A/N:
Right. Here we go! Laws of Simplicity - or The One with the Happy Ending, as I like to call it. As frustrating as this journey has been and still will be, I'm glad it's finally on its way to a proper resolution.
Once again, I'd like to thank all of you and I hope you'll enjoy this one, too.
Prologue:
Not Goodbye, Just 'So Long'
Sharon glanced at her watch as the elevator stopped again and opened its doors. She was going to be late, and she was never late, especially not when the new Chief of Police had summoned her.
Even though it was only Will Pope.
Whoever had pressed the call button for the elevator, she couldn't see for all the boxes, stepped in. "Sorry," he said as he nearly bumped into her. "Seven, please?"
"I'm headed that way," she said, recognizing Gabriel's voice.
"Oh, Captain Raydor?"
"Yes, Detective. Are you alright? Do you need help?"
"Nah, I'm good," he said, huffing and puffing. "And it's Lieutenant now."
Smiling gently at the pride in his voice, Sharon pulled off the box on the very top and clutched it firmly against her body. She could see his face after that, beads of sweat on his forehead.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant."
"Thanks, Captain."
"How is Robbery/Homicide treating you?"
"It's great!" He grinned. "Kinda strange, got lots to learn still."
"You're the Incident Commander now, is that right?"
Gabriel nodded. "Yeah. Better paycheck but it comes with a ton of paperwork I really had no idea Lieutenant Provenza filled out every week."
"Hmm," Sharon hummed. "Well. Congratulations, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, Captain."
The elevator dinged, this time on their floor. As they stepped out, Gabriel nodded at the box. "If you can just..."
"Of course." Sharon lifted the cardboard box up and balanced it carefully on the very top.
"Thanks!" He threw over his shoulder as he left down the hall.
Sharon went the other way, to the right, using her key card to gain entry to the reception area. A maintenance man was scraping Will Pope's name off a glass panel, Margaret still sat behind her desk, with her usual look of polite indifference.
"Chief Johnson? I have Captain Raydor for you," she said into the phone then nodded and hung up. "She's expecting you."
Chief Johnson was expecting her? Sharon swallowed. She had been summoned by Pope, not Brenda, and the unexpected change of plans gave her pause. Reluctantly she opened the door and stepped in.
Pope was there, standing next to Brenda who was barely visible amongst the boxes on the desk. She sat in the big leather chair, it nearly swallowed her, and the blonde looked comically small in it.
On the desk, centered perfectly, sat a glass name plaque - 'Assistant Chief Brenda Johnson'
It was almost as if this was permanent, as if Brenda was here to stay, making herself at home.
But they both knew that wasn't true.
"Chiefs," she said.
"Captain, have a seat," Will said.
Sharon's eyes wandered to Brenda as she lowered herself into one of the chairs. The blonde looked as if she was about ready to throw up her breakfast.
Oh, god. Visions of 'Traffic Division', of demotion...or worse, early retirement, shot through her mind.
"As you know, the Department will be undergoing some serious reorganization over the next few weeks."
"Yes, Chief," she said dutifully and looked at Brenda again who had plastered a smile onto her face.
He cleared his throat. "Chief Johnson?"
"Oh, yes...um," Brenda said, scratching the surface of the desk. "Cap'n Raydor, Will and I have-I mean, Chief Pope and I have, after careful consideration, decided on my replacement. Which will be you, if-if you would want-"
Me?
"What Chief Johnson is trying and failing to say, is that even she can't do two jobs at once and, after much deliberation on her part, as she insisted she make this decision herself, she has appointed you as her most suitable candidate to whom she may give up control of her squad...very, very reluctantly."
Sharon thought she was hearing things. "Me?"
"Yes." Brenda nodded. "I've thought about this long and hard, and I realize I should've involved you in my decision makin' process, maybe, but, Sharon, you're it."
Sharon blinked; how often had she heard the word unpromotable? Spoilt goods. How often had she been told that if she was looking for a change in scenery, she might as well quit?
And what about Dolan, who was supposed to be getting this job?
She looked at Brenda who smiled at her and then Sharon realized that she had earned this, that Brenda knew that and also...that Brenda had picked her.
"Okay," Sharon said and smiled back. "Well, we better find a replacement for myself then."
Chief Pope seemed pleased with it all, mostly himself, and nodded...satisfied. "Captain, I suggest you vigorously shadow Chief Johnson over the next two weeks to gain insight into how Major Crimes works and to, hopefully, make this transitioning period as smooth sailing as possible."
"Of course."
"Well, congratulations. Um. Brenda? I'll see you at three."
"At three, Will, I promise."
He grabbed a box and then left.
As the door closed behind him, Sharon whipped her head back around and stared at Brenda, wide eyed. "You are kidding me."
"I am not! Congratulations, Sharon, you deserve this."
"Oh, I know I do," she said, unable to keep the smile out of her voice. "I just never thought that..." She trailed off and let her eyes roam around the room. "So...I see you're moving in."
"Oh, no," Brenda said, groaning, "this is all Will's stuff. And he gave me this stupid name plaque that'll only be good for about a month."
"I think it's nice," Sharon said, eyeing it up. "So. Actually, I do have a few people in mind that would be suitable replacements for FID. Of course, Commander Parker might have an idea or two as well."
"Alright," Brenda said and got up, so Sharon did the same. "Why don't we talk about it on our way to my-I mean, your office."
"Sounds great."
"But don't get too excited, I haven't even emptied my drawers yet."
"Don't worry," Sharon said, "I didn't think I was going anywhere. Oh, god...do you think I can bring my filing cabinet? I'd rather not tackle that."
Brenda snorted as she stepped around the desk, then her face changed, her whole demeanor, and her eyes looked as if she was saying goodbye, as if she was packing up and going on a far-away voyage.
"Hey," Sharon said gently and opened her arms.
The blonde leaned into them, her own arms winding around Sharon's shoulders, holding her tightly. "Just...take care of 'em, okay?"
"Of course," Sharon vowed. Of course she would. After a moment, she drew back, her hands resting on the swell of Brenda's hips. The blonde's eyes had glazed over with tears and her bottom lip wobbled.
"Honey," Sharon said then, "This is not goodbye. It's just...so long."