A/U-set between Season 2 and 3 to start. These characters are not my own; I'm just enjoying them.
It was a lovely evening, one of the best she'd had in a very long time. Both the atmosphere and the company were perfect; looking around, she decided she might remember it as one of her very favorite evenings. Funny she would think that, as the team had worked a tough case over the past week, one that seemed like it would never end. Just as they were thinking they were closing in on a suspect, another one would turn up, almost like it was planned for them to run in circles. That happened for days, but finally, they'd closed the case earlier in morning, and now here, hours later-hours after sorting through piles of paperwork, she was enjoying herself immensely.
The atmosphere, well, she smiled as she looked around at the quaint restaurant. It was a small, bistro like restaurant serving Italian food, which, by no surprise, was one of her favorites. It always had been, but she'd been introduced to several new Italian restaurants over the past few months. She'd enjoyed everywhere they'd eaten, but this place, tonight, was her favorite already. The quaint bistro had a piano in the corner, sometimes acting as an almost piano bar even, but tonight, the music was for the main dining room, for the relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The lights were low, and the tables were adorned in red and white, but Valentine's Day had come and gone last week. The restaurant was still sporting the themed colors of the holiday, but tonight, the colors just seemed to fit the ambiance of the place. The red and white paired with the candles in the middle of each table gave it a very, almost romantic feel. That wasn't the feel Sharon was going for, though, tonight, but the place did have that vibe. No, she was here with her friend, her good friend, to enjoy a lovely dinner after a hard week of work.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked as he looked up from his salad. Both were hungry; the case had the team working almost around the clock, and now that they were finally catching up from the past week, a full meal sounded delightful.
"Hmm, I'm just enjoying this lovely setting. I had no idea they would have someone playing the piano tonight. It certainly adds to the atmosphere, much better than any atmosphere at work," she grinned.
He chuckled, "Yeah, dirt bags sort of set the wrong tone. This," he gestured around the room, "is very nice. I haven't been here in years. How did you pick this place for dinner tonight?"
"You told me it was my pick, even though the last three dinners have been my pick," she rolled her eyes. "I wanted to try somewhere new, somewhere we hadn't been. I would have picked somewhere else had I known you'd been here before."
"No, this is great," he nodded to the place. "It's probably been 20 years since I was last here, and it looks a lot different. In fact," he frowned, "I'm not even sure it's the same owners. It was Italian back then too, but I don't remember it looking anything like this. How did you even find out about this place?"
"Andrea," she nodded. "We went out let's see, two weeks ago now," she said as she tried to remember the exact date. "Oh, I know, it was the same day as your meeting, so Thursday now, two weeks ago. Somehow, we got to talking about restaurants, and she said this was her favorite. I can see why," Sharon smiled again as she continued to look around. She even closed her eyes and listened to the music, swaying slightly as it was played.
"You really are enjoying that music," he said, and she opened her eyes again. Sharon smiled at Andy, a small shrug because she was, in fact, enjoying the music.
They were interrupted as their meals were served. Sharon's eyes grew wide at the sight of her huge serving of fettuccine, and she looked across the table at Andy's very large portion of spaghetti."
"For such an extensive menu, we certainly ordered the traditional, boring items," she nodded to their plates. Andy looked at his and then at hers before he grinned.
"Spaghetti sounded good tonight, almost like comfort food. I guess I needed that after the long week," he explained.
She nodded in agreement, "I feel the same. Fettuccine felt like comfort food for me, but maybe?" she left the sentence hanging in question as she shrugged at him. He picked up on it quickly.
"Of course, we can share," he winked. "I'd like to try yours too. You know," he shook his finger as he thought about the point he was going to make, "it's very convenient we have a lot of similar taste in food. Really, we were exposed to our likenesses back at Nicole's wedding."
Sharon hummed and nodded, "That was a lovely wedding," she sighed. "See, it's a good thing I went with you. You were able to try two different types of wedding cake, something that would have been almost taboo had you not taken me with you. With me there, we tried two different flavors of cake and shared. You weren't the talk of the party for eating too much cake," she grinned and winked at him as she took another bite of her pasta.
"Yeah," he nodded as he finished chewing his bite. "About that," he wiped his mouth just as Sharon spoke again too.
"Speaking of, how are Nicole and Dean doing? I know they had a great first Christmas together with the boys, but well, anything new with them? Did they have any big Valentine's Day plans?" she grinned.
