Thank you to everyone for all the support for my other stories! There have been so many very kind reviews, and I want you guys to know that I truly appreciate every single one! This story is more of an emotional journey for Sharon, but I did include some lighter, fluffier moments as well (because I seriously can't help myself). As usual, I welcome your feedback.
I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters. That honor belongs to James Duff and co. I just enjoy writing about them.
Chapter One
Andy Flynn was having a heck of a time. The team had just solved another tough case, but the thing that had him struggling at the moment was the showdown between two rather large paper bags full of ingredients for dinner and Sharon's door. He was trying to negotiate the bags while freeing up at least a small part of his hand so he could knock to let her know he had arrived (and hopefully, set the increasingly heavy bags down). He managed to maneuver both bags into one arm, but just as he was about to raise his other arm to knock, the weight inside the bags shifted and they both tumbled towards the carpeted floor of her building's hallway. He managed to partially save one of the bags, but in the end, most of the contents of both were spread out in the hallway.
This was the scene that Rusty happened upon when he opened the door to exit the condo. His eyes widened when he saw his mother's boyfriend on the floor frantically picking up groceries, and he tried to suppress the laughter that was threatening to spill out, but failed. Andy gave him a look that could silence a suspect before it transformed into something more pathetic. Rusty took pity on him and bent over to help pick up the spilled contents of the bags.
"Rough night?" He asked with a smile.
"You don't know the half of it, Kid," he said warily. "I wanted to surprise your mother with her favorite meal, but the store was out of what I needed, so I had to settle on something else. Then, I went to pay and my credit card didn't work. Some fraud protection thing from the bank. And now this, so yeah, you could say that," he concluded with a sigh.
"Well, if it's any consolation, Sharon likes everything you make," Rusty assured him while placing the last of the spilled groceries into the bag. "And judging by her mood, you could have brought frozen pizza over here and she would have been happy," he added with a smile. They both stood up facing each other.
"Yeah? She still stressed about Taylor?" Andy inquired. Taylor had been breathing down their necks throughout the case and giving Sharon a hard time about her squad's overtime hours. By the time they had solved it and wrapped everything up, she was ready to strangle him.
"That and Emily called. She's thinking about accepting an offer from some ballet in London. It would keep her out of the country for at least a year," Rusty explained. Andy let out another sigh. It was going to be a rough night.
"Well, then, I better get in there. We don't want to add extreme hunger to the mix," he joked. Rusty nodded.
"I'm heading out with Gus. Um... Good luck," Rusty said as he started towards the elevator.
"Yeah, thanks, Kid. Have a good time," Andy called after him before pushing the door open and entering Sharon's apartment.
Once inside, he used the back of his foot to close the door behind him, and then quickly made his way to her kitchen. After unpacking the grocery bags, he found Sharon on her balcony. She was leaning on the railing with a glass of wine in her hand. She heard Andy step out onto the balcony, but did not turn in his direction. She focused on the setting sun and the city lights that were beginning to take its place. Andy quietly walked over and stood beside her looking out over the city with her.
"Emily is thinking about moving to London," she said quietly. She still wasn't looking in his direction.
"Yeah, Rusty gave me the heads up," he said studying her profile. "I know it sucks, but it does sound like a great opportunity". She finally turned to face him. She looked tired, even pensive, but not upset.
"Oh, it is an excellent opportunity. She would be crazy not to take it, which is exactly what I told her," Sharon explained.
"But...," Andy said expectantly.
"No buts," Sharon said confidently. She turned back to the view. The sun was almost completely swallowed by the ocean now.
"Then why do you seem so..." Andy wasn't sure what word to use to describe her mood. She turned toward him with a small smile and gave him a knowing look.
"Solemn?" She offered. He nodded. "I'm going to miss her, that's all. Plus, it's been a tough week," she said before taking a sip of her wine.
"Yes, it has," he agreed. "And it's going to be tough with Emily out of the country, but we'll get through it," he assured her. Sharon focused on the word "we'll". It warmed her heart and filled her with hope. She placed her hand over his and squeezed it tight. Andy turned his hand around and laced his fingers through hers. They stayed like that for a few minutes, just enjoying the view, the silence, and each other. Sharon knew it wasn't going to be an easy year, but she was thankful to have Andy by her side.
Once they made their way back inside, Andy made quick work of dinner while Sharon set the table and poured the drinks. They enjoyed simple small talk during dinner and were careful to avoid certain topics including Emily and Taylor. Neither wanted to ruin the improved mood that had come with easy conversation and shared dinner making duties. After their stomachs were full, they sat at the table simply enjoying each other's company.
