Thanks so much for the reviews I've had for the first part of this story. I don't know how much more of it there'll be, since I'm still getting more ideas for it. But here's the second chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and thanks again.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
Chapter Two
Paperwork. The bane of every police captain's life, and Sharon Raydor was no exception. She'd gladly take any break from it that she could find. For it to be Buzz, though, was enough of a novelty for her to put it instantly aside - especially when the tone of his voice matched the seriousness on his face.
"Sorry to disturb you, Captain, but... uh... do you have a minute?"
"Yes, Buzz, of course. As many of them as you need."
Watching him settle into the chair opposite hers, Sharon masked her concern behind an encouraging smile. Even by his own standards, he'd been so quiet these last few days. From the way he kept twisting the ring on his hand, she had her first suspicions why. That envelope in his lap, too, just spoke for itself.
But she also knew how important it was, for him to tell her himself. So instead she kept quiet, silently noting the shadows in his eyes. Shadows that she hadn't seen for a very long time.
"Captain, I've... I've found the casefile for my father's murder. My uncle's too, and I... I need your advice, Captain, on how I can find the people who killed them."
Well, damn it. Mere suspicions were now cold, hard fact. If he hadn't had her attention before, he certainly had it now. From his expression alone, Sharon knew exactly what she had to say next. And how to say it.
"Of course, Buzz. What kind of advice did you have in mind?"
As she'd hoped, the tone in her voice had helped to settle him down again too. The storm of emotions in his eyes now dispersed, revealing the more familiar calmness below as Buzz passed his father's file across her desk.
"I know the best thing I can do right now is give what I've found to you. I know if I were to try and do this on my own, it... well, we both know it wouldn't end well. But more than anyone else in this team, Captain, you'll also understand why I can't let this go."
Glancing down at what he'd just given her, Sharon nodded. Oh yes, she understood. She understood the plea in his eyes perfectly well.
If just in her mind, they became those of a terrified, traumatized boy. The child who'd once screamed and cried for what had happened to his daddy and uncle. Whose happily innocent world had been blown apart in front of him.
A lot had changed since then. The little boy had grown into an adult son that any mother, his own or otherwise, would be so very proud to have. And, to his even greater credit, he'd somehow kept that faith in human nature. If there was any goodness in the depravity they all had to deal with, she knew Buzz would always try to find it. A rare and valuable trait, that she hoped Rusty wouldn't just learn from his mentor, but inherit from him too.
Anyone who tried to exploit it, though, was in for one hell of a surprise. Buzz Watson was nobody's fool, and if you dared to treat him like one, you'd soon find a will of steel behind the kind hearted charm. So when she saw the same determination in his eyes, Sharon nodded, because - well, yes, she'd seen that stubbornness too. And you didn't make fun of that either.
"Yes, Buzz, I do. I understand everything that you must be feeling right now. Just tell me how I can help."
To her relief, he smiled just as warmly back at her. The terrified boy she'd once held in her arms changed back to the adult he'd become. Calm, controlled, ever sensibly practical - refusing to let all the emotions he'd be feeling right now cloud his judgement.
"I - I just want to be involved, Captain. Not just in the background, either, but really involved, because I... well, at the very least, Captain, I owe them both that."
Again, she nodded as the last piece to this puzzle slipped into place. If her civilian crime scene recorder wanted more involvement in this highly personal case - yes, there was a way to do it.
"Well, you'll know from all your time here that we often need to call on extra resources during our investigations. New recruits from the Academy, or teams of reserve officers, who have exactly the same powers of duty."
The smile came freely and easily now, releasing the humour that always lurked inside his eyes. Even if it came at his own expense - yes, that desert dry sense of humour was still so good for her to see.
"With all respect, Captain, I think I'm kinda past the Academy. For one thing, I doubt there'd be a uniform big enough to fit me. And it would be a bit of a morale crusher too, having others in my class who'd be young enough to be my own kids."
A bit of an exaggeration, perhaps. He wasn't that old, but the thought still made both of them laugh. And the more he thought about it, the more viable that second option became. Leaning forward, his eyes brightened in its hope, and Sharon knew she'd just secured him his most longed for dream.
"The reserves, though... I'd still be suitable for that? Even at... you know, my age?"
