Sharon POV

It only took forty-five minutes for Julio and Amy to return with Jack. I guess he's still, for today at least, working at the office down the street.

During that short amount of time, we made great progress. Andy was certainly right about getting the squad involved. As much as I hate dragging my personal life into work, we're a family, and we all look out for each other, and I can't exclude myself from that just because I'm the boss. It's a matter of trust, and judging from their reactions when I brought them up to speed, it seems as though I just reiterated my trust in all of them by including them.

Within a minute of the conclusion of my briefing, they were all hard at work.

Amy and Julio were out the door, set on bringing Jack to me, one way or another.

Buzz had security footage sent over, and learned that - of course - I'm nowhere to be seen in the sheriff's office during the time of my supposed booking.

Mike traced the email to an internet café on La Brea Avenue. Further checking showed that the L.A. County Sheriff's database was accessed from the same computer. The bad news is that the café's security cameras are just for show, but Mike headed over there with a photo of Jack to see if an employee could place him in the establishment.

Andy and Provenza went to get a statement from the arresting officer, taking along a picture of me to use for verification. They aren't back yet, but I received a text from Andy a few minutes ago that said mission accomplished.

Then I received a second one that said I love you.

I'm not used to hearing that yet, especially in the middle of the work day, but I think he knows that this whole mess has me slightly off my game, and he's trying to offer subtle support. I'd forgotten how nice it can be to have someone always in my corner, no matter how crazy I get.

And just because I'm not accustomed to hearing the words yet doesn't mean I don't like it. In fact, I like it quite a bit. So that, along with seeing how quickly and efficiently my team has disproved the arrest report, has put me in an especially exuberant mood. I'm going to eviscerate Jack in regards to the false report and then I'll have him sign the divorce papers on his way out the door.

And as angry as he looks at me at the moment, I can't imagine why on earth he'd want to stay married to me anyway.

"Hello, Jack," I said pleasantly, a broad smile firmly in place.

"Sharon, what do you think you're doing, dragging me down here with the threat of arrest? I was with a client, and these two came charging into my office like storm troopers, insisting I come here…"

"What, no hello?" I taunted with contrived sweetness, effectively interrupting his tirade, and then I tipped my head to Julio, indicating for him to take him away.

Jack gave up his rant for the time being, and merely gave me a scathing look before allowing himself to be led down the hall.

I was almost disappointed to see him not in handcuffs, but I suppose it's probably a good thing that I didn't have to go through with an arrest.

I don't want to ruin his life, really I don't. I don't want my children to have a felon for a father. I just want to make him miserable for a little while, as payback, and then be rid of him as a spouse.

I took my time going to the conference room where Julio and Jack are waiting. I chose that room, rather than an interview room, to cut down on the potential for an audience, and yet it also seems more imposing than my office, I think. More serious. Because I want him to take this very seriously. As much as I'd rather not follow through on charges against him, I will if I have to.

Pausing for a moment outside the room, I watched him through the window. How did we get here, I wondered. Does he really resent me so much that he'd resort to doing something like this? It seems petty, even for him. Although last night he punched Andy in the face because of a flippant remark, so maybe Jack's more petty than I realized.

Steeling myself in preparation for battle, I took a deep breath and smoothed out my dress and then tapped on the window. Julio immediately got up and met me out in the hall.

"Give me a minute, and then come in," I told him. I'm not about to record this interview, so a witness is probably a good idea, just in case Jack wants to be even more paltry and try to say I violated his rights somehow. And considering Julio already witnessed one confrontation between the two of us today, and knowing how well he can keep a secret, I think he's a good choice.

Of course, that still doesn't mean I want Jack attempting to air any dirty laundry, which is why I'm going in alone at first.

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a nod, and then as I opened the door, he added under his breath, "Go get him."

I flashed him a smile and then closed the door behind me.

"What the hell is this, Sharon?" Jack asked angrily as he got his feet.

"Sit down," I said sharply, pointing at him as I crossed the room, almost daring him to defy me. He held my gaze for a long moment, but then he sat. He knows he's on my turf now.

"What, you want to read me my rights or something?" he grumbled.

I walked over to the table and set my palms on it, leaning towards him as I warned, "Not yet. But let me start by saying this: if you say one word about Lieutenant Flynn - if you hint, or suggest, or even think about tossing out one of your crude theories about the two of us, I will have you thrown in lock-up so fast your head will spin, are we clear?"

"A little defensive about your boyfriend?" he asked with a sneer, and for a moment, I lost my temper.