"So, you saw Rusty before he left?" She asked with a smile.
"Yeah, he was on his way out when I was on my way in. Actually, he was a huge help," Andy said gazing at her sweetly. She tilted her head and creased her brow in confusion. "I'm afraid the groceries made a slight detour to the floor before coming into your condo," he confessed.
"Ah, that explains the somewhat smushed tomatoes," she said with a laugh.
"Rusty was kind enough to help me," he explained. She smiled, but Andy could tell that there was still some sadness behind it. "I'm going to clean up the kitchen while you relax. And then, I'll make you some of that tea you love so much," he said getting up and grabbing the plates.
"Andy, you're not here to wait on me. Besides, I'm perfectly capable of cleaning the kitchen and making tea, for that matter," she said as she grabbed some stuff off the table and followed him to the kitchen.
"I know, but I want to and you could use a night off," he reassured her as he took the things out of her hands and set them on the counter. She looked at him and he thought that she was going to continue to protest at first, but then the fight seemed to leave her and she relented.
"Fine," she said defeated. Deep down, she knew Andy was right. She just didn't like being "handled" because she was in a particular mood. But, she also realized that this is what people do for people they love. She took a few steps towards Andy and let him pull her into his arms. She wrapped hers around him and allowed the feeling of being surrounded by the man she loved block out the rest of the world for a few moments. It was just Sharon and Andy and none of the stress of the past week. It felt perfect.
"Thank you," she whispered as she slowly pulled out of his arms. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Now, go," he said with mock authority. As she turned to leave, he playfully patted her behind. She turned and gave him a look, but there was no heat behind it. She walked over to the stools behind her counter and sat down. While Andy went through the motions of cleaning the kitchen and making tea, they talked, laughed, and flirted. And if they managed to once again shut out the rest of the world, neither seemed to mind.
Later, after the cleaning was done and their cups of tea were empty, Sharon and Andy sat wrapped up together on the couch watching an old comedy that they had both seen too many times to count. Andy could feel the tension coursing through Sharon's body. He lightly caressed her arm hoping to soothe some of it away.
"You know... I've been told that I give excellent massages," he offered tentatively. She seemed to tense up even further at the suggestion causing Andy to back off of his offer. "It was just a suggestion. We can just sit and watch TV together," he quickly clarified.
"It's a nice idea, Andy. I'm just tired," she said apologetically.
"Well, in that case, we could always move it to your bedroom," he said without thinking and immediately wished he could take it back. She looked a little shellshocked. "I'm kidding, Sharon. I know we're not at the 'bedroom stage' yet. It's fine," he clarified.
"Actually," she began and turned to face him. "I was thinking that that sounds like a really good idea," she concluded, and Andy hoped that he didn't look as surprised as he felt. She stood up and reached for his hand. It took him a minute to recover from the shock and realize that this was actually happening. He almost pinched himself just to be sure. Once his mind caught up, he took her hand and they walked hand in hand towards her bedroom.
Andy waited outside her room while she changed into her pajamas and got herself situated on the bed. He was a little nervous that he might have oversold his massage skills, but he hoped she would enjoy it all the same. He had no expectations and was only doing this to help with all the stress and tension she was holding, but he couldn't help the butterflies that took up residence in his stomach. When he heard her call out that she was ready, he took a shaky breath and entered the bedroom. He was not prepared for the sight in front of him. Sharon Raydor was lying face down on her bed with her head cradled in her arms that were resting comfortably on her pillow. She had pulled the sheet and blanket back so that it was covering just her legs and behind. Her back and sides were completely bare, providing a tantalizing view of her breast. Andy's throat went dry. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't this.
Once he was able to move his legs, he took the necessary steps towards her bed and sat down beside her. He was nervous, but when he glanced at her face, he noticed that she was completely relaxed. With her glasses removed, he could see her eyes more clearly and he saw amusement in them. Great, he thought. She could tell that he was a nervous idiot. Real smooth, he thought. He turned his body so that it was leaning over her back and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. As he kneaded the knots and smoothed her taut muscles, he heard her moan softly and he instantly relaxed. She closed her eyes and gave into the wonderful sensations he was creating with his hands.
He continued to massage her muscles as his hands moved down her back. He applied just the right amount of pressure, and Sharon thought that she might just stay right here in this moment forever if she could. As his hands moved lower and lower, he was careful to stay away from the exposed, and very tempting, skin on her sides. It didn't stop his eyes from lingering in certain places, however. He continued to knead and smooth and allowed his fingers to caress every inch of her tired back. Sharon let out little sounds of contentment that spurred him on and caused his mind to wander a bit.
