She thought she would stop by his place on the way home, explain why she reacted the way she had 4 days ago, why what he had done made her so angry, and why she had asked him to leave her office. She didn't like this, this non-speaking, non-embracing, non-intimate Andy Flynn.
They were yet to define their relationship, defining would mean acknowledgement, acknowledgement meant public, and public was something she could not do. As his superior officer she would be looked down upon, breaking all the rules she had implemented in IA and most likely forced into early retirement. That was why professionalism was so important to her. How could you define a relationship that moved as naturally and as easy as day into night?
It had started the night at the morgue, the two of them arguing passionately, fighting for what they believed, her admitting he was right. In the car on the way back to the office she had asked him how he had managed with past superiors, his response was "you've been the most attractive by far when you're angry …" and that had made her smile. She could have reported him for inappropriate attitude or sent him to some sort of gender respect course, but she hadn't felt insulted she liked he would voice his opinion and stand his ground, everyone else just seemed to talk behind her back.
As a peace offering for the earlier argument he had offered to take her to dinner, as it was getting late and she really hadn't eat that day. She had pleasantly agreed, not sure if it had been the best idea of her week, but turned into a night of provoking conversation, laughter and if she had admitted it, attraction. This night had sparked a routine which would continue every Tuesday night, then into Thursdays also, and then Friday nights when Rusty was at Chess Club. There was an ease about him, she could curl up on the sofa with him and be quite content or go to a ball game with him and Rusty as 'colleagues' and know his eyes were not roaming. She knew that story, Provenza had reminded her numerous time, the 'tigers still got it, bagged a cheerleader last night'.
It was to her surprise when he was the perfect gentleman, opting not to stay the night but would see her in the morning at work. This act had puzzled her, made her question her attractiveness to him but had later realized he just didn't want to rush before Rusty returned home. This act came as quiet the surprise to her as idle gossip had filled her ears during her time in IA, including rumors various lunchtime quickies with women, none of which were over 35 and stories of threesome conquests. She was pretty sure it was Provenza who liked to elaborate and story tell, but she was never very sure of Andy Flynn.
He had continued with small gestures of flowers left in her top desk drawer or offering to pick Rusty up from school when she couldn't drag herself out of her office. He'd bring her a cup of tea every afternoon at 3pm when she appeared to hit that mid afternoon slump, leaving a few pieces of chocolate on the saucer. A thing he used to do for Chief Johnson when she was stressed, she had many in her desk drawer, but seemed to love the Belgium chocolate with hazelnuts and candy pieces that could only be bought from the store Worldly Chocolates located an hour out of town along the coast. .
One Friday night when Rusty had been at a Chess Club sleep over Andy had stopped by for dinner; she had reveled in the opportunity to cook for him. They had sat on the sofa that night, curled up watching a movie, she had chosen 'Dances with Wolves' one she fell in love with every time. He had wanted a romantic night, she had just wanted him. Three quarters in she had decided maybe a 3 hour movie wasn't the most idyllic choice. Pushing her self up for the sofa, she left the room for a moment, proceeding to change into a short silk red nighty, coming back onto to straddle his lap. She had said she was getting restless, he had made a joke he didn't know how it ended, she had responded with "it ends with one very satisfied woman straddling a beast" and he had laughed. He had picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, lying her down on the bed, watching her inviting him. He had climbed over her and straddled her hips wanting to kiss every inch her body, and make love to the woman below him in a somewhat passionate yet animalistic fashion. He had teased her, kissing down the side of her neck into the crook of her neck then down her breasts to her stomach, she had been calling his name in desperation and need; crying out with the most erotic hums and sounds he had ever heard from a woman. She had left him with claw marks down his back; he had left her with purple blue love bit on the side of her neck. She was unsure how she would disguise that for the office, but when she looked at it she smiled, images of his lips over her body, her entire body, every inch. Maybe she could say she bumped her self on the table corner? Or that she was out walking and a wolf bit her. …or maybe she could just wear a scarf?
The next day they had made sure no one at work was the wiser, trying their hardest to remain professional. On the odd occasion he had liked to stir her, often placing his hand on her thigh during a meeting, leaving her to gasp in surprise. Just last Friday she had been running through a time line of a case, Andy sitting beside her behind her desk, Assistant Chief Taylor had walked in to seek an update offering to sit through a time line analysis with her, that when HE had put his hand on her inner upper thigh, she had made a large gasp for air; apologizing saying she had breathed in the wrong way. She had told Taylor they were currently analyzing the time line and she would update him later. She liked his ability to not care for the rules, except for when she was in IA then it drove her crazy, investigating him at least 3 times a month, but now his theory was when it came to them, if no one knew then were they REALLY breaking any rules?
And then a couple of days later, here they were… no communication, no intimacy, not even a glance. She hadn't meant to get so angry at him, but he had pushed his place, forgotten he was the subordinate officer. She believed in her decision and he didn't support it, not as her lover but as a member of her team.
She had been sitting in her car for almost 20 minutes reminding herself of why she was here. Professionally she could handle a member of her team hating her, but personally she couldn't handle him being angry.
She got out of her car, making her way to his door… she could hear voices, maybe she should leave… but before she could finish her thought she had pushed the doorbell.
And that is when her heart sank, a pretty blonde in a long baseball shirt, barefeet and what she hoped was underwear underneath.
Andy had appeared behind her,
"Sharon…?"