God, now he sounded like Provenza! And she really hoped he'd taken that splutter of laughter as the cough it had so quickly become.
"Oh yes, Buzz, absolutely. You already have a wealth of skills and experience, that would stand you in excellent stead. You're one of the most astute observers I've ever met. And once you've completed your training, and spent the required time out on patrol... well, I'm sure Sergeant Davis in the detectives' division would be delighted to have you."
It was everything he'd needed her to say, and the pure joy on his face was a sight to savour. Trust her Buzz, though, to still find something to fret about.
"And I could do all of that, Captain, without... you know, leaving here?"
Following his eyes to the squad room outside, her smile widened. For 'here', of course, he meant 'them.' The second family, whose support he'd need now, like never before. Still watching them too, Sharon nodded - the warmth of her smile enough to convey her pride in his loyalty.
"Yes, Buzz, you can. It would be hard work, of course, with hours of study involved, but... well, like I said, you already have years of experience to your advantage. And you've never been one to shy away from hard work."
Oh yes, she'd meant that last part too. Before he even started it, she knew he'd give this training every length of time and effort that it would need. And yet, one last concern for what it might finally lead him to still betrayed itself in his eyes.
"The thing is, Captain, if we were to find them, could... could I stay objective enough to stay focussed? Not let my personal feelings cloud my judgement?"
Ah yes, the biggest question of all. One she'd already guessed was coming, and that she already knew how to answer.
"Knowing you as well I do, Buzz, I'd say you'd be fine. I can't see that being a problem at all. Just know that if you want to go ahead with this training, I will support you, every step of the way. We all will."
She'd stressed that one word for a reason, that a suddenly tenser smile still acknowledged. As things stood, only she and Rusty knew the awful secret that he'd carried through so much of his life. Now, he had to reveal and re-live it, all over again.
Glancing again through the blinds of her office, Buzz nodded. Rising to his feet, everything he needed to say came through his eyes.
Right. Let's get this over with.
As she walked around to join him, the squeeze on his arm was meant to be just between them. In a room full of detectives, though, such a gesture wasn't going to be missed. Starting with Amy, and moving on through Tao, Sanchez, Flynn and Provenza, their curiosity was turning to puzzled concern.
"Hey, is Buzz still in with the Captain? Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's been pretty quiet all morning."
"Though with Buzz, it's hard to tell the difference."
"Well, whatever they're talking about, it looks pretty intense, so... yeah, I'd say something's up."
"And whatever it is, people, I believe we're about to find out."
In Provenza-speak: make yourselves busy. Just hard to do when you had so little to do. Instead, they watched as casually as they could as Sharon led Buzz back out to join them.
Like the hand on his shoulder, the protectiveness in her eyes prompted another round of puzzled glances. Whatever he was about to tell them was clearly serious. And as far as Julio was concerned, it was all tied in with the envelope in his hand.
"You've asked for a transfer."
A perfectly reasonable question, of course, if asked a bit too bluntly for his Captain's liking. Buzz, though, still had to smile as he answered it.
"No, Julio, not quite. But with the Captain's approval, I am applying to join the reserves."
The reactions were unanimous this time. Surprise quickly gave way to proud grins, and hugs, and more formal handshakes. And a mere hint of the teasing hell to come.
"Reserve Officer Watson! Yeah, that has a certain ring to it."
"Deputy Chief Watson sounds even better."
"Yeah, if you get anyone called Holmes in your class, you'll have the rest of 'em beat."
"Jeez, if this is about getting the BuzzMobile jazzed up with lights and sirens, you just had to say."
Beyond all the teasing, though, a far more serious question remained. And since Julio was clearly keeping quiet this time, it was left to Flynn to ask it instead.
"Any reason, Buzz, for why you're doing it now?"
Ah, such a simple question, with so much significance behind it. And, God, how the hell was he going to explain it? Another squeeze on his shoulder, and a now completely serious circle of faces around him, gave him all the encouragement he needed.
"Yes, Lieutenant, there is. You... uh... you all know my father died when I was still a kid."
That wasn't quite true, of course. That revelation had come before Amy Sykes had joined them. Luckily, she had the tact and sense to keep quiet, and wait for him to continue.
"What I haven't told you, and what I need to tell you all now, is how it happened. And why I'm going to need all of you to help me resolve it."
