Chapter 2

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"I am sick and tired of trying to figure you two out!" Lieutenant Louie Provenza hollered a day earlier.

Sharon Raydor had a look of shock on her face. Andy Flynn shrugged his shoulders, looking clueless. Provenza had called a meeting with the two of them in her office, of all places.

"I have something to say, and I don't want to be interrupted," Provenza continued. "Every day for the past two months, I have come to work and not known what it would be like in here. Sometimes, you two are sweet on each other. Then, you're distant. And, thank God, some days you seem to have no effect on each other whatsoever!

"You may think," Provenza continued, "that whatever's going on between you is nobody's business. But guess what?! That's a small squad room out there, and what you're doing affects everyone!"

Sharon started to speak, "But—"

Provenza stopped and scolded her, "Oh, oh, oh! I'm not done, and you're interrupting."

Her eyes widened, but she shut her mouth.

Provenza looked at each of them, "I'm going to tell you something that you — out of all of the people in this division — don't know. You, Flynn," he wagged his right index finger at him, "are in love with the Captain."

Sharon gasped.

"And you, Captain," he pointed in her direction, "may not know what you want, but you certainly like Andy." Provenza lowered his voice, "And you'd be crazy not to give him every chance to win you over."

Flynn replied, "Louie—"

"I am not finished!" Provenza shouted and then calmed himself. "Here's the deal. You two figure out what you're all about. Once and for all! You have forty-eight hours."

Sharon giggled nervously.

"Don't think I'm serious, eh?" Provenza challenged her. "I have no problem going to Chief Taylor to tell him you two are dating. He'll be happy to remove one of you from the squad, and then maybe, I can get some peace around here!"

"You wouldn't!" Flynn exclaimed.

Provenza wagged his head. "Don't make me."

Sharon thought for several moments. She took her matter-of-fact stance, nibbled on the tip of her glasses, and sighed forcefully. "You're right, Lieutenant," she said, deliberately, "and I am so sorry for disrupting the work of Major Crimes."

Provenza nodded slightly, "Yes, ma'am."

"Andy," she said, turning toward Flynn, "shall we have dinner tomorrow night?"

Andy smiled sheepishly, "Spaghetti or sushi?"

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