Brenda watched as she moved through the room with ease. That woman could schmooze anybody. She went from one politician to the next, smiling and even laughing pleasantly with each of them. The Chief of Police spent a great deal of time by her side, even getting her drinks for her. Brenda couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Okay a lot.

The most hated woman of the LAPD was the belle of the ball. Sharon Raydor was dressed in the most elegant yet ravishing dress of ruby red. Her shoulders were bare, the fabric tight around her waist, and the skirt fell in soft lines with just a touch of extra fabric pooling around her; giving her the look of a goddess. She was literally the best dressed woman in the room. And from the looks the other women were shooting at her they all knew it. The dress practically screamed simple elegance and it was everything the other glittery dresses were not.

Sharon Raydor was everything Brenda was not.

She might be disliked as the head of FID but she apparently had a personable attitude that everyone outside of the LAPD simply couldn't get enough of.

"Brenda," Fritz began.

"I know," she sighed. "I just don't get it."

"You mean why you two can't get along?"

"No," she practically cried. "Why that woman can be pleasant to everyone but Major Crimes!"

"She was pleasant Brenda," he sighed, referring to their encounter with the woman before dinner. He was right of course. Sharon had been just as gracious with her entire team as she was being with the mayor.

"Gawd! Sometimes … just … that woman!"

"Honey, let it go."

"I know, I know," Brenda sighed. She couldn't help it though. She continued to watch Sharon while Fritz turned to the rest of the squad and chatted easily with them. While the men around her continued to talk she noticed a silence begin to grow.

At the ballroom entrance the crowd seemed to part and a aged man dressed in a formal military uniform came into the room, leaning heavily on a cane. He walked slowly, heading towards Sharon and the group she stood with. The silence turned to soft mummers as he drew closer to her. Sharon's back was to him but the men in front of her had noticed the man and stopped talking to watch his approach.

Brenda could see the slight tilt of Sharon's head before she turned around only to freeze. The man stood as tall as his injury would allow the minute Sharon saw him. His hesitation lasted for only a moment before he stepped closer, stopping only when he stood directly in front of her, invading her personal space. Sharon had to tilt her head significantly to look him in the eye he stood so close.

"Sharon." It was rough, and filled with emotion. And Brenda had only heard it because everyone in the entire room was silently watching the scene unfold, even her own squad.

She wasn't smiling, or even crying. She quietly reached up and gently cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb across the scarred skin. They simply stared at each other a moment before the man leaned down a bit, placing his lips to her forehead. Sharon closed her eyes at the touch and Brenda could see the tear roll down her face as it caught the light of the room. Slowly he pulled away from her, remaining close enough to leave his face against her hand. Her eyes opened and she rubbed his cheek once more before she gently pulled her hand away.

Without another word between them she moved forward and he turned to wrap her into his good side; but, he still leaned heavily on the cane as they slowly made their way out of the ballroom. It wasn't till they reached the entryway that someone began to clap. Before Brenda knew what was happening everyone in the room was standing and clapping, even Provenza. Brenda moved to her feet so she could see and watched as the man kissed Sharon on her forehead again before they left and disappeared completely.

"Who was that," Brenda asked as the clapping came to an end and the group sat back down.

"That was Jackson Raydor," Flynn offered a bit gruffly.

"Colonel Jackson Raydor," Provenza offered.

"She's married," Brenda couldn't help but ask in shock. She had learned just days ago that the woman had grown children but still.

"They've been married since before she joined the force Chief," Tao offered as his wife Alice leaned into his shoulder, tears in her eyes. "When they got married their parents cut both of them off. They were both planning to go to law school but they couldn't afford it. The Captain joined the LAPD and the Colonel joined the Marines. They put him through law school."

"Word has it that he was exceptional in the field," Sanchez continued with the story. "He served his country well."

"But what just happened?"

"Right after the attacks on the World Trade Center Jackson was deployed," Alice spoke softly. "He was there for only six months when his unit was ambushed. They recovered several bodies but Jackson was listed MIA with two others."

The group remained quiet as Brenda thought through their words. "Wait a minute. Are you telling me he's been MIA for nearly eight years?"

"Yeah," Provenza sighed. "They wanted to list him as deceased. She had Gavin Baker fight them at every turn. She can be a damn pit bull."

"So I've noticed," Brenda mumbled.

"This is really the first time they've seen each other," Fritz asked, still confused.

"I guarantee it," Flynn sighed. "You saw how bad off he was. She wouldn't have come tonight if she had seen him before hand."

"Chief." The group looked up from their conversation to find the Chief of Police smiling brightly. "In light of tonight's events I'm placing Captain Raydor on leave. Let's keep your team under control shall we? Sharon seems to like you all a great deal, which has accounted for her patience with you all so far. However, her second in command isn't as understanding as she is. I'd like you to keep that in mind until further notice."

"Yes sir," everyone agreed.

With a short nod the Chief left them alone and Brenda looked back to the entranceway of the ballroom. They were long gone but she could still see them in her mind's eye. She doubted she would ever be able to erase the sight of such a heartbreaking moment from her memories. Jackson Raydor had looked as though he might cry at the relief and wonder of holding her again. And Sharon … well, Sharon Raydor had looked so peaceful that Brenda couldn't help but blink away tears.

She felt Fritz take her hand in his and she smiled. She could think of her as Sharon, instead of that woman, but just for tonight.