Thank you so much to everyone for your continued support for my stories! This idea came from the AU prompts during the MC Hiatus Challenge a few weeks ago on Tumblr. I had been deciding between this one and the one I ultimately chose ("Crowded"). Anyway, this idea has been stuck in my head ever since. The prompt was: "Oops we made out and now you're my new boss". I took a few liberties with it to make it fit better into the MC universe. I tried very hard to keep as many things the same as possible, it's really just when and how Sharon and Andy met and how things progress from there that differs.
For the purposes of this story, Provenza took over MC when Brenda left and there is no Rusty (or if there is, he went to live with Brenda, so he will not be in Sharon's life or this story). Most of the other details should be pretty much the same as the show, and those that are not, will hopefully make sense when you encounter them. Please feel free to let me know if there is any confusion and/or how you feel about this story. I have it completely finished, and it will be ten chapters. I'll post new ones as they complete the revision stage.
As always, I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters. That honor belongs to James Duff and co. I just enjoy writing about them.
Chapter One
It had been a rough night for Andy Flynn. Part of being a long-time member of AA meant being there for the newbies who were still struggling with the decision to work through their addiction. One such member had called him right after he had finally gotten home from work. The man was in tears sitting on a bar stool at a popular neighborhood bar trying to muster the will power to not take the sip he so desperately craved. Andy ran out of the house still in his suite. After a couple of hours, he was able to talk the guy down and things were much better. The man left with the promise to call Andy if he found himself in a desperate situation later that evening.
Since Andy knew the bar and the bartender, he decided to stay and have a club soda. It was a great opportunity to catch up with Drew, and he wasn't feeling much like sleeping after the intense, emotional turn his evening had taken. He was enjoying a trip down memory lane with Drew when the door to the bar opened and a woman walked in who immediately caught his eye. She was beautiful, and Andy couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was dressed in a tight lacy black dress that hit just below mid-thigh with strappy heels accentuating legs to die for. As his eyes moved north, he couldn't help but pause on her impressive cleavage. She had a full head of beautiful wavy, brown hair and the most stunning green eyes. He watched her walk up to the bar and settle on a seat a little ways down from him. She signaled Drew over and ordered a drink. Andy almost told him to put it on his tab, but stopped himself. She didn't look like the type of woman who would go for something like that, so Andy decided on a different tactic. He waited for her to get her drink before he got up and moved closer to her.
"People shouldn't let other people drink alone," he said with a charming smile. She glanced over at him.
"You seem to be doing just fine," she stated simply.
"Oh, this?" He asked indicating his glass. She nodded. "This is club soda. It's completely different. Besides, I've got Drew," he clarified nodding his head in the bartender's direction. She narrowed her eyes, studying him.
"So, you're a regular then," she said with a devilish smile playing on her lips. Was she actually flirting back? Andy couldn't believe his luck.
"Used to be," he answered truthfully. She must have detected the honesty in his voice because she softened a bit.
"Back before you ordered club sodas?" She asked knowingly, and Andy nodded. He watched her take a sip of her drink.
"How'd you know?" He asked her, and a sad smile crossed her features. "Husband?" He pried.
"Ex-husband. Except he hasn't quite committed to the club soda yet," she said bitterly before taking another sip of her drink.
"That what got you in here tonight?" He asked trying very hard not to let the excitement of finding out that she was divorced ring in his voice. She laughed, and Andy couldn't help but to do the same. She had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh.
"No, but I applaud your effort," she said with that same smile.
"Am I that obvious?" He asked surprised. He'd hit on tons of women and never had one call him out on it. This one was definitely not like his usual dalliances.
"Only when you're talking," she teased and he laughed self deprecatingly.
"Man, I've got to up my game," he said before taking a sip of his club soda. "Let me try this again. I'm Andy," he said holding out his hand. She met it with her own and shook his hand with a smile.
"Sharon," she said before reclaiming her hand. "And I was set-up on a blind date by a friend who thought it would be good if I met some people here in LA," she explained.
"Must have gone well if you ended it in here... By yourself," he said with a smile.
"Oh, it was awful! The guy was so boring. I ended up here because it's the closest bar to my hotel," she clarified. For some reason that he couldn't explain at the moment, the word hotel filled him with disappointment. Normally, the prospect of a one-night stand with no chance of it going anywhere was exactly what he craved, but there was something about Sharon that seemed to have him longing for more.
"So, you're just visiting?" He asked without looking at her.
"Just moved here," she replied, and Andy couldn't help the tinge of excitement that flowed through him. What was wrong with him tonight? "I'm still searching for a place to live, so the hotel next door is my home until I find something more permanent," she said.
"Well, then, welcome to LA! What brings you to our fair city," he said with sarcasm. She smiled.
"Work. I accepted a job offer here," she stated simply. He nodded. They were quiet for a few moments, but it wasn't awkward. She seemed to be lost in thought.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" She asked seriously. Andy's face lit up.
"Please," he said with that charming smile of his. She smiled back before schooling her features.
