Good Evening!

For all those that read my other fic 'Hidden Scenes', this is where it all began. I often found myself thinking, when did Sharon and Andy first get together? Since they're an established couple in the Hidden Scenes series, I had to put some thought into this, it establishes their whole relationship and how it got to the point where Major Crimes began.

There was also the question of whether or not I post this in the Major Crimes tag, or the Closer, since the episode Road Block (The Closer Season 7) is referenced here.

To adhere to all the rules, and my conscience, I have decided to post this under The Closer tag. This can be read as a stand alone, but please, if you haven't read it, head over to Major Crimes and check out Hidden Scenes.

I could continue with some more Hidden Scenes regarding the Closer and Sharon/Andy's relationship, but they'll come as and when my muse allows it.

Hope you enjoy!

Season 7 Episode 14 - Road Block

Andy swallowed hard, his fingers tightened around the paperbag feeling the outline of the bottle within his hand.

His whole arm shook, his breath shaky as he sat back against the wood of the bench. Closing his eyes against the darkness, Andy shook his head slowly.

He couldn't do this.

Every little piece of him told him to take a drink. These past couple of days had been rough, no one would blame him if he just lapsed just this once. Just one drink to get through the crap his body and emotions had been through.

Except everyone would blame him. He'd blame himself. He'd hate himself tomorrow surely.

That little voice was there, battling against all his demons, commanding him not to take that drink. But his demons were strong, they were winning the war.

Flynn opened his eyes, looking out into the street, not really watching the cars racing by, the crowds of people bustling along the LA streets even at this hour.

It was all too loud, too busy, too stifling.

He felt his body begin to fidget, his other hand fighting so hard to not open the bottle still gripped underneath his fingertips that turned white from the pressure.

The sweat began to bead on his forehead. He didn't even realise that the bottle was open in his hand. His shaking hand began to lift slowly...

"Lieutenant Flynn?"

Andy's eyes closed. He knew that voice all too well, why did it have to be her of all people to find him like this.

"Captain Raydor." His words were choked as he opened his eyes, though he didn't look at her, his gaze was fixed on the bottle in his hand.

"If I were you Lieutenant, I'd screw the lid back on that bottle."

Her words were soft, comforting, not at all the condescending tone that the ice maiden was renowned for.

Andy finally looked up at her, standing in the street in her power suit, purse over her shoulder and a bag of takeout food under her arm.

"Been a rough few days." He said simply turning his gaze back to the traffic in front of him.

Sharon sighed, she placed the bag of food and her purse on the bench beside Andy, then sat down beside them. "I heard about the case. We see so much in this job but, some things just affect us so much more."

"You work in IA, what would you know about it." Andy didn't mean to sound harsh but he really wasn't in the mood for a therapy session with Captain Ice Bitch.

"Fair point, but I wasn't always FID, you know that."

"If you don't mind Captain, I'd much rather wallow in solitude."

"Not a good idea."

"You already tell me what to do at work, now you're gonna boss me around off the clock too?"

"When it's for your own good yes, yes I am Lieutenant."

"God you're so self righteous." Andy muttered the words, finally slamming the lid back onto the bottle, not missing the knowing quip of Sharon's eyebrow.

Nor did he miss the laughter his comment had enticed. He'd never heard her laugh before, not like this anyway. He found he quite liked the sound even if he really didn't want to.

"You told the chief you didn't need to see a counsellor, that you'd spoken to your sponsor."

"Exactly, so I don't need to spill my guts out to you."

"Tell me about the girl." Sharon spoke matter of factly, but a softer tone filled her voice that made Andy relax a little. Her gaze was fixed ahead of them, as if entranced by the constant flow of traffic.

Andy swallowed again, his fingers twisting the bottle between his hands. "Gracey." His voice was quiet and heavy.

"Gracey." Sharon repeated, he didn't use her full name, it wasn't necessary.

"She was too young to die."

"I have a daughter not much older, I couldn't bear if anything happened to her."

Andy looked at her briefly, but she was still staring ahead. Sharon Raydor didn't talk about her family much and he found it oddly intriguing.

"Me too."

"So what's with the bottle of jack?" Sharon asked, eyeing the bottle in his hands.

"Sometimes you just get pulled back in."

"Oh get your head out of your ass Flynn!"

Andy sat up straighter at her words. "Excuse me?!"

"I said, get your head out of your ass!" Sharon's voice remained stable, she turned her body a little to face him. "I get it Andy, you were there this time, you saw this beautiful, smart young lady with her whole life ahead of her, die on the street, and that's not right. It's not right, it shouldn't have happened. But there are other ways to deal with this."

"Like what?"

"Shout, scream, punch a wall I don't care but if you're not going to put down that bottle then I'm not moving off this bench. You're choice Andy, bin it or you're stuck with me."

"Now there's an offer." Andy muttered under his breath, glancing sideways to Raydor as she sat, poker straight, arms folded defiantly across her chest.