"Oh, yeah," he nodded, his mind caught off guard with her question, "Dean and the boys made dinner for Nicole," he smiled. "You can imagine how hard it is to get a sitter for Valentine's Day, and if I hadn't been working, I would have volunteered to watch the kids, but anyway, he and the boys made dinner. More like, Dean cooked, and the boys made a huge mess," Andy chuckled. "Nicole said Dean bought some plain cookies that came with frosting, you know," he gestured, "so the boys could decorate them. They were plain heart sugar cookies, and the boys had a blast putting the frosting on them. Nicole sent me a picture," he continued to laugh at the memory," and it looked like a bomb had gone off on each cookie, but it's the thought that counts. A lot of love was put into those cookies. She said it was her best Valentine's Day yet, home with all three of her guys."
Sharon smiled warmly at Andy, "That sounds lovely. I'm so happy for her, and I'm really glad to hear you two are talking and texting. I take it things are improving? Last we really talked about it, a few weeks ago, she'd agreed to bring the boys over to your house more."
He nodded, "She has been. I've been spending more time there too, and it's been good. The family counselor has helped a great deal, and that's what I wanted to discuss."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Sharon's eyes got wide. "You started to say something, and we got off track. Might I just say this food is delicious," she nodded to her plate where she was devouring her dinner. "I'm really enjoying this whole evening-food, company, and atmosphere. Now," she cleared her throat, "I'm done talking; you had something to say."
"Right," Andy took a deep breath. "I wanted to talk to you about this, and I've just not found the right time. Sharon, you know how much I've enjoyed the time we've spent together recently, right?" She nodded as he looked to her. She put her fork down to listen to him, unsure of where he was going with the conversation. "Ever since the wedding last summer, you and I have spent a lot of time together. We've had dinner each week, at least once a week," he added. "We've spent plenty of time together with Rusty, and Nicole has even had you come to the boys' parties and of course, the ballet," he nodded. "Looking back, you've been responsible for so much of the happiness I've had in my life over the last eight months or so. I don't even know what to say or how to thank you." Sharon opened her mouth almost as she was going to say something, but she closed it when she saw Andy wasn't done talking. "You've been the most amazing friend. You've encouraged me when I needed it, sometimes without even realizing you are doing so. You have accepted me, faults and all. You've been a great friend, and a great boss, making sure the lines don't cross," he grinned, "even when I might annoy you in one aspect or another. You've encouraged me to try again and again with my kids, and that's what I wanted to discuss tonight."
Andy paused, and Sharon, who was staring at him, pursed her lips and shook her head, "Andy, you give me way too much credit. You've done all that. I'm just here to listen, to be your friend."
"I appreciate that," he nodded. "Through all this, I've really been reflecting on my life and what I want form my life. I've been talking to the family counselor more, and well," he sighed and folded his hands on the table and he leaned forward, "I've made a decision."
"Okay," she said after a moment of silence that bordered on being an awkward silence. "What have you decided?"
"I've been talking to the counselor alone, with the kids, and even some with Sandra. I've decided to, well," he rolled his eyes as he corrected his statement, we've-Sandra and I-have decided to try again. You know she's been divorced again now for a couple years, and part of my irritation with the wedding was Nic wanted her ex-stepfather to walk her down the aisle. Looking back, I kinda get it. He raised her when I couldn't, but the point is, the guy isn't part of the family anymore. They divorced two years ago, and Sandra has told me that marriage fell apart because he wasn't me. I keep wondering if my romantic life is such a mess because no one has compared to Sandra. I've chased after a lot of women, all of them wrong for me, and maybe that's why. So, I've been wanting to tell you that we're going to start seeing each other again. We talked with the family counselor at the beginning of February, who advised that if we were intent on doing so, we think about it for a couple of weeks before we jumped into anything. The kids are a factor; really, there are a lot of factors, but the point is, we agreed to that. Work has been crazy, but we said we'd come back and discuss again with the family counselor. That meeting is tomorrow."
"Oh," Sharon's shock was hopefully not too evident on her face. She was shocked, floored, blind sighted, all the above at the same time, as she listened to Andy. "I see," she nodded.
"Look," he sighed as his gaze met hers, "I hope you know I don't want to hurt you."
"Andy," she waved at him, trying to hide any emotion she had, but she wasn't sure what exact emotion she was feeling, "you haven't hurt me. We're friends! Friends talk to each other, and certainly, I'm well aware of the mess you've had with your family. Wow, so you and Sandra are going to give it another try," she said as she let out a long breath. "That's some news."
He nodded, "I know, and I felt you deserved to hear it from me. I haven't even told Provenza yet," he gave her a small smile. "You've been so good to me, Sharon, a true friend, and I wanted to tell you in person. I wanted to make it clear you've done nothing wrong, that our dinners and all, well, they are stopping because of me and me alone. I want to focus on working through things with Sandra."
