A/N - This is my first Closer/Major Crimes fic. While it will have many characters the main pairing will be Shandy. This is set sometime around season 6/7 :) I hope you enjoy reading! All errors are my own
Murder on the Highway ch 1
"It's just a team building retreat, y'all. Stop acting like it's the end of the world. Lieutenant, you and Flynn need to get on board, I will not tolerate your behavior today. Is that understood?"
Brenda Leigh rolled her eyes and gave a final huff of acknowledgment to the group standing before her. They'd arrived less than ten minutes prior, and the team was already whining and complaining. In fact, if she was honest, they'd been moaning the last week. Chief Pope had, in no certain terms, made it clear that there was to be no getting out of this one. Brenda Leigh felt she was being punished as well, but wasn't going to allow her division to know that. She stiffened her back and made a wide sweeping motion with her hands, "Now y'all go on and find your sleepin' areas. I don't want it gettin' dark and y'all not knowing where you're supposed to be."
"Chief, listen. I am too old to be getting up and down from the hard ground. Besides, those tents aren't big enough for two grown men to sleep comfortably. Flynn snores and I am not in the mood to share my nights with him."
"Hey watch it, Provenza! It's no picnic for me either, you know." Andy shot him an angry glance and shook his head before turning back to the Chief. "Chief, it's really not a good idea. Are we being punished for something? I mean, why do we have to bunk like that when you guys get to sleep in a cabin? I mean even Raydor has one of her own."
"Now y'all, I can't control where everyone sleeps. Chief Pope booked cabins for the Commander and me and that's just the way it is. No one is being punished for anything, but if y'all don't calm down I may find a reason to here in a minute. Now go find Tao and Sanchez, they are supposed to be with Gabriel in one of the larger tents. Trade places with one of them, I don't know what else to tell you." Brenda Leigh walked away in search of Pope to retain the weekend's itinerary.
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"No offense, Lieutenant but none of us want to bunk with either of you. Besides, we've just gotten this tent set up. Why are you both complaining so much? It's not like you'll be sleeping on the floor. There are cots provided." Gabriel looked between the two and sighed.
"Yea, sirs. I don't think it's as a bad as you both think. I wish we had a cabin, but our tent is pretty sweet." Sanchez shrugged his shoulders and smiled. Tao didn't say a word, just arched his brows in agreement with the other two.
"Fine, you three amigos have fun at your little slumber party. I would say enjoy the hair braiding but, you know."
"Oh come one sir, don't be like that. If you want to join in I'm sure we can make room and have a pillow fight to make it extra enjoyable for you." Sanchez laughed and ducked before Provenza could smack him with his crossword book.
"Gentlemen, I've been looking all over for you."
"Oh great, here comes Taylor," Flynn whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
"Seems like you two have been upgraded, and will now be sharing a tent with me. Raydor gets her own cabin, but I get a cot in a three man tent. Tell me what's wrong with this scenario."
"Watch out Commander, Provenza here will talk your ear off." Flynn shook his head and walked off with the other two.
"I don't which one of them has it worse." Tao looked toward Sanchez and Gabriel and nodded toward the mess hall. "Come on, they said food was served at 5."
"I wouldn't want to be with any of them. That would be a living nightmare. I'm hungry, let's go Sanchez." The three men walked off, laughing and joking about the other's misfortune.
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"Sorry I'm late ma'am. I didn't get your message until about an hour ago. Someone forgot to tell me." Buzz looked toward Andy and Provenza giving them each the evil eye in turn.
"That's okay Buzz. At least you're here now. You can bunk with the other boys. I'm sure there's plenty of room. Right Lieutenant?" Brenda Leigh fixed her gaze on Provenza and he shrugged in response.
"Well, Chief. I mean. I don't think we could put out Commander Taylor like that. I mean after all he's the high ranking officer and we've already moved in on his space. We should really check with him."
"Provenza's right, Chief. I don't think it's right for us to step on Taylor's toes when he should really be the one making the call here." Flynn looked toward the others and gave a sly smirk.
"Oh you two. Always trying to cause problems."
"Chief, we have an extra cot in our tent. Buzz is more than welcome to it. I doubt the others will mind." Tao smiled weakly and raised his hands in question.
"Yea what's one more for your slumba party, aye Tao." Flynn shifted the toothpick in his mouth and began to laugh, his partner joining in.
"Sirs, I think you're jealous. Although the offer still stands if you want us to braid your hair. Just make sure you wear the pretty pajamas so it's not awkward. Buzz, we'll show you where the tent is."
