~Maybe More Than…. Just Another Day in February~
Chapter 2:
Great, just great. She finally had a date for Valentine's Day after more than twenty years and here she was stuck in a hospital ER giving a statement about discharging her firearm. Now, Sharon Raydor knew how so many other LAPD officers felt when FID was asking her all those questions. Did they really have to ask in such a monotone voice, and as if they didn't believe anything she said? Even though she knew most of the people in IA this rather annoying Detective Roberts that was taking her statement she did not know. After being asked the same questions over and over Sharon expressed her annoyance by asking. "Look, can you just let me talk to Lieutenant Staples, Sergeant Elliot or even Sergeant Ray and this will get all cleared up." Was she really this bad when she was head of IA?
"They happened to be taking the other members of your team statements, at the crime scene." The new officer looked up from the pad of paper he was writing on, and with a blank stare and a flat tone he asked, "Can you answer my previous question, Ma'am?"
Sharon knew full well it wasn't LAPD protocol to leave the scene of an officer-involved shooting, especially if you are the said officer doing the shooting. In fact, she had written the darn thing. Yes, she left the scene of the crime, but she was injured and had waited for FID to show up before leaving. If this guy were going to act like this she would hold nothing back, she thought as she looked over her glasses at him. "Captain," Sharon replied sharply. "Can you answer my previous question, Captain?"
The young officer looked up as she spoke and asked in a shaky voice, "Um...excuse me?" Even being new to LA police force he had heard of Darth Raydor and knew enough to be worried when she sent that glare at him.
When Sharon saw she had his full attention she continued in a stern cadence. "You are a detective and a subordinate officer, you will remember that when addressing me. Do I make myself clear, Detective?"
With a nod, he replied, "perfectly, Captain."
If she learned anything from Chief Johnson it was how to use one's rank to an advantage. Sharon tried not to smile, as she was sure Brenda would be proud. "To answer your question. Yes, I discharged my weapon. You see when a suspect shoots at you or your team member you tend to shoot back." Just then there was a sound of a commotion and the curtain around her bed flew open. Sharon knew right away from the look on his face as he saw FID Detective Roberts that she needed to stop him immediately. "Lieutenant Flynn, don't." She called out in her best Captain voice.
Andy took a second to take in what was going on. He looked from Sharon to the short younger man who to him frankly looked petrified having been assigned to talk to the legendary Wicked Witch. He then turned back to Sharon fuming seeing her just sitting there and not being attended by a doctor. "Captain, what is going on? We sent you in the ambulance for a reason to get medical assistance. You are sitting here in pain while this assh…"
"Lieutenant!" Sharon turned toward him and gritted her teeth against the agony in her arm when she moved. "It's not that bad. I'm fine. While the doctor is waiting for the last set of X-Rays to come back I was answering some of the standard FID questions." She had known earlier when Provenza walked her personally to the ambulance that Andy had something to do with it and what he just said confirmed her suspicions. In all honesty, she was surprised he showed up here at all. Now she needed to find out why he wasn't talking to her because what he just said wasn't talking, it was frustration brewing up his hotheaded temper.
As Andy paced to small area brooding, Sharon was answering more of Detective Roberts questions while it sent her mind back over the events of the night. One thing she knew for sure is that it hadn't gone as they had planned. It was supposed to be an easy one. From a tip called in they knew who it was, and from there narrowed it down to where he was and why he was doing it. Seeing the suspects face in her thoughts took her back to a few hours earlier.
It had been an eerie quiet night. How could a city this busy be this quiet? Even though Sharon knew her team was out there and had the house surrounded, it still surprised her on how there was complete silence. All around her all she could see in the dark night was the flashing blue and red police car lights and the red lights of the ambulance waiting on the street. They all knew the latest victim was in here, but as per protocol the paramedics couldn't enter the premises without the police securing it first and as of right now it was far from being secure.
Earlier that day the Major Crimes Division had gotten a break in the case when they received a phone call from an anonymous witness. Now here they all were hoping to be here in time to find the victim alive. They separated into pairs; she and Julio were at the back door, waiting for the signal to enter.