"I- I-," Sharon almost stuttered over the words, "I wish you the best," she gave him a warm smile. She understood complicated marriages; she was still knee-deep in one herself. Jack had blown through town the previous summer, yet again, and he had met Rusty at that point. He'd left as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving Sharon another letter she'd torn up. She'd gotten good at that, tearing up his letters; she'd done that to the last six he'd left, but she wasn't counting. Just a few days after Jack's departure, she found herself at Nicole's wedding with Andy, and since then, she'd been enjoying life again like she hadn't remembered enjoying it. She had been enjoying going to dinner with him each week, laughing as she talked to someone who wanted to listen, and complaining about parenting to someone who understood. Andy had been almost a crutch for her the last several months, she realized it, and now, that crutch was about to disappear. "Andy, I want you to be happy," she gave him a small smile.
"I want that for you too," Sharon he said quietly and looked to his half-finished plate.
"Look, I'm sorry to sort of burst the bubble here, kill the mood," he nodded around them. "I am realizing I'm a jerk, and we were having a great evening at this lovely restaurant, and I had to ruin it with my big announcement. Least I could have done was wait until we finished eating because I know we're both hungry."
Sharon glanced down to her unfinished plate; she knew she wouldn't eat anything more tonight. Her stomach was already in knots, and she still had to take Andy back to his car at work. She'd been so excited to surprise Andy with this dinner spot, she'd offered to drive. She should have realized something was off on the drive. He was quiet, at least quiet for Andy, and when they had walked in, Sharon and smiled brightly at the intimate décor, but Andy had again been quiet. At the time, she had figured it was the case-exhaustion, hunger, and the overall end of the case-but she now knew he had a lot on his mind, a big topic to discuss, and now, all she wanted to do was go home and figure out why this was bothering her so much.
"I think I'm just very tired," Sharon said at Andy's mention of neither finishing dinner. "Andy, I treasure our friendship, and I want you to be happy," she told him again.
"I feel the same, Sharon. I really do. I just have this nagging feeling that Sandra could be it for me. I have had strong relationship type feelings popping up the last few months, and that's the only way I can explain it. It's got to be linked back to Sandra. We've got to at least try," he told her.
"Well, let's get you home, then," Sharon gave a single nod. "Sounds like you have a full day with work and then your big counseling session. I hope it turns out as you want, Andy. Do you expect Sandra to come to the meeting feeling the same way?"
He nodded, "She's sent me a few texts, even though the counselor suggested we not have much contact the last couple weeks. We were told to basically evaluate our life without the other, as much as possible. I mean, we do share kids, but," he sighed, "yeah, she feels the same way."
"Let's get you out of here then. I need to get you back to your car so you can start that drive home," she nodded at him again. Nodding seemed to be the way to avoid most of the direct eye contact with him. She gestured at the waiter for the check.
"Oh, my treat, Sharon," he sighed.
"I'll get it, Andy. You've bought dinner the last few times. I can get this one, at least," she explained as she dug out her wallet.
Andy shook his head, "Look, I was the jerk who told you my big news over dinner. Please, let me," he gave her a slight frown. "I realize we aren't going to be going to our usual dinners, so it's the least I can do. Please?"
Sharon nodded as she felt herself take a gasp of breath, "Umm, thank you, then," she said. The waiter dropped the check, and before he could ask anything, Andy slipped him his credit card, giving him a look to not ask anything.
"I think I'll, just, umm," she cleared her throat and fumbled for her purse as she stood, "go and get the car. I'll let you pay, and I'll meet you out front with the car."
Sharon started to move away from the table, but put her hand on it to balance herself. Her shoe heel caught her off guard. Andy noticed and put his hand on hers, "Hey," he gave her a soft smile, "thank you for not only being a fantastic boss, but an amazing friend. I'm just so glad I'll still see you at work each day."
She cleared her throat and pulled her hand from his. The whole situation was awkward, and somehow that gestured made it worse. "I'm very thankful for our friendship, Andy, always," she smiled at him, a quick one as she nodded to the door. "I'll get the car."
Sharon moved quickly through the parking lot, but even with as quickly as she moved, Andy was waiting at the door for her when she pulled up to the entrance. He slid into the passenger seat and closed the door. It was now dark outside, dark, but the lights of the quaint little restaurant continued to shine in the darkness. Sharon turned the car toward the office and noted that suddenly, two good friends who had never had a problem filling the silence, found the silence deafening. The ride back to work was going to feel like an eternity.