"How do you come into a bar and not get tempted?" She wondered, and Andy knew she was thinking about her ex-husband.
"I do get tempted, but I remember all of the reasons to stay sober," he said honestly. She nodded. "I don't usually spend a lot of time in bars, though. I'll go out with co-workers after work from time to time, but otherwise, I usually stay away. I was only in here tonight because a new member from my AA group needed me," he explained. She looked over at him and met his gaze. They spent a few moments lost in each other's eyes. Yup, there was definitely something special about this woman and Andy was suddenly feeling certain synopses firing for the first time in a long time. He wanted her, really wanted her, but there was a lot more to it. She gulped down the last of her drink and moved to get up.
"I should get going. First day on the job tomorrow," she explained apologetically. He nodded.
"Let me walk you to your hotel. LA isn't the safest place," he said standing up. He threw some money on the counter and waved at Drew who simply rolled his eyes at the sight of Andy Flynn leaving his bar with a beautiful woman. Same old Andy, he thought.
"I can assure you, Andy, I can take care of myself," she stated confidently, and Andy didn't doubt it. He couldn't help the disappointment that crossed his face. "But, you're welcome to walk with me, if you'd like," she added with a smile. They exited the bar and began walking in the direction of her hotel. He allowed his hand to ghost over the small of her back, and when she didn't object, he moved it closer so it was lightly rubbing against the soft lace of her dress. Truth be told, he wasn't even aiming to sleep with her tonight. He certainly wasn't going to turn it down if the opportunity presented itself, but he was content just to spend more time with her.
As they made the short five minute walk from the bar to her hotel, they made small talk about the evening, her disastrous date, and the city of Los Angeles. Andy couldn't help himself, he was smitten and he hadn't felt this way in a long time. It didn't hurt that she was breathtakingly beautiful or that she had a witty personality. When they reached the entrance to her hotel, she stopped and turned to face him.
"Thank you for walking with me," she said with a smile. He returned it. "I can honestly say that my time with you was a lot more enjoyable than my date tonight," she beamed, and Andy was finding it harder and harder not to pull her to him and kiss her senseless.
"Well, I'd be more than happy to take you out on a date. You know, to make up for the terrible one you had tonight. Not all men in LA are duds," he said with a flirty smile, but she could sense the nervousness behind it.
"No, they're not," she said coyly. Andy studied her face. He was mesmerized when she allowed the tip of her tongue to gently wet her bottom lip. That one little motion, and he was a goner, no longer capable of coherent thought. He started to lean in and watched as she did the same. He ghosted his lips over hers tentatively and felt her lips press harder against his. He kissed her sweetly and pulled back to study her face. An attractive rosy hue had overtaken her cheeks and a smile lit up her eyes. He leaned in again and captured her lips fully. She eagerly returned the kiss, and their lips began a sensual dance that had pleasure coursing throughout his body.
Andy placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer as she opened her mouth and invited his tongue in to explore. She wrapped her arms around his neck and settled her hands in the soft hair at the nape, pulling him closer. As their tongues took turns exploring and their lips moved together in a perfect rhythm, Andy's hands moved to her back and he started moving them up and down her lace dress. They were so lost in the kiss and the feel of each other in their arms, that they hadn't even realized that they were moving towards the outside wall of the hotel until Sharon's back came in contact with it. Andy pressed her against the wall and allowed his lips to leave hers and travel along her jaw line and down her neck. He could hear her increased breathing in his ear and feel her quickening pulse against his tongue. She ran her hands through his short strands, keeping his mouth close to her skin. He started to move lower towards her cleavage when she tugged his head back to her lips. She devoured him in a searing kiss that had them both far too worked up for their current location. He continued to kiss her fervently and allowed his hands to roam over her backside, pulling her even closer. Just then, his phone rang and the shrill sound startled them both, bringing them back to reality.
They were both out of breath as Andy checked the caller ID and cursed under his breath.
"Yeah," he barked into the phone. He stayed close to Sharon and found himself mesmerized by the rise and fall of her enticing cleavage. She was still breathing heavily and her lips were swollen. The rosy hue on her cheeks had spread down her neck and across her chest. Andy couldn't take his eyes off of her. "Yeah, fine. Text me the address," he said annoyed. He hung up the phone and looked back at Sharon.
"That was work. I gotta go. I'm so sorry," he said contritely. She smiled.
"Don't be. Duty calls. Besides, we were making quite a spectacle of ourselves," she laughed. He did the same.
"Listen, I really would like to take you out on a proper date. Do you have your phone?" He asked and she nodded. Confusion crossed her face, but she reached into her small clutch purse and pulled it out before unlocking it and handing it to him. "I'll tell you what," he said while accessing her phonebook and typing in his contact info. "If you're interested, give me a call," he concluded while handing it back to her. She smiled again. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek this time. "Goodnight, Sharon," he said softly.
"Goodnight, Andy," she said with a smile. And she watched as he took a few steps backwards, smiling at her the whole time, before he turned and walked back to the bar. She smiled and shook her head before unlocking her phone and looking for his number. She laughed when she saw what he had typed in her phonebook:
Andy that cute charming guy from the bar
Yes, she was definitely interested, she thought.