"Very funny, Julio. You're lucky I'm in a playful mood today and we aren't in the office."
"Oh, I'm shaking sir."
"You boys cut it out. Cap'n Raydor's coming and I don't need y'all acting up in front of her."
"Why not Chief, she already knows what we're made of."
"Yes, Lieutenant Flynn. That's what I'm afraid of."
"Good afternoon, Chief. Gentleman," Sharon nodded toward the small group. She stood at the perimeter of the room and waited for Brenda Leigh to step closer.
"Cap'n Raydor. I wondered when we'd be seeing you on this trip."
"Yes, well Chief Pope and I have been discussing a few things. Needed to make sure we were all on the same page."
"Same page? Will you be running some of the activities then Cap'n Raydor?" She eyed the woman closely, not trusting her as usual.
"Well, yes. I suppose you could say I will be. And while we're here, please call me Sharon. This weekend is supposed to be about getting to know one another and interacting on a more personal level."
"Well I'll certainly consider it Cap'n Raydor." Brenda's voice dripping with extra sugar and a wider than usual smile plastered across her face.
"Yes, well. I'll be seeing you all the campfire tonight for our first official team building exercise." Sharon smiled coyly and walked away form the group toward her cabin.
"That was awkward," Sanchez whispered toward the men in close proximity to him.
"Tell me about it." Buzz watched as the Chief stood with her hand on hip, obviously grousing to herself about the Captain.
"I can't wait to see the Chief and Raydor calling each other by their first names. This weekend might turn out to be fun after all." Flynn chuckled under his breath. Provenza poked him in the side and nodded toward the Chief who was walking back toward them.
"Oh that woman!"
"Chief is everything okay?"
"Oh, Gabriel yes, yes, I'm fine." She stood shaking her head and huffing. She began digging through her purse for any signs of chocolate. Gabriel pulled a chocolate bar from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
"Here ya go, I brought an extra just in case." She peeled the wrapper back and took a large bite before turning to look them each in the eye.
"The nerve of that woman! Wanting us all to call each other by our first names. Boys, I mean it. And I'm talking about each of ya now, y'all better be on your best behaviors. She's taking notes, you can bet on that, and Pope's letting her run things. What has he gotten us into? Oh thank you for this Gabriel." She lifted the bar to her mouth and took another bite. It was beginning to melt and drip over her fingers; she lifted them to her mouth and licked each one in turn.
The men looked the other way, acting as though they weren't embarrassed by her childish antics. "Not for nothing, Chief, but maybe we're overreacting here. I think maybe you're giving her too much credit. I'm sure this was all Pope's idea."
"Lieutenant, it is Chief Pope please. I know it's his idea but, oh that woman!"
Provenza looked sheepishly at her, and made a face toward the other men warning them to keep their mouths shut. He wasn't one side with Captain Raydor's, but this certainly wasn't an argument any of them would win.
"Maybe you should rest before we start the activities tonight, Chief. Going into this with a refreshed mind might help. And besides, when are you going to get the time to just lay around and relax without an investigation or suspects looming over your head?"
"Gabriel's right, now is the perfect time and who knows when you'll get the opportunity again ma'am. A little relaxation never hurt anyone."
"Yes thank you Detective Tao, Gabriel. Y'all are right. I don't need to be tired and cranky especially in front of Pope. Uh, Chief Pope. I'll lay down. I'll see you boys in a little bit. And try to stay out of trouble." She turned and walked away, her hands flying wildly about her.
"Imagine her not being cranky in front of Pope. Look at her, she's obviously still talking to herself." Flynn laughed and got up from the table. "I'm going in search of something interesting to do, this trip sucks so far."
"Well don't get into any trouble, because I am not in the mood to bail you out. If you need help though, I'd be willing to send Taylor."
"Just the thought of that alone will keep me clean." Andy walked off toward the treeline.
"Well they didn't say we couldn't drink. Anyone want to play some cards and throw back some beers? We've got stuff in our tent."
"I'm in, but one of you is sitting on the floor. I'm too old to not have one of the cots."
"Don't worry sir, none of us wants to lift you off the floor later. You can take mine." Julio walked ahead to miss the crossword puzzle again. The small group, minus Andy, made their way toward the tents for an early evening of gambling fun.
