With a Bit of Luck - Chapter 2
Even after breakfast and some ibuprofen, his body was still sore. The fact that he had slept on the couch probably did not aide in his recovery. Even though that rest had not been all bad once he had gotten more comfortable with Sharon by his side. Luckily, the eggs and toast had at least helped him to feel a little more human.
While they finished their breakfast, David called Provenza to let him know Mike was almost ready. The Lieutenant had the list of Flynn's previous cases and connections to potential suspects. In pain or not, Andy was eager to get the check so they could get everything moving forward. He was ready to help identify the dirtbag, and to get back to work. His eagerness to leave even kept him from starting an argument with his partner over the fact the man had added a to-go meal, "for lunch," to the ticket.
The drive in was relatively uneventful by LA traffic standards. That, however, was not the case inside the vehicle. Much to Andy's dismay, Provenza spent the beginning of the drive painfully butchering his favorite Frank Sinatra tunes. It was almost too much. The Lieutenant had little vocal skill, and the fact that he also did not seem to care about the lyrics, added to the torment.
Apparently, the Lieutenant had decided this car concert was an appropriate punishment for what he had witnessed earlier that morning. Provenza was pretty positive he was going to have the image of his friend and the Captain all cozied up together on his couch, burned into his brain for all eternity. So, his torturing of his partner through song was only a small step in the direction of getting even.
As the Lieutenant continued to show little regard for Sinatra, Andy took out his phone:
Lieutenant Flynn: Provenza is in rare form this morning.
Captain Raydor: When is he not?
Lieutenant Flynn: True... but he just destroyed three different versions of The Lady Is A Tramp.
Captain Raydor: A true travesty.
Lieutenant Flynn: You're telling me. And we are only halfway there.
Captain Raydor: Lucky you.
Lieutenant Flynn: I think I have a plan to shut him down. I can see through his game.
Captain Raydor: Can I play?
Andy smiled at the response, but when the song came on for the fourth time he finally gave in and addressed his partner. "Any chance you could leave the singing to the professional? Why can't we just listen Frank? Or if you really can't help yourself, just put on the radio, will you?" Completely disregarding his partner's complaint, Provenza kept singing. Determined not to be ignored; Andy decided on a different tactic. He grinned over to his partner and teased, "Aren't you getting tired of serenading me, Provenza? While you do have a special gift, I don't think it is really what I am looking for." Provenza faltered slightly, but kept on. Andy turned his head, "Are you jealous of Sharon now? Do you feel like you need to put on a show? Think you need to impress me?"
"What?!" Provenza exclaimed finally breaking from his belting. "My God, Flynn are you trying to make me puke?" The idea sent an involuntary tremor through his body. "Serenading you? Impress you? Please... And didn't we say no more discussing what did not occur at your place this morning?"
Thankful for the break in song, Andy leaned back in his seat and let out a slightly pained chuckle at his partner's reaction. "Yeah, we agreed... But if you don't stop singing, all deals are off. I am already in enough pain this morning. I would rather not be cringing over here at the sound of your voice... You sound like a screeching subway rat."
"Fine," Provenza grumbled as he switched the stereo source over to FM. "Just for the record, I am only changing it because I need to rest my vocal cords. Not because you want me to."
"Noted," Andy sighed as he rested his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. "You weren't trying to get even with me, and I didn't freak you out to end my torture. We are even."
"Sure," the other man grumbled.
When they arrived at PAB parking, Provenza parked and moved to get out of the car. "I'm heading up there to start going through the suspects. Take your time, Flynn. Don't want you keeling over on me. Would hate to have to you spend another night at the hospital."
Andy waved him off, "Yeah, yeah. Glad you don't feel the need to help me out."
Provenza shrugged, "If you want help, maybe you should call The Captain."
"Watch it," he warned, slowly getting out of the passenger side. "I may be injured but seeing as how you aren't a runner, I am sure I can still chase you down." He closed his door and peered over the roof of the car, "Go ahead. I'll work my way up there."
Andy took his time and arrived in the Murder Room shortly after his partner. Once there, he slowly walked toward his desk. "Rough night, Lieutenant?" Julio goaded from his chair. "You know you are getting a little up there to be street fighting."
Andy stood tiredly near his chair, "Laugh it up, Julio. I'm here. I survived. Let's leave it at that. Now, who is looking good for this?"