"Damn it, Jack, I'm not playing around! Don't force my hand. I will arrest you, and don't think for one second that I'll take pity on you and bail you out, do you understand me? I'm long past the point of patience or sympathy for you, because you've proven time and time again that you aren't worthy of either!"

I half-expected him to push the issue, but instead, he held out his hands in supplication and leaned back with a sigh.

"Fine. Just tell me why I'm here."

I turned and waved for Julio to join us and then the two of us sat down across from Jack.

"I want a written apology," I stated. "And the childish games have to stop."

"I thought we weren't talking about Flynn," he responded.

I took in a slow, even breath and clenched my jaw as I said, "We aren't. We're talking about you and me, and for the very last time, I don't want to hear my lieutenant's name come out of your mouth, or so help me..."

"Jeez, Sharon, relax. You're the one who brought it up. Look, I took a swing at the guy. Big deal. You don't have to turn it into a capital crime. It's not like I'm the first person to be so annoyed by Fly…uh…him that the only recourse is violence. But if he wants an apology…yeah, sure. It's kind of juvenile, but whatever."

Peripherally I could see Julio shift in his seat, clearly surprised by the news that Jack is the one who hit Andy - which means he didn't hear that part in the garage - but he's too professional to comment on it, and that news by itself certainly isn't incriminating, so I powered ahead.

"We'll come back to that. Later. What we're discussing now is the fabricated information you decided to send to Chief Taylor."

Jack started at me, completely nonplussed, for a solid minute.

"Come again?" he asked at last.

"The report you emailed to Taylor!" Julio shouted suddenly, startling Jack enough to catch his attention. "So don't sit there and pretend it wasn't you!"

His interrogation method often throws suspects on their heels, and Jack doesn't appear to be any different, so then I swooped in with the soothing voice of reason.

"Jack, I know you're angry about the divorce papers. You have every right to be, since you seem to feel that I blindsided you with them, even though it has been more than two decades, so why you're surprised I have no idea, but regardless of our personal situation, bringing our fight into my workplace is so far out of line..."

"Hang on, Sharon," he interrupted, just as I was getting into full swing. "I sent something to Taylor? You mean, about you and - "

"Ah, ah," I said sharply as quickly raised my head to stop him from what he was about to say. And to his credit, he stopped.

But it really drives me crazy that Jack has no legitimate reason to suspect me and Andy of anything at all, other than the knowledge that I requested the divorce in the first place, but somehow in Jack's mind, that means I must be interested in someone else, which he determined must be Andy.

It's frustrating that his shot in the dark has so perfectly hit its mark.

"I emailed Taylor about your personal life?" he amended carefully, and he looks truly confused.

"Have you been on La Brea Avenue recently?" I asked, switching tacks to move the questioning along.

"Where? No, I don't even know where that is."

For the first time since Taylor dropped this bomb on me, it's occurring to me that maybe it's not Jack.

But how is that possible, I pondered as I analyzed Jack, searching for a trace of guilt while he stared back at me with incredulity.

Julio and I shared a look, and then I got up as I said, "Will you excuse me for just a minute please, Jack?"

"Sure," he said with a wave. "This is your world, Sharon. I'm just living in it."

"Yeah, well, we'll come back to that, too," I said over my shoulder as I headed for the door. Julio stayed seated, simply staring at Jack in that unnerving way of his, so I slipped out into the hall and just took a moment to absorb the latest information.

"You're thinking what I'm thinking."

The remark caused me to look up in both pleasure and surprise to see Andy approaching me.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?" I asked, my mood already better just at the sight of him.

He came to a stop right in front of me, almost too close for professional, and yet neither of us moved away.

"It's not him," he said in a soft voice.

And it is what I was thinking but at the same time, the statement has me uncomfortable, both that he can read my mind and for the meaning of the words themselves.

"How do you know that's what I'm thinking?"

"Your expression. You're irritated. As much as you didn't want to believe that Jack would do something like this to you, it also never entered your mind that it could be anyone else, but something he said has you re-evaluating."

I decided to ignore the he knows me too well part for now and focus on the work aspect.

"So you think someone else is doing this to me," I stated.

"So do you," he pushed lightly. "He's using your fingerprints. That's what I couldn't wrap my head around. I mean, come on, Sharon. That means that in addition to hacking the sheriff's database, he's also been in your personnel file. Is Jack really that computer savvy?"

