Note: I am still filling in moments in the backstory of their lives. This is around 2005, so just as Priority Homicide is coming about. Since this is still kind the memories in the letter I have the letter wrapped into the end...

Into Something More

Chapter 4

'You did always have a knack for showing up at the most random times in my life. I mean department bar-b-ques were one thing, then there were a few crime scenes, and of course an investigation or two- those you did not always take kindly to. However, there was one evening that you surprisingly were able to help me, not only with that other guy, but also with reminding me that not everyone at the station was out to get me all of the time...'

He was leaving the office a little later than he had hoped that evening, but with any luck he would still be able to grab a bit to eat before his meeting. While it was not necessarily a milestone meeting, today did mark eight years since he had started his recovery process and about six and half years of sobriety. The eight was still special because it marked a change. It marked the turn in his life where he had to make the decision to acknowledge his addiction and then to take responsibility for himself.

As he walked down the two flights of stairs to his car at the bottom level of the garage he was pulled out of his thoughts by elevated voices midway down the level. Not wanting to pry, but also being on alert, he changed his path in the direction of the argument to further gauge the situation. Drawing closer he could see the voices belonged to a woman and an obviously intoxicated man. The woman did appear to be handling the confrontation on her own, but the man was not allowing her to easily leave the immediate vicinity. Andy could sense the situation was about to escalate out of control, even if the woman was trying her hardest to maintain a level of civility in a very uncivil situation, so he made the decision to intervene.

Andy took two more deliberate paces in their direction and cleared his throat, "Anything I help with here?"

The woman began to turn in his direction just as the man attempted to hold her attention by grabbing her wrist. "No problem here," slurred the man as his follow through caught the woman's briefcase and shifted her balance just enough to cause her to stumble into the parked car behind her. Her bag slipped off of her shoulder and a few files fluttered to the ground before she was able to regain control of her positioning.

Picking up his pace Andy reached out to steady the woman. As he reached out to her she turned and met his eyes in an expression that could most easily be described as mixed surprise and embarrassment. Finally seeing the woman's face Andy exclaimed, "Sha- I mean Captain," he stammered, "Do you need a hand?" Andy stepped around to help her up as well as to position himself between Raydor and the man. Not giving Raydor a chance to answer, Andy focused his attention on the man, "Hey buddy, looks like you've put some back, maybe lets leave the lady alone," he directed through clenched teeth.

"Mind your own business and get away from my wife," the man growled as he unsteadily attempted to grab at his wife once again.

Sharon stepped to the side quickly making eye contact with Andy before directing her attention back to her husband, "Be careful Jack. Just because we are married does not give you a free pass to come in here and to yell at me. You don't want to hit him either," pointing in Andy's direction, "I can't guarantee he won't fight back and husband or not you swung first and that is what would be in the report." A flash of anger crossed the man's eyes as he righted himself and sized up the officer standing between him and his wife. Sharon continued, "Emily is not with me, if you had been around you would know that I dropped her off at school last week. It is not my fault you don't have a permanent enough address or way to be contacted. Maybe you could try to call her, after you've sobered up."

Jack rolled his eyes, "She won't answer the phone, you know that. You poisoned her against me and she hates me."

"Maybe so Jack, but once again, not my problem. And I am not going to even begin to discuss with you who has or has not poisoned that relationship. You're the one responsible for all of that. I may still be your wife, but I absolved myself of your behavior years ago, you are the one responsible for your drinking. I mean it may have only been a legal separation out of necessity then, but if you need we can still make it more permanent if we have to." Sharon bit out threateningly.

Andy stood forgotten just to the side feeling a little uncomfortable at this personal glimpse into Raydor's world. He shuffled his feet as Raydor sighed heavily, remembering his presence and turned to face him, "Flynn, this is my husband. I have the situation under control, thank you for stopping." She forced a smile before turning back to her husband.

"Ah, Captain, I think I'll just stay a moment, help you get him loaded into a cab?" Andy stammered in reply.

Attempting to maintain some level of decorum Sharon continued to stare at him with a strained smile and nodded. Turning her attention back to Jack she raised her hand to point to the exit, "Jack it's time to go."

Jack, apparently exhausted from their altercation, half heartedly glanced back at Flynn and then to his wife, "Yeah, yeah, the cab." He turned and allowed the two officers to follow him to the stairwell and up to the street.

After slamming the backdoor of the taxi cab Flynn and Raydor stood in uncomfortable silence watching as the car drove away and turned the corner. Flynn glanced over to the woman. Sharon had taken the moment of silence to steel her gaze, hiding any remaining emotion she may or may not have been feeling about the situation. Feeling his eyes on her she clasped her hands in front of her and turned slightly toward Flynn, "Thank you for your help Lieutenant, but I think I can take it from here."

