Sharon sat on the couch in her comfortably decorated living room, exhausted from a day of traveling. It had been nice to see her daughter in Orange County, over from New York on business, but the traffic from John Wayne airport to her condo in downtown LA at 4:00 was killer to get through. Sighing heavily, she sprawled out on the couch, adjusting her black leggings and tight gray t-shirt as she tried to get comfortable. Her glass of wine at a safe distance on the coffee table, she closed her eyes against the late evening sunset coming through her patio doors and drifted off to sleep, her glasses still resting on her face.
"Looks like the Captain is home." Andy muttered as he spotted her car in its designated spot. Rusty looked up and nodded, shifting his backpack from one hand to the other as he walked next to the older man, "She wasn't supposed to be home until late tonight, I wonder why she's here." As they approached the front door to Sharon's condo, Andy shoved his hands in his pockets uncomfortably. "Alright, Rusty. I'm going to let you take it from here since Captain Raydor is home," he muttered, reluctant to intrude on his bosses personal time or space.
Rusty laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Sharon's not that scary, you know.. I mean, she's scary, but she isn't as bad as you guys make her out to be. I love her and you guys should too," he grinned at Andy, happy to defend his foster Mom no matter how naive it sounded. The words Sharon and love in the same sentence sent an uncomfortable chill up Andy's spine, a mix of discomfort and an unfamiliar excitement suddenly over taking him. "Alright, alright, I'll come in," he grinned back at the young boy, hoping his boss wouldn't be angry he was going in her house.
As Rusty's key turned in the lock, Sharon sat up, always hyper aware of her surroundings whether she was asleep or not. She rubbed her eyes under her glasses as she heard the boy come in through the foyer and set his things on the table. "Rusty?" she called out as she refastened the barrette in her hair, pulling it clumsily half up out of her face. "Hey Sharon." Rusty responded happily, walking through the condo to greet her on the couch. "What are you doing home so early? I thought you were going to be out late with your daughter," he asked as he leaned over the back of the couch to kiss her on the top of the head. As his lips made contact with her hair she grinned, so happy he was a part of her life for good. "She had to catch an earlier flight than she thought, so I got to come home a little early," she muttered sleepily, reaching for her glass of wine.
While Rusty and Sharon exchanged their hellos, Andy hung back in the dining room, feeling like he was privy to an intimate moment he shouldn't see. Shifting his feet uncomfortably, he debated whether or not to leave without giving his regards to his boss, but couldn't help but stare at her silhouette reflected in the glass patio doors as he contemplated his decision. "What is wrong with you?" he sighed to himself, shaking his head, along with this new image of Sharon, out of it.
"Andy, come here." Rusty grinned, the older man's shuffling catching his attention, "Sharon, Andy brought me home. I called him after chess club was over because James' Mom couldn't bring me home."
Sharon's heart skipped a beat as she realized Andy was there, too. "Oh, gheez," she muttered, feeling terribly under dressed to receive one of her employees. "Hello, lieutenant Flynn." she smiled, setting her wine down and standing to greet him, pulling her shirt down as far over her lower half as she could, to no avail. As sharon moved around the couch he couldn't help but notice her fit, curvy frame under her tight lounge clothes. "Uh, hello, Captain Raydor," he replied politely, suddenly no longer feeling like himself, unable to stop his eyes from roaming over her body.
"Sorry for putting you on the spot today-thanks for getting Rusty for me." she smiled politely, crossing her arms over her midsection as she noticed his stares. "Oh uh, it was no problem, really. You know we're all there for Rusty." he nodded, trying to stay as nonchalant as possible. Rusty couldn't help but grin to himself as he watched the exchange.
"Hey, Sharon, can we order pizza for dinner? I didn't get a chance to eat. Andy, did you eat?" Sharon threw a side long glance at Andy as she turned to face Rusty, curious about what his reaction would be. "Rusty, we can't hold Lieutenant Flynn up. It's friday night, I am positive he has somewhere to be," she chided, embarrassed by her own sudden desire to have him stay. Andy leaned back against a bar stool, crossing his arms and smirking as he caught a glimpse of Sharon's back side in her leggings. "Actually, I uh... I need to get to the office. On duty tonight... but maybe a rain check, Rusty." He smiled, looking directly at Sharon as he said it.
Sharon contemplated his response for a moment, squinting as she tried to think of a comeback. She nodded her head gently after a moment, then flashed him a toothy grin so characteristic of herself. "Yes...Lieutenant Flynn. We will take a raincheck." The deliberate tone in her voice caught Andy off guard and he couldn't help but smile back at her in response. "Thanks...captain. I'll see you soon, then."
Sharon nodded again and smiled as Andy walked to the door and let himself out. She stayed still, staring after him for just a moment, surprised and thankful Rusty had called Andy in the first place. The sound of Rusty pounding gently, but impatiently, on the coffee table snapped her out of her trance. "Oh-right. Sorry. Pizza," she grinned at her foster son as she grabbed her cell phone, then plopped down on the couch beside him, strangely satisfied.
"What the hell happened to you?" Provenza muttered gruffly from behind his desk, the top of it covered in files and a few boxes of chinese food, "And where have you been?"
"Sorry. Got held up with an errand," Andy muttered, clearly distracted. "Any breaks in the case?"
"No. But I did discover that kung-pow chicken is delicious." Provenza laughed in his usual sarcastic tone, "But really, whats up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Andy sighed and rested his head against his desk, confused and flustered. "No ghosts. I just met...someone I wasn't expecting to tonight. No big." he muttered in a frustrated tone, wanting to drop it and get back to work.
"Gheez. Someone's touchy." Provenza sighed as he threw a file on Andy's desk. "An ex? Scorned lady?"
Andy shook his head, knowing Provenza wouldn't give it up. "Nope. She's not an ex..yet." He grinned, hoping the joke would get him off his back.
Provenza laughed, shuffling back to his desk, "I see. Well lets solve this murder before you get lost in between another set of gams, then."