"You got justice for her Andy. You stopped this from happening to somebody else."

"There'll always be drunk drivers in the world."

"One less thanks to you and Major Crimes."

Andy sighed, sitting back and running a hand through his hair. "What am I doing?"

"Making a choice." Sharon shrugged, recrossing one leg over another and quipping one eyebrow at him.

"A choice?"

"Between the badge or the bottle." Sharon looked at him, her gaze unwavering.

Andy's eyebrows raised when he looked at her, he'd said those exact words himself when he was still trying to garner a confession from Gail Meyers. He wished he'd never wasted his time trying to get her to admit her problem, what she really needed was a slap across the face.

Andy sighed again, leaning his elbows on his knees he lowered his head for a moment. "I still can't get that poor girl out of my head, dying in the street, cold and alone."

"She wasn't alone. You were there Andy."

"Some comfort I am."

Sharon shook her head, watching as Andy closed his eyes tightly. Slowly she reached out, her fingertips brushed his hand as she closed her fingers around the bottle. She didn't move for a moment, his hand instinctually tightened around the bottle but it only took a moment for him to relax and finally allow her to take the paperbag from him.

"That wasn't so hard was it." Sharon said softly, reaching over to toss the bottle in the trash can beside the bench. "No going back now."

"Jack was an alcoholic right?" Andy watched as Sharon rolled her eyes.

"Oh god, you really want to go there?"

"Yes. It's not often I get to ask you the questions Captain."

"Who say's you can." Sharon stood up, picking up her purse and her bag of now probably cold take out. "Are you coming Lieutenant?"

"Where?"

"I don't particularly want to sit out here all night, if you want to know the answers to your questions then you can ask them at my condo, where it's warm and I can eat."

"You asking me back to your place Captain?" Andy couldn't help the flirtatious wiggle of his eyebrows, or the boyish smile on his face.

"In the interest of saving your sobriety, yes. Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually a bitch Andy."

"Nice place." Andy said, following Sharon into her apartment, his eyes taking in the expensive furniture, the classy decor.

"I can't take much credit, I have a really good interior designer."

"Flashy." Andy smiled, leaning against the partition to the kitchen, watching as Sharon unpacked the food and set about reheating it.

He wasn't sure why she was doing this for him, why she even cared. Andy didn't want to think too much into it right now either, she could just as easily have left him to rot in a gutter but she didn't, and that was enough for him right now.

Though right now he felt like hell had smacked him in the face, he couldn't help but stare, his eyes raking up and down her body. Andy always knew he thought Raydor was hot. He was Andy Flynn for christ's sake, he appreciated women and even when she was busting his ass, he still knew she was attractive.

He shook his head free of those thoughts when he realised she was standing in front of him, holding out a plate of chinese food.

"You have enough?"

"I always over order." Sharon said in explanation, leading him to the dining table.

They ate in silence for a little while, occassionally looking up at each other, blushing and diverting their gaze when they were caught looking.

Sharon asked herself numerous times what on earth had possessed her to invite Andy Flynn back to her condo. She knew his reputation long before she got the opportunity to work with him. Since her audit of major crimes began, she'd seen more to him than the grievances that passed her desk. She'd seen the kind, sweet side of him, the brilliant detective beneath the bravado.

When she'd seen him on that bench tonight, something inside her told her to stay.

She cared about him.

When the hell did that happen?

"You were a comfort to her." Sharon stated quietly, setting down her fork.

"What do you mean?" He asked, still eating as if he hadn't for weeks, he hadn't realised just how hungry he was.

"To Gracey."

"How do you know that?" He asked incredulously though not harshly.

"Because I know you, Liuetenant."

"Do you?"

"Not completely but I know enough. I see it in Provenza too, you both have a talent for putting people at ease, especially children and young people."

"I just wish there was more I could of done for her." Andy finally pushed his empty plate away, leaning his elbows on the table he ran his hands through his hair again.

"You couldn't save her Andy."

"Doesn't stop me wanting to."

"I know."

Sharon stood to clear the table but Andy insisted on doing it. She followed him to the kitchen, the neat freak inside her had to make sure it was done right, but he did surprisingly well.

"Thank you for this." Andy spoke with his back to her, unsure he could actually look her in the eye right now. "I know I probably looked, still look, a total mess."

"I've seen worse." Sharon shrugged, her arms folded as she leaned against the kitchen bench.

"Jack?" Andy asked, finally turning to her as he dried off his hands.

"Ask your questions Lieutenant." She smiled slightly, not a full smile but an encouraging one, letting him know it was alright to continue.

"I don't think I have any." Andy shrugged, watching as she made two cups of coffee, handing him one as she led him to the couch.

"We've been seperated for a long time, he lapses in and out of my life just as much as he lapses in and out of addiction."

"He in AA?"

"When it suits him. He bounces from booze to gambling."

"That why you're seperated?"