After he had massaged up and down her back several times, Sharon was completely relaxed. He could feel the difference in her muscles, hear the contentment in her voice, and see the pleasure on her face. He leaned over further and began lightly kissing her shoulders.
"Feel better?" He whispered in between kisses.
"Hmm... So much better," she managed to hum out between intakes of breath. He moved his lips across her back and started kissing and lightly sucking along her neck. He smiled when he saw the goosebumps rising in his path.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered keeping his mouth on her soft skin. He allowed his hands to gently run along her back. Sharon relished the feel of his hot breath on her sensitive, wet skin. She was seriously never leaving this moment.
"And you are, in deed, very talented," she rumbled a bit breathlessly. Andy continued to kiss the delicate skin along her neck. When he reached her jaw line, he planted kisses along it. Sharon felt like she was going to melt. She carefully turned herself around so that she was on her back, between his arms, and crashed her lips into his. Their lips moved in a coordinated dance, and it didn't take long before her tongue was begging entrance. He eagerly granted it, and they took turns exploring each other's mouths and tangling tongues. Sharon snaked her hands up his body until they met his shoulders. She ran her fingers over his face and then tangled them in his hair behind his neck. She pulled him even closer and they continued to get carried away in the kiss.
When the need for air pried them apart, Andy returned his lips to her neck and hesitantly moved his hands towards the exposed skin on her chest. His hands brushed the sides of her breasts and she moaned softly. That was all the encouragement he needed as his hands found purpose exploring the soft flesh of her round breasts. He continued to knead them as she moaned his name. Things were beginning to get carried away and since Andy wasn't sure how far she wanted them to go, he moved his lips back to her lips and kissed her slowly. He stilled his hands and allowed himself to calm down while focusing on the passionate feeling of his lips caressing hers.
When they had both regained their senses, he slowly kissed his way down to her breasts and nuzzled his head into them while draping his arm across her. It was the most intimate moment of their relationship thus far and he reveled in it. He loved the feel of her skin on his and the sound of her heartbeat strong in his ear. She allowed her fingers to draw lazy patterns in his hair as she laid there completely relaxed. With her eyes closed and a smile dancing on her lips, she was pretty sure that this was the happiest she had been in a very long time.
"How do you always manage to cheer me up when I need it the most?" She asked quietly. She could feel the grin spreading across his face.
"The same way you always manage to for me," he answered simply. She smiled.
"Hmmm... I am absolutely crazy about you. You know that right?" She whispered.
"I may have gotten that impression," he teased. She laughed softly and continued to caress his head. "Sharon," he said a bit more seriously, and she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. "I am so in love with you," he said with the most emotion in his voice that Sharon had heard from him. She smiled and they settled back into their previous positions. Andy placed a soft kiss to her skin and squeezed her a bit tighter.
After a while of just being together in the moment, he started to shift in an effort to get up.
"It's late. I should go," he said softly. Sharon opened her eyes and met his.
"Or you could just stay," she suggested. He looked a little confused. "Here with me," she clarified indicating the bed they were currently sharing.
"Is that what you want, Sharon?" He whispered. He wanted to be sure.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. He didn't need any other prompting. He pushed himself up, removed his shirt and pants (leaving his t-shirt and boxers), and crawled under the covers with her. She giggled at his enthusiasm before leaning up and turning out the light. They instinctively gravitated toward the other's warmth and fell asleep tucked inside each other's arms. It didn't matter that neither was one hundred percent ready for bed or that Sharon was without a shirt. They had each other and neither was going to spoil the luxury of a night in the other's inviting arms.
The next morning, Sharon awoke to the rays of the morning sun. They illuminated the room and highlighted the arms currently wrapped around her. She enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by him. Andy started to stir behind her, and she giggled when she felt his lips dancing along her bare arm. The desire to kiss him (and a whole lot more) was too strong, so she quickly turned around in his arms and captured his lips with her own. They kissed languidly for several minutes before things took a heated turn. Sharon had no plans of stopping it and she hoped Andy wouldn't either. She was done taking things slowly and was so ready for the next step.
