Pairing: Hobbs/Raydor

A/N: This fic was originally going to be a one-shot, but the sections got too long and I realized that there was no way I was going to cover everything I wanted and keep it short enough to be a one-shot. Keep that in mind while reading it. This was not meant to flow perfectly from one chapter to the next. It's more of an 'important moment here', 'important moment there' kind of thing. Sometimes only hours have gone by since a chapter, sometimes an entire month.

While I love Rusty's character and what he has brought to the show (and Sharon's life), I have chosen not to include him in this fic, even though this does start in The Closer and go into Major Crimes.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. (Except for a few minor characters that pop in here and there.)

i. the start of something new

Surprised green eyes look up at the sound of a soft knock on Captain Raydor's office door. It's late, and after already sending off the members of her division, Sharon had expected to be alone as she finished her paperwork so she could head home herself. She clears her throat and answers with a smooth, "Come in."

"Hey," DDA Hobbs says, stepping into the room, her eyes scanning the office quickly before settling on Sharon. "I wasn't sure if you'd still be here when I finished with Chief Johnson. I'm glad to see that you are."

Sharon only hums, nodding Andrea into her office. The blonde shuts the door behind her with a soft click and walks over to the desk. Her briefcase is placed down on one of the visitor chairs, and then Sharon waves her hand towards the other to signal for Andrea to take a seat. She notices the hesitation, slight but still there. A small smile begins to tug at Sharon's lips - the nervousness Andrea's had around her all day as they worked with the Major Crimes Division is starting to amuse her a little.

Andrea settles in her seat and lets out a tired sigh. She looks like she's about to say something, but then she looks at the stacks of files and scattered papers across Sharon's desk and shakes her head. "You look busy. I'm sorry," she apologizes. "I completely let it slip my mind that you're working a time-sensitive case."

"Oh, I'm actually just finishing up," she responds easily. The curiosity she's been trying to keep at bay throughout the day slips into her tone now that they're alone and she's a few signatures away from being finished with her paperwork. "I've had the feeling that you've wanted to, perhaps, discuss something with me…" Sharon leaves it open, her head tilting as she looks at the other woman.

"Am I really that obvious?" she questions, chuckling slightly. Even with her laugh, Sharon can see the nervous twitch of the blonde's fingers on her lap, the jump in her throat as she swallows harshly.

"No, not at all," Sharon assures her with a kind smile. What she doesn't say is that she's been paying more attention to her, that to her these things are obvious because she constantly finds herself looking for signs of, well, anything. They've been spending more time together during work hours, and Sharon's enjoyed getting to know her. Andrea's a remarkable, hilarious, witty woman, and discovering these things has been exciting.

Andrea gives her a disbelieving look but doesn't comment on what they both know is a lie. "Guess I might as well just go ahead and tell you." She shifts in her seat, pulling at the lapels of her gray suit jacket. "I was planning on asking if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight."

"Oh," she breathes out slowly. "And you were nervous about that?" she wonders aloud.

Andrea seems to think about what she's going to say for a moment, her eyes lifting to the ceiling briefly; she exhales quietly. "I haven't been too sure about what kind of relationship we have," she admits. "When our paths cross, it's always because of work."

"Like today," Sharon says with a slow nod.

"I think we can both agree we work well together," she says, and when Sharon nods once again, a smile appears on red lips. "I'm grateful for the easy professional relationship I have with you, believe me. I've dealt with my fair share of… Let's just say, it's a pleasure working with you."

"Trust me, the feeling is mutual."

"But… Lately it's felt like we've been connecting on a deeper level, and I've enjoyed it."

"And you weren't sure if I was interested in a more personal relationship with you," she says with an understanding smile.

Sharon knows what it's like to be on the other side of this, to not be sure if someone letting her in is only to better their professional relationship. Often, she finds, it is - but Sharon's never been one of those people who will reveal personal information to just anyone. She prefers to keep her private life private, and knowing that Andrea's right, that's she's been letting the other woman get to know her, is just another sign that shows how much she likes Andrea.

"Exactly. I thought dinner at an actual table, where we weren't discussing who murdered who, would be a good way to start a friendship."

"Hmmm," she hums, watching the rise of the blonde's brow. "I agree. Dinner sounds like a lovely idea - - except - -"

"Of course there's a follow up to that statement," she says flatly but with a knowing sparkle in her blue eyes. They share a smile, and then Andrea purses her lips and quirks an eyebrow.

"I was only going to suggest we do it another night. I know it's been a few hours since we ate earlier, but I'm not all that hungry."

Relief floods Andrea's features, and Sharon wonders what Andrea thought she was going to say. "We'll find a date that works for both of us next week," she offers. "How's that sound?"

"Like a wonderful idea."

"Then it's settled," Andrea says with a smile that makes Sharon's skin warm. There's a spark of something new in Andrea's eyes - hope, perhaps - and the captain finds it captivating.

She stops herself from staring, not wanting to be rude, and clears her throat. "I should - - uh…" She picks up the pen she had been using earlier, clearing her throat again.

"Hey, don't let me hold you up more than I already have," Andrea says, holding her hands up in front of her. "I'll give you a call."

Sharon nods. "Thank you for the invitation, Andrea. Hopefully the next week won't be as hectic as the last few days have been and we'll be able to pick a date and stick with it," says Sharon, smiling once again, the blonde's smile contagious. It's a beautiful smile, she thinks, and then feels the familiar flutter she gets in her chest whenever she notices little things like that about Andrea. She pushes it away, standing up from her seat as Andrea goes to leave.

Andrea's at the door when she pauses, turning to look over her shoulder with a contemplative expression on her face. Sharon, who was about to sit back down before she noticed the blonde looking at her, stands up properly and waits for Andrea to say something. She can feel her head tilting inquiringly and her hands sliding into the warm comfort of her pockets, the silence as Andrea looks at her a bit unsettling.

Finally, Andrea turns around fully. With the hand that isn't holding her briefcase, she points a slender finger towards Sharon's desk and asks, "You said you're almost finished for the night, right?"

Sharon glances down to the three pages of paperwork she had been going over earlier. "Another fifteen minutes and I should be out of here," she answers carefully, lifting her gaze to meet Andrea's once again.

The quick jump in Andrea's throat catches the captain's attention, but before she can begin to wonder what's making the other woman nervous this time, Andrea speaks again. "Feel free to tell me no if you aren't interested," she starts.

"Okay," Sharon says with a careful nod, anticipation making her stomach twist in knots.

"If you aren't in a rush to get home, let me take you somewhere for drinks." Andrea shrugs her shoulders, adding, "After today, I think we could both use one." And then she chuckles. "Or three."

It's not that Sharon hasn't been invited out after a difficult case before - because she has, and she has always declined the offer. But she's never felt as if the person asking her genuinely cared if she went or not - it always felt like she was being invited out of obligation, usually because she was there when the invitee asked everyone else. However, Andrea's already made two attempts to do something with her tonight. Andrea wants to spend time with her.

She doesn't notice it at first, the way those knots in her stomach loosen and something new sweeps through her. But she can hear the catch in her throat when she responds. "I'm in no rush. Just let me - -" she glances down to her desk, "- - take care of this, and I'll meet you downstairs."

When she sees the look in Andrea's eyes, the same she had noticed before, she knows for sure that what the other woman is feeling is hope.

Sharon feels it, too.

To be continued...