Breaking through the silence was the sound of shattering glass from right behind the two of them, Julio who had been in front of her, turned towards the noise. Suddenly Sharon heard a creaking sound coming from her left. That was when she realized the chair through the window was a distraction. The door next to her opened a crack and she could see the barrel of a rifle aimed at Sanchez's back. Sharon had barely a second to react. Pushing Julio aside, she kicked the door causing the suspect's shot to go wide. Sharon returned fire. The next thing she knew she was slammed to the ground causing her gun to drop out of her hand. As pain radiated throughout her body, the first thing she noticed was the quiet was gone. Now she was surrounded by complete chaos.
Trying to sit up, there was a hand on her shoulder halting her movements and she heard Julio next to her say, "no, Ma'am you need to stay down."
"Stay down, why?" Though she couldn't seem to move if she wanted to, Sharon was more than confused. She needed to get up and find out what was going on. She knew before she hit the ground she had fired two consecutive shots at the man that came crashing out the doorway at them. She tried to move again but realized the man that was advancing on them was laying on her.
As Julio rolled the body off of her, she could hear a collective gasp from the team members that had circled the house after hearing the gunshots that were now surrounding them. Looking down at her now ruined white blouse then up at the faces staring at her Sharon said calmly, "It's not my blood. I'm fine." She looked at the body they had moved to see the suspect had two bullet holes, both hitting center mass.
Julio and Mike were now kneeling beside her. She attempted to sit up again. Sharon knew she needed to get on her feet before Andy made his way back here. If she were standing it would be easier to convince him she was fine but Mike's voice stopped her, "Captain, it would be best to stay still."
"Trust me, I'm not shot. I think I would know." Frustrated Sharon looked down at herself again. She was in fact covered in blood, a lot of blood. Looking back up at her team, "this looks worse than it is." She was not enjoying laying on the ground with them all hovering over her. When she went to lean back on her elbows to sit up the pain made her see stars and fall back to the ground.
Even through the fog of excruciating agony, her body was in and all the commotion that was now around her she had to admit she almost smiled when heard a loud, "dammit, Sharon." I guess I didn't get up before Andy got here, she thought. This probably wasn't going to go well. She kept her eyes closed tight against the pain. Sharon relaxed a bit when she felt Andy's hand move the hair out of her face, she could feel his body heat as he knelt down beside her. It would be nice to just let him hold her until the pain went away but she couldn't allow herself that luxury right now. They might not be in the office but they needed to stay professional. She vaguely heard Mike explaining how she was in shock and that she could be hurt worse than they know. She could have internal injuries and shouldn't be moved. That was why the pain wasn't registering in her brain until she had moved. He was rambling on about other things that could be wrong and keeping her warm, but when the shock wore off…
Provenza jumped in with a gruff, "Jesus Christ, Tao just say what you think is wrong with the Captain?"
She had her eyes open enough to see Mike shake his head at the older Lieutenant before saying to her. "Captain, from what I can see you're right it's not your blood, but it looks like your shoulder is dislocated."
"Crap!" She muttered. "You went to medical school, can't you set it here, Mike?" With wide eyes, Tao shook his head no.
Shocked that she would ask that, Andy quickly intervened, "the paramedics are here right now. They can look at you and get you to the hospital."
Replying just as quickly but more admittedly she said, "No! They need to help the girl first."
"Sharon..." Andy tried to say more but was stopped as she continued.
She knew that tone and she didn't to deal with anything personal now, she was more concerned for the victim than for herself so Sharon promptly asked, "she's still alive, isn't she?"
Amy answered for the team, "Yes, Captain she is. I was with her until the medics came in. She is hurt but they said she will live."
"That's good! Now, I need to sit up, my back can't take this and I'm tired of being stared at." Sharon saw Mike was about to say something to stop her, but she gave him a glare and he offered his help instead.
Andy was the one daring enough to try and keep her from moving by saying, "Sharon, you should stay still and..." She turned her eyes towards him but quickly looked away. What she saw in them told her a lot and it was obvious her Darth glare didn't work on Andy anymore, anyways. So instead of listening to him, she attempted to get up herself. With a loud sigh, he nodded at Mike and Julio, and they very carefully helped her sit upright.
Feeling a bit better being mostly off the ground, she offered a quiet "thank you." With her right arm held tight against her chest to relieve some of the pain, Sharon looked around realizing her glasses must have been knocked off in the fall. She squinted to take in everything going on. Her eyes stopped on her second-in-command. "So, Lieutenant Provenza, I assume FID has been notified."