As their hands began to roam and their kisses grew more passionate, Sharon deftly removed Andy's t-shirt. She ran her hands along the newly exposed skin while his gravitated straight to her breasts. After a few minutes, she snaked her hands down to the front of his boxers and gently ran her hand along the part of him that needed her touch the most. They both moaned and deepened the kiss. She applied more pressure, and it became clear that there would be no stopping this time. Just then, there was a soft knock on Sharon's bedroom door. It instantly snapped her back to reality and she stilled her movement. Andy groaned softly and buried his head in her hair.
"Hey, Sharon. I'm sorry to wake you. Hopefully, I'm not interrupting anything. Oh god! Anyway, Lieutenant Provenza is here, like, in the living room," Rusty said quietly through the door. Sharon froze for a minute. Between being interrupted by her son in the middle of what they were about to do and hearing that her second in command was in her living room, she wasn't quite sure what to say.
"I'll be right there," she called back awkwardly. She looked at Andy and he just shrugged. She checked her phone: no missed calls. Why would the lieutenant be in her condo on a Saturday morning? And why wouldn't he have called first?
"I'm going to throw on some clothes. Wait here," she instructed as she quickly climbed out of bed. She threw on a bra, t-shirt, and a pair of yoga pants before running a brush through her hair and brushing her teeth. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. She left her room closing the door behind her and padded down the hallway. When she reached her living room, she saw the Lieutenant standing there looking very uneasy. She approached him cautiously.
"Good morning, Lieutenant," she greeted him.
"Good morning, Captain. I'm sorry to bother you so early on a Saturday. It's just... well... there's been an accident," he said carefully. She gave him that worried look he had seen before when his idiot partner went and got himself injured and swore him to secrecy.
"Who?" She asked simply, but Provenza could hear the slight panic in her voice.
"Jack," he replied. "He failed to negotiate a turn and ran right into another car head on early this morning," he explained.
"Is he..." She trailed off, and he could hear the emotion in her voice.
"No, but he's in the ICU. He's very critical, Sharon," Provenza explained.
"And the other driver?" She asked pointedly. Provenza averted his eyes and shook his head.
"He died at the scene," he said quietly. She brought her hand to her mouth and sighed. "There's something else you should know. Jack was drinking. We won't know how much until the blood tests come back at the hospital, but the officers on the scene smelled it all over him," he explained. She just nodded. Tears of anger glistened in her eyes and threatened to spill over, but she defiantly wouldn't allow them to do so.
"I appreciate you coming to tell me this, Lieutenant, but why is this the first I'm hearing about it?" She asked carefully.
"That's my fault, Captain. Traffic wasn't sure if they should call you, and I told them I would take care of it. We can blame Traffic for a lot of things, but this is not one of them. I thought you might want to hear it from someone you knew. And after the week you had, I figured an early morning call like this was the last thing you needed," he explained. She just stared at him processing everything he had told her.
"Ok. Well, I need to call my kids and get ready so I can get to the hospital. Wait, which hospital did you say?" She rambled and Provenza knew she was trying to hold it together. He could count on one hand the number of times that he had seen her lose even the slightest bit of control over her emotions, and the sight bothered him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't. He's at Cedars," he clarified. Just then Andy came down the hall wearing the same clothes Provenza had seen him in yesterday. Any other time, and Provenza would have good-naturedly given his partner a hard time. Any other time, he would have focused on the fact that he was apparently at the spending the night phase of his relationship with their captain. But the situation being what it was, his partner's presence at his captain's condo barely registered on his radar.
"What's going on?" Andy asked concerned when he saw the worried expression on his partner's face and the unshed tears in his girlfriend's eyes. She turned to look at him.
"It's Jack. He's in the ICU after hitting and killing another driver because, no matter how many times he tries, he can't stop drinking," she said too calmly. Andy walked over and wrapped her in his arms. She pulled away. "I can't do this right now. Excuse me," she said walking towards the hallway. She turned back around and looked at Provenza.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said.
"Is there anything I can do, Sharon?" He asked sadly.
"No. No, I've got it under control. I just need to be there for my kids," she said before turning and heading the rest of the way down the hall and into her bedroom. Andy looked over at his partner.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Flynn. This is going to be rough. I'm not sure the old bastard is going to make it. You're going to have to be there for her no matter what," he explained pointing at him.
"Yeah, of course. There's no place else I'd think of being," he said honestly.
"Even when it gets ugly," Provenza started and he saw his partner nodding his head. "And it will get ugly. Just... Hang in there," he said before turning towards the door. "And let me know if you or she needs anything," he said before letting himself out. Andy just stood there nodding. He would give anything to go back to last night when their biggest worries were Taylor and Emily's probable move to England.
TBC