"Yes and no."

"Sorry none of my business."

"It's ok, Andy, I don't mind. Not like it's a massive secret."

Andy smiled, then he laughed, shaking his head. "Why are we even here, having this conversation? Why are you doing this for me?"

"Because I didn't want you to ruin all your hard work Andy. You've been sober too long to throw it away."

"Why do you care?" He asked softly.

"I just do."

"Alright then." Andy nodded, his eyes looking forward again, at the tv that wasn't even on, yet. "You wanna watch a movie?"

Sharon smiled, happy that he was becoming more like his old self. Wordlessly she handed him the remote and settled back against the cushions.

Andy stepped off the elevator on a floor that was familiar to him for reasons he didn't like to elaborate on. All morning as he sat at his desk, he couldn't get the previous night out of his head.

He'd stayed at Sharon's til almost 3am, they watched a movie, talked some more, and before they knew it, it was 2.30 in the morning.

After an awkward good night at the door and friendly kiss on her cheek, Andy had gone home and slept better than he'd done in months.

What the hell did that mean? What did it mean when he couldn't get her out of his mind? Couldn't stop thinking about her long enough to concentrate on anything.

It had to be superficial. It was just because it was her that found him, he'd have latched onto anybody that pulled him off that bench last night. It wasn't real.

But he wanted it to be.

Andy pulled at his tie, loosening it against the heat that flooded his body. A second later he had tightened it again, couldn't bear to turn up at her office looking less than perfect. He owed it to her, she was the reason he didn't take that drink last night, he admitted it now, to himself.

Why the hell was he nervous, Andy Flynn did not get nervous around women. But this wasn't just any woman, this was Sharon Raydor. If that spark he'd felt between them last night was all in his imagination she could have his ass on disciplinary measures, something told him she wouldn't do that to him though.

Through all his thoughts he hadn't realised his feet were taking him through the middle of the Force Investigation Division squad room. He paused for a second, feeling the eyes of several officers following his steps.

The layout was much the same as Major Crimes, but it seemed to take forever to reach the team leader's office. It wasn't as big as Chief Johnson's there was only one glass wall and therefore only one set of blinds that were currently drawn.

That observation made him pause in his tracks, turning his attention to an officer at the desk nearest her office. "Captain Raydor busy?" He asked, pointing to the closed blinds.

"No, she's in, buried under paperwork but if you can find her in there then good luck."

Andy smiled at the young officer, she was new, never had the pleasure of a run in with this one and he'd like to keep it that way.

Sharon had just signed off another file, was just about to drop it on the 'done' pile when the knock came on her door. She called a somewhat weary 'come in' as she opened another file.

She was surprised to see that it was Andy hovering in her doorway, he looked nervous.

"Lieutenant Flynn, what brings you down here?" Sharon smiled widely, sitting up a little in her seat she gestured for him to come in.

"You don't mind me dropping by?" He asked, taking a seat in front of her desk.

"Well that all depends why you're here." Oh God, was she flirting with him. Sharon stopped herself from rolling her eyes at her own reaction to the man in front of her.

"I just wanted to come by and say thank you for last night." Andy nodded slowly, slightly ashamed at his own weakness. "I was in a bad place and you dug me out."

"Not the first time I've dug you out of a hole Lieutenant." Sharon sat back in her chair, smiling at him.

"Very true Captain, my temper and my mouth have got me into a fair amount of trouble, most of which you got me out of."

"Ah nostalgia." Sharon looked at him over the top of her glasses, the look that told him she did not wish to repeat those days.

Andy smiled, that mishcevious smile that could simultaneously get him into trouble and pull him out of it. "Anyway, I just came down to say thanks, it really helped to talk it out last night, even if I didn't really want to talk about it."

"It usually does, Liuetenant."

"Yeah." Andy sighed a little and got to his feet. He looked as though he was heading back to do the door but then he stopped, rather abruptly and turned back to look at her. "You free tonight?"

"Excuse me?" Sharon narrowed her eyes, unsure of what she'd heard since he spoke so fast.

"I was thinking, well, hoping really, that if you were free tonight so I could take you to dinner? Just as a thank you."

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Andy."

"Oh, yeah, sure I guess you're right. Colleagues and everything."

Andy turned to leave but Sharon stopped him.

"Andy, it's just, I'm working so closely with Major Crimes right now, I can't get too involved, openly anyway."

"Openly?"

"If you and I were seen together in public, particularly by say, that rat Goldman."

"Rat is an understatement."

"If, we were seen, it could be implied that I...adjusted...the facts to cover up for the squad."

"I see."

"But if you were to make me dinner, at your place, no-one could possibly see us...right?"

Andy grinned widely, slipping his hands into his pockets. "How do you know I can cook?"

"Women's intuition."

There was no denying it now, they were both flirting. But neither seemed to really care.

"How's 7 o'clock sound?"

"Sounds perfect."

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