To try and get through to her to get some help Andy tried again, "Sharon..."
She wasn't ready to talk to him yet. Sharon was pretty sure what he had to say from what she had seen in his eyes. So she busied herself to feel on the ground around her with her good arm for her gun and her glasses. She heard Andy again say her name in more of a low growl. Sharon knew he was being more her boyfriend right now and not her lieutenant. The problem was that wasn't what she needed at the moment, especially in front of her team. They were at a crime scene and Sharon choosing and needing to stay in captain mode, it was where she functioned best. They would have to talk privately after everything had settled down. Looking at everyone except Andy, since she was avoiding those dark brown eyes, as she told them, "We will all be needing to give our statements." She was then back to her search.
Julio realized what she was looking for and offered, "Ma'am, your gun is beside you on your right."
No wonder she couldn't find it she had no mobility on that side and Andy was there blocking her view. As Sharon turned more to get her Glock by his feet she accidentally locked eyes with Andy. When their eyes met she held her breath as usually they only needed a look to communicate and Sharon was right, she saw it all in his eyes the hurt, disappointment, and pity. She didn't want or need any of it. With a shake of her head, she looked away. She heard him say, "Sharon, we can handle all this, you need to get your shoulder look at."
Staying focused and not acknowledging Andy, Sharon finally reached her gun. Placing it in her right hand, when it didn't hurt too much to hold it, she managed to stand up on her own. Removing the clip from her gun she handed both sections to Provenza. "Here's my weapon and Lieutenant when my friends from FID get here, tell them I double tapped the assho..." she suddenly stopped herself, hearing Andy's words echo in her head from when he was attacked so many years ago. Seeing Provenza waiting, she restarted what she was saying, "When you see my friends tell them I'll be inside the crime scene." Sharon watched as he smirked at her use of the word friends then tilted her head to indicate the house they had surrounded earlier as she spoke.
"Your glasses, Captain," Andy's voice was flat and cold as he held them out to her then walked away.
She carefully took them from his outstretched palm. "Thank you, Lieu..." Sharon started to say but stopped, as he turned and left. She went in the opposite direction.
Inside the dark and depressing house, she could hear Andy barking out orders from somewhere nearby, but she hadn't seen him. With everything under control inside Sharon went outside to wait for IA to show up and had hoped staying still would ease the pain she was feeling all over her body. The only time she actually saw Andy since he had walked away from her was when she saw him exit the house and said something to Provenza. It had been too noisy around them for her to hear it, but the older lieutenant was looking at her as he nodded in agreement to whatever had been said. A few minutes later as she was answering questions, Provenza came over to them and in a non-asking voice said, "Captain, you are going to the hospital to get that shoulder looked at!"
Sharon looked over her glasses at him. She knew something was up and replied suspiciously, "I'm fine. I can finish up here."
"No, Captain they are waiting, now." With that Provenza settled his hand on the small of her back and lightly led her in the direction of the ambulance, "and you," he threw over his shoulder in clear disdain of the whole IA department, "can ride with her to finish your inquisition."
Some Valentine's this day had turned out to be. She had been right all those other years, it was just another day in February, but she had her hopes up that this year would have been different. No, it wasn't, Sharon thought as she sat on the hospital bed awhile. In fact, it was worse than the other Valentines Day's she had no expectations back then. Not like she did with Andy who was pacing the small area behind her without saying a word. She was answering questions from FID until the doctor came back. That was when Andy sent or scared the young IA detective away with a sort of growl, telling him if he had any more stupid questions to ask them tomorrow. Sharon was finally cleared to leave after hearing all that the doctor had to say and a promise to make a follow-up appointment in a few days.
The ride to Sharon's condo was quiet. She knew Andy was mad at her but it wasn't like she had a choice. She could handle herself and she was about to tell him that when she surprised herself by saying instead, "Andy, I'm sorry I ruined any chance of us going out on our date tonight."
There was that eerie silence again; this time it was surrounding the confines of the car, as she waited for Andy to say something, anything. With no reply from him, she watched as the miles and scenery passed by in a dark quiet blur. After not being able to take it anymore, she took a chance to offer with a sigh, in a low voice, "I'm fine. The doctor said nothing was broken and they set my shoulder. It wasn't that bad and I can take care of myself." Looking at her ruined shirt and sling around her right arm. Though the nurses helped her wash up at the hospital she could still feel blood in her hair, on her face, and neck. She really couldn't wait to take a bath when she got home.
