laughed uncontrollably until he notice the serious and upset expression Andy still had in his face and it didn't turn into laugh, it was not a joke, was true. Fuck. It took just a few seconds to Provenza regain control again and establish a serious expression. "How did this happen?"

"I do not know ... I guess I hadn't realized it until a few days ago. For me it was just a flirtation, after all she is a very interesting woman, but suddenly I came across a tightness in the chest when I saw her so fragile and finally understood that the flirtation and interest were not simply because I wanted her physically. I wanted hold her and protect her, make all her pain go away and..."

Andy lost the words and turned his eyes to his lap, staring at his own hands while Provenza maintained shock plastered on his face, trying to make sense of his friend's words. Who was he speaking of? Lately he had not had contact or expressed interest by any woman, at least from what Provenza knew unless he was talking about…

The soft voice of Sharon Raydor sounded awkward through the room.

"I'm going home guys, good night."

Her expression was unreadable. She looked at them from behind her glasses like usual and kept her purse and coat tight to her chest. All it took was an exchange of glances between her and Andy to Provenza understand.

"Good evening, Captain." They both answered.

She nodded slightly bemused, smiled briefly and left.

"What happened between you two?" Provenza was angry now, very angry.

TBC?

Sorry about any possible mistake on my english, after all I'm not a english speaker by birth. Hope you like it.

Reviews are much welcome!