"Oh, Lieutenant Flynn," Brenda cooed, stepping out of her office. "It is so nice to see you up and movin' this morning. Now, you wait right there and we will get everything all set up." The Chief opened her stance to the rest of the Murder Room. "Now, everyone, Lieutenant Flynn is still out. Which means he can't be directly involved in the investigation right now. So, with that being said, Andy," she returned her attention to him, "Just sit there and try not to listen to anything goin' on out here. Once we get you all squared away, you can go home and rest."
"Thanks, Chief." Andy sighed, "I'll just wait over here at my desk, relax, and mind my own business. You all keep working."
Brenda motioned to Buzz to start rolling through the slides, while Mike stood ready with the coinciding case files. The two men had spent the previous day combing through Flynn's previous cases for anyone who seemed to have a grudge against the man. Unfortunately, it was not a short list.
Buzz clicked through a few the slides before Taylor stopped him at a familiar face. Mike flipped open the file and reported that the man was Rick Zuman.
At the name Andy could not help but jump in and advise the team on the case. He sat gingerly down into his chair, while he went over how the man had murdered his business partners, and that he also suspected Zuman had murdered their FBI informant. When David brought up a potential connection between Zuman and Harris, the Chief requested the man's jail movement records and for him to be brought in.
As David and Julio stood to leave, a familiar sound of clicking heels was heard coming down the hall. "Gentleman," Sharon nodded to the men as they passed.
Andy looked up just in time to see Sharon round the corner, a thin folder pressed to her chest. She gave him a quick questioning glance before she turned her attention to Brenda. "Chief Johnson, is the Lieutenant here for a reason?"
Andy quickly spun his head in her direction, but held back from voicing any response in his defense. He pursed his lips together and glared at Sharon. She ignored the stare and gave him a barely noticeable smirk before returning her attention to the Chief.
"Don't worry, Captain." Brenda light-heartedly responded, quickly coming up with a plausible story for the Lieutenant's presence. "Lieutenant Flynn is just here checkin' in. Plus, you did say you needed him back up here for something to do with his statement when he was released from the hospital."
Sharon looked over in Andy's direction, "Yes," she drawled. "But Lieutenant Flynn is not involved in this area of your current case."
Brenda shrugged her shoulders and beamed at the other woman, "We know that, Captain. Like I said. He is just here checkin' in, and of course he is here if you need him for anything else. Then I am sure he has a ride home arranged and a date with his bed."
Without responding, Sharon nodded in Andy's direction. Andy retuned the gesture and watched her move across the room in the direction of the Murder Board.
Brenda rolled her eyes in exasperation behind the Captain's back as the woman walked away. "Now, Lieutenant Tao," Brenda directed her attention across the room. "You were sayin'?"
Tao took a moment to react, but then restarted his report on the other potential connections. Not really listening to Mike's details, Sharon strolled closer to Provenza's desk. Provenza caught her movement out of the corner of his eye, but anticipated that she would continue to walk by in order to study the Murder Board.
As he listened to Mike once again ramble through the names of the other men in the slide show, Provenza worked to avoid any potential contact with the Captain. When she was just beside his desk, he shuffled slightly closer to the center of the room. He also swiveled his chair so he would not have to see what she was doing while hanging around their Murder Room.
Noting that her presence was bothering him, Sharon slowed her pace. When he flinched slightly, she stopped and leaned against the right side of his desk. Provenza bit down on his bottom lip and closed his eyes. He silently counted to ten, in an effort to ignore her presence. When he opened his eyes the Captain was still against his desk, he shot a quick glance across the room to his partner. Andy only raised an eyebrow in that direction, noting the pair's proximity, but did not respond. Instead, he suddenly became very interested in untangling the cord of his desk phone.
Provenza let out a measured breath and looked down in front of him. He stared contemplatively at the floor beneath his desk, trying to decide the best course of action to move the Captain on her way. Thinking he had it, he slowly reached out and pushed his desk against the bank of the others. He had hoped the movement would casually dislodge the Captain from her spot. However, it did little to move the Captain, but did capture the attention of the rest of the team.
At the squeaking of the desk legs along the flooring and the banging against the other desks, Taylor rolled back in his chair. "Something wrong over there, Lieutenant?" Mike stopped speaking and also turned his attention in the Lieutenant's direction.
Provenza waved his hand in the air, "No, no. Just leveling it out. Go on, Mike, go on. You were saying someone else has it out for Flynn..." he trailed off to allow Tao to begin again. With his irritation growing, he cut his eyes in Sharon's direction. She was still standing close, her undivided attention apparently fixed on Mike and his detailed explanation. Unsure of what game she was playing, Provenza fidgeted in his seat, but continued to try to ignore her.
