Chapter 1

Looking out from her office, surveying her team, Sharon wondered exactly how she was supposed to change things. It had become very clear that she needed inside help.

"Lt. Provenza, could you step into my office please?"

The lieutenant obliged as he slowly put down his crossword puzzle and, grumbling all the way, ambled with little urgency towards the captain's office. The office that he had believed was rightly to be his. "Yes, Captain? Can I help you?" the obliging questions were belied by his exasperated tone and an exaggerated roll of the eyes.
"Don't worry lieutenant this shouldn't take long, you'll be back to you crossword in no time at all"
"I'll have you know Captain, that I was filling out paperwork of a very important nature." Sharon allowed the briefest of smiles as she looked across the murder room at Provenza's desk which was completely clear aside from the usual knick-knack and the recently discarded newspaper.
Happily skirting over the blatant lie the captain turned back to her lieutenant.
"Regardless lieutenant I am faced with a pressing issue that I was hoping you could help me with."
Provenza raised an eyebrow indicating that she should continue.
"It has been brought to my attention that my working relationship with some of the Major Crimes unit could be described as… less than savoury, you might say."
The lieutenant forced out a laugh "You might say that, so where do I come in?" he gruffed. "You want me to sweet-talk the rest of the team for you?"
"No, no nothing like that lieutenant I just assumed since you have had no problems critiquing my bedside manner in the past, you may or may not be willing to give me some advice. Advice that will not compromise my work ethic, you understand. I won't bend the rules for you."
For a moment Sharon hesitated as she played with her glasses in her lap. Provenza watched her in mild awe, he had never seen the formidable Captain Sharon Raydor so unsure of herself before. Slowly she raised her eyes from her lap to his gaze before speaking.
"I want to make myself perfectly clear lieutenant, I am asking for a favour. This is not an order it is solely up to you whether you agree or not."

Lt. Provenza was speechless, he had never heard the captain admit she needed help in personal matters before. This was clearly a day of firsts for his captain. He had already decided to offer his help from the moment she told him her request was just that, a request, and not an order.
However, he couldn't resist needling her, just a little.

"So what's in it for me if I agree to this little request of yours Captain?"
Sharon slid her glasses back on to her nose so she could look over the rim at him carefully, she was almost grateful at the light-hearted turn the conversation had taken.
"Well lieutenant, I suppose I would owe you a favour in return."

This could get interesting.