Sharon rushed in to the office, her black pencil skirt clinging to her stockings as she tossed her brief case on her desk and reached for the phone ringing in her coat pocket. "Raydor," she answered quickly, the annoyance thick in her voice.
"Well, sorry to bug you, Mom." Sharon's face lit up as she heard her daughter's voice come through the other line. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't check the caller ID before I answered...busy morning here." Her daughter could hear her Mom ruffling through papers as they talked. "Rusty make you late for work again? You just need to get the kid a car." Her tone was light as she encouraged her Mom to throw down some more permanent ties with her new foster brother.
Sharon laughed, looking over a copy of the press conference she'd have to deliver that afternoon as she listened to her daughter. It wasn't that she didn't want to be close to Rusty, but every new commitment meant that much more heartbreak if she had to give him up. "Yea, because buying you and your brother cars always worked so well for me.." she chuckled, trying not to sound too distracted by her work. "True, true..." he daughter could do nothing but agree, after all they'd both wrecked their first cars within a month of receiving them, "still, its part of being your kid. Let him have that right of passage."
Sharon sighed, taken aback by her daughter's acceptance of Rusty but pleased to hear him referred to as her kid. "I'll think about it, okay?" The grin on her face was apparent in her tone as she chatted to her daughter.
Andy looked in her office as soon as he walked through the doors. He smiled, happy to see her happy and radiant and looking, for the first time in a few weeks, well rested. He gave her a small wave and a nod, then headed to the break room for coffee.
As Andy returned from the break room he heard Sharon say goodbye. Assuming it was safe to enter, he peaked his head around the door jam to catch her attention. "Morning, captain." He said, implying that today would be business as usual despite their text messages the night before. "Just wanted to let you know, Chief has already circulated corrections to the press release." He had to admit, he was stretching to talk to her, trying to find something professional to say just so he could be around her. Sharon gave him a knowing glance and nodded, "Thanks, Lieutenant. Today is going to be a busy day here, but please be sure to make that appointment at 4:00." Her tone was as professional as ever and yet Andy still found it exciting. He was thrilled with the fact that she'd recognized their conversation at work, but tried to play it cool. "Of course, Captain. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
The day flew by as Sharon concentrated on paperwork, corrections, and finally attending the all important press conference. As she stepped out of view from the cameras and away from the crowd of reporters, happy to have another case closed successfully, she looked down at her watch. "Damn.." she muttered, noting the twenty five minutes they'd gone over time and hoping she wasn't too late picking up Rusty. She contemplated for a moment, then thought what the hell? She had nothing to lose. It was a good idea to text Andy and let him know she'd be late.
"Sharon's running late." Andy muttered at Rusty as he looked at his phone. Rusty nodded and smiled, happy to have won his tournament. "I can't wait to tell her," he exclaimed, showing the excitement of the young, uncomplicated boy he should be. Andy watched him for a moment, feeling a pang of sadness. He shook his head and straightened himself, standing a little taller. "Too soon for those thoughts, Flynn," he chided himself before opening his arms to give Rusty a congratulatory pat on the back. "She will be so proud of you. She's always so proud of you, Rusty," he said honestly, thinking of how kind it was of Sharon to take the kid in. Rusty beamed, proud of himself, too.
"Oh-here she comes." Andy couldn't hold back his smile as she approached, practically sashaying across the gym floor in her pointed pumps and tight fitting skirt. "I won, Sharon. I won!" Rusty nearly jumped in to her arms, eager to hug her as he told her the good news. "Wha-oh, Rusty! Congratulations. I am so sorry I missed it." Sharon hugged him tight, stealing a glance at Andy over the young boy's shoulder. "Its okay...there'll be more." Rusty stiffened up as he was often wont to do, and replied with an accommodating tone, always eager to please her. "You're right there will be, and I won't miss the next one, Rusty." Sharon let him out of her embrace, but kept her hands on both his arms and looked him in the eye, trying to make sure he knew she was serious.
Andy watched the two of them quietly, marveling at how quickly Sharon had settled in to life as Rusty's mom. It suited her, he thought to himself, as he studied her. She was proud. She was fulfilled. She was beautiful.
"Well, I guess I better get going," he said quietly, hesitant to break the moment for Sharon and Rusty, feeling again like it was a moment he shouldn't be witnessing. Rusty turned and grabbed his arm, "wait-you owe us a rain check for pizza. Now would be as good a night as any, right?"
Sharon's cheeks immediately went pink as she watched Andy stutter, "I-yea, I mean, I don't think I-" Sharon rested a hand on Rusty's shoulder, "It is friday again, Rusty. Lieutenant Flynn is a busy guy." Rusty looked between Sharon and Andy and shook his head disapprovingly. "You two are ridiculous," he muttered, stomping off to get his backpack, leaving Sharon and Andy staring at each other in the now emptied gym.
Sharon studied his face for a moment and felt a twinge of sadness, wondering if he really did have plans elsewhere. "I'm sorry he keeps doing that, lieutenant." Andy shook his head, "it isn't a problem. I just don't want to force myself on you...I mean-well. I don't want to come without an invitation from you, Sharon."
She liked the sound of her name on his lips. She wasn't sure she'd ever heard him say her first name before. "Well, then..." she said quietly, nervously, "I would like it very much if Rusty and I could cash in on the raincheck. Please come over for some celebratory pizza." Sharon smiled at him, her hands on her hips. It was still difficult for Andy to reconcile this softer side of Sharon with the stubborn woman he knew at work, especially when she was still in a business suit. "I think, captain, that's an offer I will not refuse," he finally smiled.
Later that night Sharon and Andy sat at the dining room table, talking longer after Rusty retired to his room. A few glasses of wine in, she felt more relaxed around him than she had around anyone in a long time. The hours flew by as they talked about everything from Provenza's bad habits to Syke's excitability to how she herself managed to traipse around the office and crime scenes in three-inch pointed stilettos. "I don't know...they make me feel...powerful. Sexy." Sharon let out a quiet laugh as the word sexy rolled off her tongue. It seemed almost foreign, a word she hadn't said aloud in ages. She knew what they were doing was a bad idea, but for the first time in a long time she found someone in Andy she was willing to break the rules for.
Andy looked her up and down as she sat next to him, slightly tipsy, her jeans hugging her thighs. "You know, Sharon...you are sexy," he said almost under his breath, afraid of insulting her. Sharon grinned and looked down at her lap, watching her own delicate hands play with the stem of her wine glass. "I don't know what we are doing, Andy..." she sighed, overtaken by the worry she felt about getting involved with a co-worker. "I want this... whatever it is..but I don't know how to manage it at work, and that bothers me."
Andy looked at her for a long while, studying the lines around her eyes as he searched for the right answer. "You're wise, Sharon..and one of the smartest people I've ever met.. but maybe, just maybe, this one time, you aren't meant to have all the answers." Sharon nodded in agreement but her face was still riddled with worry. Andy sighed, wishing he could find the words to make her feel relieved, make her feel as ready as he was. "Look.." he said quietly, setting her wine glass down and taking her hands in his, "We will figure this out. Together."
Something about the word together struck Sharon. Maybe it was his tone, maybe it was the word itself. Together. She couldn't remember the last time she'd experienced anything personal with another person. It scared her, but it awoke something in her. "Together.." she said quietly, "I think I like that."