As Mike finished his reporting on the connections between the cases linked to the man and Lieutenant Flynn; Sharon made a final move to sit on the side of the corner of the Lieutenant's desk. Across the room, Andy, who had been listening to Mike, saw her action out of the corner of his eye and turned away to hide his grin.
"Excuse me, Captain," Provenza whispered curtly, trying not to draw too much attention to the two of them. "There is an empty chair just over there." He pointed to the desk at his right. "In case the top of mydesk is not a comfortable spot for you."
"Oh, how kind of you, Lieutenant," Sharon smirked slyly down to him. "But I think this is fine. I won't be here long."
Provenza forced his mouth into an saccharine smile, "Oh... well, then don't let us keep you. What were you needing?"
Sharon shrugged, "It can wait, just five more minutes or so." She raised an eyebrow in his direction, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she emphasized the time. She saw the flash of recognition at hearing those words for the second time that day and sighed, "No need to rush or anything."
Provenza glared back at her, but forced another smile. Without a word he stood and trooped toward the break room. On his way he shot his partner a look of death. When he was close enough to whisper, Provenza choked out, "Is this some kind of joke? Get her off of my desk... Gods, I knew she was up to something, but this?"
Andy shrugged feigning confusion, "Why would I be able to help you with that? I mean, maybe you should just be nicer to her?"
Provenza's eyes bulged as he struggled to keep his voice low, "Flynn!" When his partner merely glowered back in response, Provenza rolled his eyes, "She better be gone soon. Especially, if you want to be involved in questioning that dirtbag when Julio and David get back with him." He turned away from his partner and walked off toward the break room. When he was just out of earshot he mumbled to himself, "My lord, the world has truly gone insane."
When Provenza had left the area and the rest of the team had returned to their investigation Sharon strolled toward Andy. She opened up the file she was holding and pretended to point something out to him. With her eyes on the page she murmured, "One of my sergeants thought they saw you hobbling through the halls."
Andy rolled his eyes slightly, but directed his gaze at the blank sheet she was pointing to. "Yeah, Captain, just wanted to see what was going on with my team. I was already getting a little antsy being away."
Sharon smirked, "Well, hopefully they can make the connections and you can be on your way." She paused for a moment, "Provenza taking you home?"
"Probably," he shrugged. Andy looked around to make sure no one was watching them and waggled his eyebrows at her, "Unless I get a better offer."
"Well, I guess that depends on the rest of the day." She closed the file and turned to him, "While you were sitting here not listening to them, did they seem to be making any headway?"
"Some," Andy responded. "Like you said, the list of people who want to kill me isn't exactly exclusive."
She grinned at the joke, "Very true. Well, depending on what ends up happening with the case we will see about that ride." She pulled the file back up against her chest and stepped away.
Andy gave her a half grin, "We will see. With a bit of luck they'll have the guy up here before lunch."
She nodded back to him and turned to head out of the room.
Not long after returning to her office, one of her sergeants knocked on her door with an alert that Major Crimes had called up Rick Zuman for questioning. Sharon dropped her head to her chest and sighed at the news. She was unsure if she was ready to face that squad, or more specifically the Lieutenant whom FID was investigating, but she pulled the files and headed back upstairs. She was not looking forward to informing them that Zuman had alleged that Lieutenant Flynn had coerced his bookkeeper into refuting his alibi. Yet no matter the reason, by law her team had to investigate that claim and the Lieutenant would have to be completely removed from the case. Knowing him, she was not looking forward to his reaction.
Sharon reentered the Murder Room to find the remaining team members working at their desks. Andy was sitting at his dozing as he waited to leave. When he heard Sharon's steps closing in on him he opened his eyes, "Back already?" He looked around the room, "Provenza just stepped out, so no new opportunities to pester him. Still, good work earlier keeping him on his toes. He moved half of his things over to block you from ever sitting on his desk again."
"Yes, I am back." Sharon stated, ignoring the part about his partner. "I need to speak with you and Chief Johnson."
A/N: I hope this is working as a gentle retelling. I am not trying to stick to this episode completely, but am kind of weaving in and out of the case. The whole "package" scene back then is really what probably got me thinking about Shandy and the possibility in this episode... So, sometimes I like to imagine it going a bit differently. The next chapter has a bit of that scene... I ended up cutting this part here so the next chapter could begin right after the conference room. The following chapters are going to reference instances, but nothing super specific. Next chapter should be up in a few days. Thank you for reading, reviewing, and following. It is really nice to know people some people enjoy the weird bits of dialogue that roll through my head. :)