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Andy had been walking for a good twenty minutes when he came to the edge of a small lake. The sound of someone splashing had caught his attention and he was searching for the source. A head of auburn locks surfaced and, before the emerald eyes could emerge, he hopped behind a tree to watch her unnoticed. There was only one person he knew that had hair so red and vibrant, and he didn't want her thinking he'd searched her out. They'd had an odd energy between them since he'd been stabbed, and he'd been trying his best to avoid being in her presence alone ever since.
Sharon swam to the lake's edge, lifting her head above the water. There was nothing she liked more than a refreshing swim. She had planned to swim in the pool near the cabins, but the short talk with Brenda Leigh had set her on edge. That woman and her too-saccharin voice always made her feel that way lately, so she had decided a walk in the woods would do her some good. Not only would it alleviate the stress from her encounter, but the refreshing water would take her mind off other things as well. She'd been walking about 20 minutes or so when she'd come upon the clear waters and decided to leave caution to the wind and jump in. She'd seen Andy Flynn eyeing her while she spoke to the Chief and all sorts of thoughts had begun running through her mind. They had never been close, in fact many times he'd been nearly combative with her during their dealings on joint cases. Every time she'd had to investigate him, both he and his partner had made the investigation more difficult by refusing to answer questions or sending her on wild goose chases. Not long back, things had taken an interesting turn when the Lieutenant had been stabbed by an unknown assailant and discharged his weapon in return. She had been the first person he had reached out to, and for months a small amount of curiosity had loomed in the back of her mind as to why he'd contacted her. He'd had an excuse, but none of it really made sense. She'd also found herself more concerned for him than she'd been in the past.
Sharon dunked her head underwater to clear her mind. Why in the world had she chosen now of all times to think about those chocolate rimmed caramel eyes. She grunted in frustration and swam the breast stroke, willing him out of her mind. Andy watched as she swam with a determination on her face he'd seen many times during their encounters. He briefly wondered what was running through her mind as she raced back and forth in the water, her strokes causing the water to lap against the shoreline. When she rose from the water next, he noticed time slowed and it felt as though he was watching a mermaid emerge from the depths of the sea. Her long locks fell behind her in a majestic display as the water dripped in slow motion around her. He had to clear his throat and take a few deep breaths. This woman who was the bane of his and every person in his divisions existence was making him have second thoughts. She paddled herself to the water's edge to push farther up and out of the water. His jaw dropped as he took in her form. She was lithe and willowy in a cobalt blue swimsuit.
He felt himself react, his breath coming in shallow respirations, and his pulse racing erratically as she lifted her arms up to grab her hair in hand. She begin to ring it out and he shook his head in astonishment. He dated women much younger than him, their bodies showing little to no signs of ageing. He chose them for that reason; he didn't date or even look at women his age since he was in denial himself about his own age. He didn't need a woman he was dating to remind him of it. Not that Sharon was exactly his age or, as he realized now, looked anywhere near his age. Sure he'd noticed her legs, he'd have to be blind not to see those things. They were the sexiest legs he'd ever seen, but he'd never gone any further to think about her, at least not that he'd admit to himself. But now he couldn't stop staring- she was gorgeous and he was mesmerized. He laughed to himself trying to think what Provenza would say if he were there.
He was snapped out of his daydreaming when he heard the leaves around him rustle. She had walked closer to his hiding spot to retrieve her clothing hung over a nearby branch. She had begun sliding her arms in the shirt when he decided to slip away as quietly as he could without being detected. The crackling of a branch underfoot and the rustling of underbrush caused Sharon to pause. She clutched her clothing to her chest, trying desperately to cover herself lest someone had been spying on her. She caught the glimpse of a silver head running between trees in the distance just before it was completely out of sight. She hummed to herself and finished dressing.
"Well, I hope he enjoyed the show." She smiled to herself and began walking back toward the others, humming one of her favorite tunes to keep her mind preoccupied.
####
The tent flap was pushed aside and a panting Flynn appeared in the entryway. "What the hell, Flynn? You're sweating like someone's been chasing ya. What's gotten into you?"
"Sorry guys. I, uh, went for a walk. Damn snake jumped out at me on the way back and it gave me bit of a scare."
"Yea, yea whatever. You want to play or what? We've got about 30 minutes to kill before we all hold hands and sing Kum Ba Yah around the campfire." Provenza eyed his partner as he was dealt into the game. He knew when Flynn was lying, and he was definitely telling a whopper right then. He'd wait until later and yank the truth out of him no matter what it took.
F/N- Let me know what you think. I am still writing Caprican Christmas for BSG but I promise I will update this again, it just may take me longer between updates than normal. In the meantime I hope you've enjoyed this one :)
