Major Crimes:
"Both"
Sharon closed the blinds to her office and sat down heavily in her chair, her head in her hands trying in vain to fight off the tears.
Damn that woman! Sharon had wanted to rip that DDA bitch's head off her body and bowl with it down the hall when she had attacked Rusty without explaining what or why she was questioning him in such a manner. She was respecting his right to tell his story alone, and she understood his reasons, she thought. God knows it would be hard enough to repeat such a tale without having the people closest to you listen to it.
Emma had no idea how far Rusty had come, how much he had overcome. The 'system' and its minions were willing to rip away everything that had come to mean security and love for him, for the first time in his life.
Sharon was in angry and it didn't help to imagine what Rusty was going through and would continue to go through. It was making her heartsick, and she didn't hear the light knock on her door. She did feel the soft hand on her shoulder and jumped.
She looked up into the unexpectedly gentle eyes of Louie Provenza.
"Sorry, Captain. You okay," he asked gruffly.
Sharon wiped away the tears from under her eyes, straightened her jacket and said, "Just fine."
"Yea, I see that." Louie was sarcastic, but not his usual bitter self. He plopped himself down in the chair in front of her desk.
"That kid in there adores you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to him and I don't want you sitting in here feeling sorry for yourself. He's gonna need you; pull yourself together."
"You're right. It's just….I should have seen this coming. I should have been more prepared, had a lawyer, Gavin, maybe representing him, to protect him—"
Provenza cut her short. "Maybe. It's not too late for that right now, but when this," he gestured toward the room next door, "Damn fiasco of an interview is over, Rusty is going to need to know that we don't think less of him for what he had to do to survive."
"I know that! And I don't think less of him," Sharon Raydor responded indignantly.
"No you don't, but you're thinking like a mother, and right now, he needs a mother and a father." His face colored slightly, but he pressed on.
Sharon elevated an eyebrow, "Excuse me."
"He's going to need both parents when this is over. 'Mom' for unconditional love and support, and 'dad' for strength and protection from the shits of this world like Taylor and her royal high ass over there."
Louie Provenza hesitated and looked toward the floor, uncomfortably. "So, if it's okay with you, I, uh, I'd like to take you both to dinner, maybe a movie to get his mind off this, let him know we're here for him. You know, with, well, hell, with both of us. Not a date, now! Just something for the kid."
Sharon smiled, surprised. "Thank you, Lt. Provenza. That would be lovely, and I appreciate it and I know Rusty will as well."
The lieutenant looked a tad uncomfortable, so as he rose to leave he threw back over his shoulder one last comment. "Now don't go getting your hopes all up. This don't mean we're engaged or anything. And for God's sake, keep it to yourself, woman. Remember, we don't like each other!"
He closed the door softly and Sharon Raydor laughed for the first time all day.
