Pairing: Sharon/Andy
A/N: Just to reiterate what I said in an upload I made for a different pairing - because there's a possibility I will be leaving Tumblr, I'm moving my fics over. This was written after the airing of the episode with Andy's daughter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
We're not dating.
Andy pulls out Sharon's chair for her, and with a small smile, she thanks him and takes a seat. They're having dinner for the second time this month, laughing over stories Andy's telling her about the division before Chief Johnson had left. He smiles at her with his whole face, eyes squinting and bright, lips pulled widely and full of joy. They don't talk about anything serious at these dinners - it's always about relaxing after long weeks and enjoying one another's company.
Sharon likes it.
We're not dating.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she rushes out, her heels clicking along the marble floor. He's waiting for her, leaning against a pillar, fiddling with his tie until he sees her. There's something in his eyes when he looks her up and down - her heart skips a beat. It's nerves she tells herself - what for is questionable. "I'm late, and I know this was my idea…"
"You're fine," Andy says, waving off her apology. "I haven't even been waiting that long."
Sharon looks around them, the corridor completely empty. She must be at least ten minutes late. "Really, Andy, I'm-"
He puts his hand on her shoulder and squeezes, his head tilting as he says: "Sharon, it's fine. I don't mind waiting for you, even if you're running late. I'll always be waiting for you."
Sharon's heart flutters in her chest - nerves, again. She smiles through it, a breathy 'oh' leaving her mouth.
We're not dating.
Sharon's getting ready for bed when her phone rings on the nightstand. She rushes over to it, a smile tugging at her lips without her noticing it. It's Andy. She gets an odd sensation every time he calls her - odd because it's not one she would expect with their history, even though she now considers him a great friend. Her heart flips a little, which she tries not to dwell on, because it doesn't really mean anything .
"It's after eleven, Andy," she answers in what is supposed to be a disapproving tone - she can hear the smile in her voice, though.
"Uh - - yeah. Sorry 'bout that. This could have waited."
Sharon lifts her brow slightly, rubbing her finger along the hem of her skirt as she takes a few breaths and waits for him to say something. When he doesn't speak, she clears her throat. "Well you've already got me on the phone."
"Well, yeah… I do." Andy grunts, and then after a short moment he speaks. "A friend of mine gave me two movie tickets that he won't be able to use. And I was wondering, you know, since I owe you for - - Well, I'm sure I owe you for something…"
"Andy," Sharon says carefully. She feels like this is how most of their conversations are starting nowadays. "If there's something you'd like to ask, perhaps you should just ask me."
"Yeah. This weekend, you busy?"
Sharon doesn't think about it - maybe she should. "No, I don't think so."
Andy grunts again. "Would you like to be?"
She repeats his words in her head and rolls her eyes, a smirk playing at her lips. He's terrible at this. She wonders if he's this bad with his other friends.
"I mean… Damn. I wanted to know if you'd go with me."
Much better, she thinks. "Well, of course. If nothing comes up at work, I'd love that."
We're not dating.
They're at dinner, and he's telling her about how much fun he had with her at the Dodgers game. She can't stop smiling, can't stop herself from remembering the way her blood had rushed that day. She can't stop remembering the way he looked when he cheered, when he really got into the game. He's so different from the man she once thought he was.
She likes knowing this.
She likes these things she's discovering.
We're not dating.
There's coffee on her desk.
It's four in the morning, she wants to go home and sleep, and the case they're working on seems to be going nowhere.
But there's coffee on her desk.
She eyes it carefully as she circles the desk. The logo on the cup brings back the memory of three mornings before when a similar coffee had been waiting for her when they arrived at the office before the sun had even risen.
She looks over her shoulder and into the Murder Room, scanning the room until her eyes land on Andy. It takes a second, but he looks up from what he's doing and meets her gaze. She tilts her head questioningly, her tired eyes holding his. He shrugs his shoulders and smiles a little, almost sheepishly.
"Thank you," she mouths.
The coffee is delicious.
We're not dating.
As they sit down in their seats, Andy's knee brushes Sharon's. She's aware of him now, more than she ever has been. Perhaps it would be better if she and Rusty switch seats, but that would just make it seem like something is wrong.
"You okay?" he asks, his breath tickling her ear as he speaks to her.
She doesn't shiver a little. Her eyes stay focused on the head of the person three rows ahead. "Yes," she answers shortly. She can't help being a little upset with him, no matter how much she understands his intentions.
"Okay," he says, and he drops it.
Rusty's watching them, Sharon knows, but she says nothing. She's a pro at concealing her inner thoughts, so she takes in a deep breath and slowly releases it, composing herself.
We're not dating.
A warm hand gently brushes against hers halfway through The Nutcracker. She looks down; it's the first time she realizes that she is squeezing the armrest. She flattens her hand out immediately.
"I understand if you're upset," he says, leaning in towards her.
She doesn't look up as she whispers back, "This isn't the time to talk about this, Andy."
"Maybe not. I just wanted you to know-"
"Andy," she nearly hisses.
"I just wanted you to know that I've enjoyed spending time with you, that's all. That part wasn't made up."
She can feel her heart flutter in her chest - like it has so many times before, except she now understands why. "I know," she offers as a response, looking up at him slowly. "I've enjoyed it as well," she whispers, matching his gentle smile with her own.
We're not dating, she tells herself.
But that doesn't stop the rush she gets when his fingers brush against her hand again.
The End. Thanks for reading.