When Andy pulled up to the crime scene, he was met with a very grumpy Provenza. He got out of his car and braced himself for his supervisor's wrath.
"Flynn! Where the hell have you been? You don't live that far from here!" Provenza barked.
"Yeah, well, I wasn't at my house," he said casually. The two men started walking side by side towards the yellow crime scene tape.
"Who was she?" Provenza asked knowingly.
"She was beautiful, smart, fun, funny, and she had legs that had me thinking all sorts of indecent thoughts," he said with a smile. "The rest of her body was incredible, too-"
"Yeah, yeah, she was beautiful. I get it. Your usual MO," Provenza said annoyed.
"That's the thing, though, she wasn't my usual type. She was so much more than simply beautiful," he beamed.
"Well, I'm sorry your job ruined your evening," he said with an eye roll. Then, realization dawned on him. "I didn't interrupt... You know... The two of you in the middle of-" Provenza started.
"No, no. It hadn't gotten that far. And I'm not even sure it would have. It wasn't like that with this one," he said with a huge grin.
"Ye gods, Flynn. You sound ridiculous! Next you're going to ask me if you should wait two days before you call her!" Provenza scoffed. Andy shook his head.
"Nah, I gave her my number. Ball's in her court. So, we'll see what she does," Andy answered.
"I'm on the edge of my seat. Now, if we could focus on the reason your date was cut short instead of your date," Provenza said changing the subject.
"Yeah, fine. What do we have?" Andy asked.
"A dead drug dealer," Provenza said annoyed. "Witnesses called it in after hearing gun shots between him and an unknown male. But that's not all. When the officers responded, they exchanged fire with our drug dealer and the man he was in a firefight with," Provenza added.
"So, it's an officer involved?" Flynn said rolling his eyes. Just what they needed tonight, FID breathing down their necks.
"Well, we're not sure who fired the fatal shot and the suspect got away, so yeah, FID is on the way," Provenza explained.
"At least Farrell retired. That old bastard hated us," Andy said relieved.
"I heard they brought in someone new from San Diego. Might work in our favor," Provenza said with a wicked smile.
"Someone in FID who knows nothing about our past indiscretions? Must be my lucky night," Andy joked.
"Well, until he reads our files anyway. They'll be here any minute, though, so we need to do whatever we can before they arrive," Provenza explained. Andy nodded and took off towards the body.
Provenza turned around and was pleasantly surprised at the sight approaching him. An attractive woman in a dark blue trench coat, dangerously high heels, and perfectly styled auburn hair came to stand in front of him with a certain smirk on her face.
"Can you tell me who's in charge here," she asked seriously.
"Oh, that would be me. Lieutenant Provenza, Major Crimes, at your service. And what can I do for you, Ma'am," he asked suggestively. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, studying him for a moment.
"Well, Lieutenant, you can get your squad away from my crime scene," she said with that same smirk.
"Your crime scene?" he asked incredulously. She smiled coldly at him.
"Oh, did I forget that part? I'm Captain Sharon Raydor, the new head of FID, and that, Lieutenant, makes this my crime scene," she said a little too pleased with herself. She watched as realization dawned on the lower ranking officer's face. Had he been a cartoon character, steam would have been coming out of his ears.
"But we have a dead body-" Provenza tried.
"Which may or may not have been caused by an OIS. That puts me in a 72-hour reporting cycle, and, as I'm sure you know, trumps your case. Once FID's investigation is complete, we will relay our findings and you can take over," she explained.
"By then my suspect could be out of the country," Provenza answered annoyed.
"Then I suggest you and your squad focus on finding him while I conduct my investigation," she concluded and Provenza tried to speak again, but she interrupted him. "This is not open for debate, Lieutenant. My division must go first!" She said, irritation evident. Provenza deflated and reluctantly signaled for his squad to vacate the scene.
Andy had been standing by the body when he heard his best friend raising his voice. He looked up and saw him arguing with a familiar brunette. It couldn't be, he thought. Then he began reviewing everything in his head. She just moved here, she was getting ready to start her new job, there had been an OIS, Farrell retired, someone new was coming in to head FID... Oh shit! The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. The woman he had spent an incredible evening with, getting to know, admiring, developing feelings for, and oh god - making out with - was standing in their crime scene demanding they all leave because she was the new head of FID.
Andy panicked. He wanted to walk away from the scene unnoticed, but what good would that do? Given his sketchy (at best) history, their paths were bound to cross and not in the way he wanted them to. He started towards his car and noticed that she was walking in his direction. She looked up, and he saw the exact moment the realization hit her. He saw the panic briefly cross her features before she quickly schooled them. Oh, she was good! She passed by him, and he wasn't sure what to do. He settled on a slight nod. She offered nothing in return and kept walking. As he made his way back to his car, he heard her leading her team and couldn't help the pang of disappointment that settled in his stomach.
TBC