Letting out a slightly awkward chuckle Flynn affirmed, "Oh I am sure you can, Captain. But we are both heading back to the garage, so I'll just walk with you I guess."

Sharon rolled her eyes and started walking toward the stairwell, "I have been taking care of myself for a very long time. Thank you for your concern, but I can handle Jack. No need to be nice to me just because of what you saw."

Smiling mischievously at the woman, "I am not being nice, it is just convenient."

The two continued to walk in silence together down the stairs to their vehicles. As they walked Sharon turned her thoughts to how to ask Flynn to not bring any of this up at the office. She was already the topic of enough unpleasant conversations without adding another incident to the mix. She knew the stories and heard the names, and while she had thick skin, occasionally it was still painful to know how much everyone hated the Queen of the Rat Squad. She had hoped this latest Jack encounter could be kept private so as not to add fuel to their fire.

She sighed as she reached her car with Flynn a step behind her. Just as she was about to ask him to keep the incident between them she heard him take in a breath, "So, Captain, am I allowed to ask?"

Sharon took another step forward before turning to face him. "Well, I guess you can." She let out another contemplative sigh and leaned against the trunk of her car, "That was Jack."

Smirking, "Well I gathered that much." Then pointing to himself, "Top rate Detective here."

Despite herself she let out a faint chuckle, "Oh yes, one of the elite ones I hear." Then dropping her glance she stared at her clasped hands, "Um, well yes that was Jack. I did not know he was in town, but apparently he was just a little upset about the fact that his daughter is all of the sudden all grown up and he had no idea it had happened." She rolled her eyes, "I guess that happens when you forget about your family for the greater part of the last decade and a half or so and then randomly remember them when it suits you."

Andy stood there listening, not wanting to interrupt her chance to vent. He shuffled his feet and then made the decision to lean against the other end of the trunk. "Well, Captain, for what it's worth, there's nothing you can do for him. He has to make the decisions on his own to repair the relationships. You can't force him to stay in touch or to be engaged." Taking another sigh Andy continued, "Or to do anything really. Soon I'm sure he will realize what he has done to his life and to you and your children." When she only responded with a shrug of her shoulders he changed the subject, "Speaking of children, you said your daughter was headed to off to college?"

Sharon brightened noticeably at the mention of her daughter, "Oh yes, I just got back actually. We dropped Emily off in New York last week. She got into Tisch at NYU and is going to be studying ballet. She has always dreamed of being a ballerina, and it is actually happening." Sighing, "I am so proud of her."

"As you should be, that's wonderful." Happy to see he had distracted her just a bit Andy continued, "And, um," wracking his brain, "Your son-"

"Ricky," Sharon offered.

"Yes, Ricky, how is he?"

Sharon smiled once again in slight disbelief that they were standing there having this conversation, but welcoming the opportunity to speak to someone about her children. "Well, Ricky is great. We are heading into his junior year, so just beginning to look at schools. He does not think he wants to play baseball in college, so we are looking around at different options and figuring out what he wants to study."

Returning her smile, "Well that's good that's good. Charlie is the same, not sure what he wants to do. Nicole just finished her first year at UCLA, so maybe he will stay local too. Not sure though."

The stairwell door opened and interrupted their conversation. Moving off the trunk and gathering herself Sharon turned slightly, "Thanks Flynn. I'm sorry you were dragged into that mess, but thanks for being there. And um, could you-"

Mirroring her he stood as well, "No problem Captain. And don't worry, I won't tell the guys anything. Wouldn't want to give them any ideas about the witch having a life outside the office or something." He smiled at his joke as she rolled her eyes and headed to the driver side door.

"Oh thanks Lieutenant, because that is what is the most important thing," she countered sarcastically. Reaching for her door she turned again, "See you around Flynn."

Andy glanced down at his watch, only an hour had passed, but it was fitting that once again he spent this day with Raydor. Eight years ago she had pushed him to acknowledge his own mistakes and to make a change. Today, he was in a significantly different place and it was thanks, in part, to her. Laughing to himself he contemplated how much of his life right now was because the ice queen had given him a chance. He may not be her friend, but he was very thankful for her all the same. He shook his head as he reached his car and set the car in the direction of the church.

'...While we were obviously not friends it was still helpful that night to have someone there to help me with him. I would never have admitted it at the time, but I also enjoyed having a moment to decompress after the emotional argument he and I had been having. I am sure it would have been fine had you not stepped in, but looking back it was yet another time fate had pushed our lives together and set the foundation for what was to come.'