After a few more minutes Andy finally spoke to her, "Sharon, I don't care about missing the date. I care about you, but…" the silence was back as neither of them dared to breathe as he paused. By the time they needed air, he finished his thought, "never mind, you don't care... to listen to what I have to say anyway."
With a quick snap of her head to look at him, which sent pain throughout her injured shoulder and down her arm. Sharon ignored it to ask, "What does that mean, Andy?" She could hear the hurt laced in her voice.
He didn't look at her, he couldn't. He knew his eyes would give himself away. Gripping the steering wheel tighter Andy said in a flat voice, "You know what I mean, Sharon." When she just sat there he could feel her staring and waiting for him to say more. Might as well get it all out now he thought, "it seems to me that when I was injured I had to do everything you said."
Sharon felt that hit right to her heart. There it was. He had said he understood, but she always knew that would come back at her. She had done what she did to help him. Blinking back the tears that threaten to fall, she looked upwards to the car roof refusing to let a drop escape. Gaining her composure she bit out, "you know that was different, Andy. Your injuries were life-threatening. I'm fine, it was nothing."
He didn't want to do this in the car. Nor did he want to have this conversation at the crime scene or the hospital that was why he chose to stay silent, but Sharon pressed. Now it was all coming out. "I can't tell you what it did to me seeing you laying on the ground covered in blood…"
Her eyes dry once again she gave a frustrated eye-roll before Sharon repeated for what seemed like the 100th time, "it wasn't my blood."
Andy's voiced raised, "I didn't know that! You didn't give me time to…"
Sharon interrupted him again, "we were at a crime scene. There was a victim that needed us to save her..."
"Dammit Sharon, will you let me finish a sentence?" There was more silence. If Andy wanted her to let him talk then she would wait as long as it took. It had taken three stop lights before he asked, "Why did you push Sanchez out of the way?" He took his eyes off the road while they were stopped to chance a look at her.
"What?" Stiffly she turned a little more to her left to ask, "You tell me, what would you have done? Let Julio get shot, again?" Sharon could feel herself getting angry. "No, none of you would have done that! I made the decision to get a member of my team out of harm's way and happened to kill the suspect at the same time. He just happened to charge, then drop in my direction that caused me to fall." Looking down at the blood-soaked white shirt before adding, "this looks worse than it is! As I said," taking a breath Sharon then emphasized each of her next words, "It. Is. His. Blood. Not. Mine." She looked at Andy, his eyes were on the road, and she could see his jaw was clenched probably trying to stop himself from saying what he really wanted to say. Fine, let him be mad she thought she wouldn't change anything she had done tonight.
Giving up she laid her head back against the headrest and watched the city lights go by in the night. The silence was overwhelming and the pain medication they gave her in the emergency room was wearing off and all she really wanted to do was get cleaned up and change out of these clothes. As she saw her condo out her passenger window come into view Sharon let out a sigh, relieved to be almost home. She knew the silent treatment was how she had forever dealt with personal conflicts, like when she and Rusty had a disagreement but she was surprised Andy was doing it to her. She had been sure his temper would cause him to explode or at least vocalize what was wrong. Maybe she didn't know him as well as she supposed.
Not wanting to deal with much more tonight when they approached her condo Sharon finally spoke, "you can let me out at the lobby. I'm just going to shower and go to bed." All she received was more silence so when the car stopped she reached across her body with her left hand to open the door. Slowly turning to her right to exit the car she paused to say, "maybe this incident is showing us how it will be being in a relationship and a break could be just what we need." Sharon nudged the door open farther with her foot before giving him a chance to get out and open it for her.
Hearing a stern "Sharon," as she stepped out of his car.
She cringed at the tone he used to say her name. She usually liked when he said it but not this time. Without looking back, she added in a low sad, but firm voice, "Andy, if you are mad at me for doing my job then we need to end this here and now." Standing up she shut the door and walked into her building.
~TBC~
A thank you to the BamDAMMMsters and many great friends without some "nudging" and motivation from them I'm not sure I'd be writing again at all.
