Three Points - an episode tag to 4x01
by Glistening Sun
1
Like so often at the office, Sharon's face was inscrutable. But Andy thought he had detected something there, maybe just the hint of a smile - as if she was giving herself an inner push.
"Close the door, let's talk."
He couldn't help the smirk that crept onto his face as he was doing what she'd told him. Was she finally, finally ready to have the conversation she had promised him at Christmas and that had been put on the backburner when Stroh escaped? He sat down in front of her desk with an expectant look and a heart beating so quickly, it almost made him feel faint. The moment he had been waiting for was here at last. "I'm all ears."
Sharon fixed her eyes on him, "I have three points I would like to talk to you about. If you'd like I can phrase them as what I need from you for each particular point."
Jesus Christ, what did she think this was? If he hadn't known her so well, Andy would have left there and then. But he knew Sharon was methodical and sometimes when emotions became simply too much, she became overly analytical and very detail-oriented. Like the other night after dinner when they had gone for a stroll along the beach and they had looked into each other's eyes in the sunset and he thought that they might finally kiss – and she had suddenly started fiddling with the buttons of his shirt, making sure his tie was straight. So he nodded in a way that he hoped encouraged her and leaned back in the chair.
"I need you to trust my decisions at work, particularly regarding Julio. I realise you think that he shouldn't be back on the team – and it's painfully obvious to everyone out there. Your misguided attempts at acting in my best interest are threatening the functionality of this team. No," she raised a finger in warning, "don't you start arguing with me. You know that that's what's happening. You can see it as well as anyone else. Andy, I think you should examine your own motives there. What is your problem with Julio? And I mean your problem, not one you're transferring out of your sense of loyalty to me." Sharon smiled and leaned forward a bit. "Andy, I know you want to protect me, but I don't need you to do that – at work."
"What do you need me to do?" he repeated his earlier question.
"I need you to reach out to Julio and to make him feel welcome. I need you to work alongside everyone else in helping him ease back into work after his suspension. Encourage him!"
"I'm not sure I can do that."
"But why, Andy, why? Please don't tell me it's because of his temper. I realise I have made a mistake in letting it go as far as it did, but Julio has worked on his issues like never before – and you've never minded working with him."
Andy was looking at her quietly.
"Andy, we've known each other for so long and you know what I used to do back in FID. I made judgement calls every single day. Every. Single. Day. I decided whether an officer could stay on the force and work on his or her problem – or needed to leave. My track record was exceptional, that's why they kept me on as long as they did. You were one of those officers once - with issues with your temper, and insubordination, and substance abuse. I kept you on the force then, I set conditions, but I kept you on because I could tell a good cop from a bad one. I still can and let me tell you, Andy, Julio and you, you belong to the good ones."
"Sharon, I know all that, but … don't you realise that Julio could cost you your career?"
"I do."
"It never was like that at FID. You never struck your neck out that far. Sharon, I know you've fought Taylor on this tooth and nail, but he will hang you out to dry without even a second thought!"
"Which is why I need you to contribute to the team. Andy, I need you to play your part. I'm not going to say I need you to follow my orders, but that is what it boils down to. We're at work, I'm your Captain, you're my Lieutenant. If you see questionable behaviour in Julio, or in any other member of the squad, you report that to me."
"Why are you willing to take such a risk for Julio?"
"Because he is one of my officers – and I've been told we look out for our own. At least that's what we did in FID."
"Sharon!"
"Julio is my responsibility. I should have done something about his anger issues years ago, and I failed him. I'm taking a calculated risk. I've had regular meetings with him and his therapist over the past five months and I have decided that I want him to come back. Andy, if you want to do something for me, then be polite to Julio and help him settle back in."
Sharon could tell that Andy was fuming, but he nodded. "Sharon, I never meant to doubt your leadership ability and … if that is what you want me to do, then I'll do it. I'll reach out to Julio, I'll help encourage the guy."
She smiled and nodded her head, knowing how difficult this had been for him. He didn't know all of Julio's story, and it wasn't her place to share it with him, but maybe Julio would let the team in just like he had let her in a few weeks into his leave.
"Thank you. The second point is simple. I need us to keep our work relationship separate from … from our personal one," she chuckled self-consciously. "I know I said I wanted to talk – and all I've done is lecture you. Julio is important to me, Andy, but I'd really like to talk about us now. That would be my third point."
Andy lifted eyebrow in amusement, deciding to go back to his initial question, "What do you need me for outside of work?"
"Right this minute, I need you to finish up your day's work so you can have dinner with me at the beach."
"No more talking now?"
"Only about work, Lieutenant."
"I love it when you're playing coy… yeah, I know, not work related. I have an hour tops and then …"
"Dinner at the beach, just us, Andy."
"You're not getting out of this now, Captain."
"I have no intention of doing so – and now, shoo! Work! I'm hungry and who knows how much longer I'll feel like talking."
TBC