AN: I wrote this one shot because I felt there might have been more to Sharon getting her Commander stars than just having done well on this last case. This is probably AU but I'm basing it on a few canon facts:

Taylor was in Pope's office when he offered Sharon the Commander post in Season 7 of the Closer, when she mentioned retirement as a ruse to flush out the mole.

We all know Taylor was the biggest gossip in town, and we know that he told everyone about her retirement plans. Reasonable to think that he would have also mentioned that Pope offered her Commander in order to stay.

Fritz and Sharon have had a good working relationship since Season 5 of the Closer "Old Money" a point brought out when she transitioned to MC and he was one of the supportive voices in the room and throughout the back 8 episodes of Season 5.

Fritz tends to fight, like Sharon, for things he feels are right and justified. He got to see Sharon work up close and manage her team. Going through the Chief process might have made him think about her rank (being the lowest in the running for the job) and wonder whatever happened to her Commander stars.

In any case that's my justification. Also, no one has really mentioned the parallels between Brenda/Fritz and Sharon/Andy, so I spent just a brief moment exploring that. It's interesting how those pairings came together and what the writers have done with those characters/relationships. I won't point out the similarities here, but if you want my thoughts you know where to find me.

Lastly, I do intend to update my other stories. However, I've suffered yet another family loss and a sister-in-law whose been in the hospital 3 times this year. As soon as I have some spare time and a few moments of emotional clarity I'll post those chapters.

No beta. All mistakes my own.

Business with the Chief

"Are you sure you're alright with this?" Brenda asked her husband as she poured herself another glass of wine.

"Absolutely. I didn't want the job to begin with, the only reason I think I was being considered in the first place was because I was the interim Chief," Fritz shouted from the kitchen as he washed the dishes.

"Well it would seem that that neither of us was destined to go above Deputy Chief then. Frankly, I think this is Pope's doing." Brenda responded as she carried the leftovers into the kitchen.

"Well for once then let me go on record as being thankful that Pope hates me," He smirked as he leaned in to give Brenda a kiss.

"I don't think he hates you, if he did he wouldn't have given you S.O.B in the first place. But you might be right that he has a bit of a grudge against you. As long as your happy and okay with not getting the position then I'm alright with it." She opened the fridge and began placing items back onto the shelves.

Fritz returned to the stack of dishes, "Trust me, nothing made me happier than to hear the words 'go back to your division.' Well that and hearing that Davis had been shipped off to training on the east coast. What a handful she was during this whole process. I sincerely hope that I don't run into any issues with Traffic for the rest of my career."

"How did Sharon take the news?" Brenda asked unsure who else knew about the new chief.

"Well, she doesn't know yet. With all the stuff that happened today Pope thought it best to wait until tomorrow to brief her, or rather have Mason share the news. Frankly, I think that's for the best. The woman was nearly blown up twice over the course of two days I think she and Andy deserve a night to themselves without thinking about the new chief." He turned the water off and closed the dishwasher door and began to wipe down the countertop.

"Poor Andy, I can't believe he had to watch that not once, but twice. How's he doing?" She asked coming up around her husband and giving him a hug.

He reached his arms up around her and squeezed back, "I think he's alright. I'm sure he's catching hell for breaking regs and running across the street, but frankly it turned out to be the safest place for him."

"Sharon does love her rules. Sometimes I really find myself bewildered by that match, but they seem to be making it work." She paused and hummed into his back, "And have I mentioned how glad I was that you're also okay. We heard the explosion from the courthouse and I immediately yelled out 'Where's Fritzi!"

Fritz turned around to face her and placed a kiss on her forehead, "You did mention it, but I certainly don't mind hearing it again."

They stood together holding each other for a few more seconds before the finally pulled apart. Brenda picked up her glass of wine and the pair headed towards the living room couch. She sat on one end and he the other, her feet draped in his lap.

"Did you take care of the other thing?" Brenda asked vaguely.

"What thing?" He turned to face her.

She raised her eyebrows, "You know, the thing." She gestured towards the lapels of her cardigan.

"Oh! That thing! Yes I did. Got Pope to sign the paperwork today. Mason's going to give them to her tomorrow. You were right the timing was perfect."

Brenda gave him a large 'I know' smile, "Good I'm glad she deserves it. Although I wish you could be the one to give them to her, I know you've developed a good working relationship with Sharon over the last few months."

"Me too, but in an effort for Mason to build some good will with her I think it is the right decision. Besides I'm no longer her boss, so technically I can't." Brenda was about to protest, but Fritz held his hand up, "BUT, I am the one that's going to bring her to his office. I'll be sure to work in some mysterious congratulations into the conversation."

"She's going to lose it. Well as much as Sharon can lose it, I don't think she will see it coming. Do you?" Brenda asked in between sips of her wine.

"You're right Sharon isn't one to lose it in the traditional sense of the word, but I think she will be quite surprised. Based on what Taylor told you and what I later heard, she would expect the promotion to ever come. Even if it did I'm sure she would anticipate losing her squad, but in a rare moment of government sanity that doesn't appear to be happening. I think this last case proved once and for all that she's the best one for the job, now whether she likes the changes Mason is proposing is another thing entirely." He said as he began to rub his wife's feet. They both loved her in heels, but her feet certainly didn't appreciate them to the same degree.

"It didn't sound like his changes were too out of line to me. Besides even if Sharon did disagree no one would ever know, that woman knows how to keep things buttoned up. Maybe if I had figured that skill out it would still be my squad." She said with a pang of regret.

"Maybe, but then you wouldn't be you — and I love you." He said with a smile.

"I love you too, and please in the future avoid exploding bombs in the office. Make that any bombs anywhere." She pulled her feet back and leaned into him with a passionate kiss.

As she moved to pull away, he grabbed ahold of her and kept her in his lap. "Duly noted. Now I think I remember you mentioning something about needing to make sure I was alive. How about we" kiss "give" kiss "that" kiss "a test."

She smiled into his kisses and wrapped her arms around his neck. All joking aside she was glad that he wasn't hurt during the blast at PAB. Honestly, she was probably as worried as Sharon was about her partner's heart. They never spoke about the topic together, no one was supposed to know about Fritz's heart attack, but she could still imagine what Sharon was feeling right now. Brenda placed her hand on his heart and relished the low thumping she felt. He was indeed alive, a fact that they were both eager to celebrate in as many passionate ways and times as possible.

THE END