"No," I admitted, pulling out my cell phone. It buzzed earlier while I was talking to Jack, and as I suspected, it's a text from Mike. "And Lt. Tao says no one in the café recognized Jack's photo. Andy…"

I trailed off as I considered other possibilities, and then I sighed heavily as I said, "So that means I had him hauled into a police station for no reason."

"Yeah, but it's not like he's innocent," he reminded me, pointing at his face. "Don't feel bad about this. If he weren't such a dirt bag, you wouldn't have suspected him in the first place."

He has a point.

"Okay, you're right," I said with a nod.

"Hey, don't sound so surprised," he replied, smiling broadly.

"There are a lot of things about you that have surprised me, but you being smart isn't one of them," I said, deciding to linger for a moment before going back to give Jack the news.

"Are you saying I'm not smart?" he joked, and I chuckled for a moment before he dropped his voice to a whisper and asked, "So what about me has surprised you?"

"Now is not the time, Lieutenant," I said although even as I said the words, I couldn't keep the smile from my face, nor could I stop my mind from wandering over some examples.

His soft side was definitely unexpected. The way he genuinely cares what I think and how I feel. His insecurity, which is in direction contradiction to his cute, cocky attitude. His willingness to express his emotions.

"You're making a mental list, aren't you?" he asked, leaning in just a little bit closer so that now I'm sure we're pushing that professional line, but we're still alone in the hallway, and I can't help but like the way his nearness makes me feel, so I stay where I am.

"I'd say being able to read my mind is right up there."

"Yeah, but can you read mine," he teased, winking at me before easing slightly away to a once again more respectable distance, and in spite of him increasing the space between us, his remark and the way he looked at me sent an unexpected heat through me that had my pulse racing.

"Doesn't take a psychic," I replied playfully. "But since we're at work, Lieutenant, I think we need to focus on the issue at hand."

"Absolutely, Captain," he agreed, still smiling.

We stared at each other for a few seconds longer while I marveled at the idea that I'm so in love with this man that I allow our conversations to wander into personal territory at potentially inappropriate moments.

That I can shift from case to casual, from stressed to lighthearted, so easily while still in the office.

That I think about sex in the middle of the day.

"But we'll revisit this topic again," I promised, taking a deep breath as I changed gears. "For now, I suppose I have to apologize to Jack for bringing him in, and then I'll get him to sign on the dotted line. After that, it looks like the investigation is back to square one."

"Uh huh. At least we've cleared you with Taylor, but we still have to figure out who else would want to take a run at you," he said. "And why. You know, if this is payback for something you did while you were with FID…"

"I know. The suspect list could be very long."

"Well, if we're going by whose balls you busted, I could be at the top of that list," he said, once again gracing me with his playful smile.

I glanced quickly in both directions before running my hand along the length of his tie.

"I'll be sure to thoroughly interrogate you tonight. But for now…"

I stepped away from him, moving back towards the conference room door, and Andy shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. Don't apologize though. He doesn't have one coming."

I took a moment to look over his face with its smattering of purples and blues and I decided that he's exactly right.

Maybe Jack didn't send Taylor the DUI report, but he sure as hell isn't innocent, either.

"Thank you, Detective," I said as I opened the conference room door. "Jack, can you come with me to my office please?"

A smartass reply was on the tip of his tongue, I can tell, but he kept it to himself. Instead, he shrugged and got up from the chair. I didn't wait for him, trusting that he'll join me, so I moved down the hall to my office and went inside, going around to sit at my desk and then pulling out the file that contains a set of our divorce papers.

I had an extra set sent to him at his office yesterday, in case he wanted to sign without having to do another face-to-face, but I should've known better. Jack's all about face time because he thinks I have a weakness for him.

And I did, for a long time, but not anymore.

"So what was that song and dance all about?" he said after closing the door and sitting down heavily in the chair opposite me.

"Apparently, a matter that doesn't pertain to you. However this," I said as I spread out the papers in front of him. "does pertain to you, and I have a busy afternoon ahead of me, so if you'll just sign where indicated, we can put this matter to bed."

"This matter, as you call it, happens to be our marriage. How can you be so cold? Oh, that's right. Because you've always been cold. I should warn Flynn about that streak of ice running through you because once the lust wears off, he'll probably get frostbite."

"You're acting awfully arrogant for someone skirting an assault charge," I retorted, ignoring the sting from his remark. It's certainly not the first time he's called me frigid, but hearing the words in conjunction with how Andy might feel…it hurts. More than a little.

"Oh come on, you and I both know that's bogus. If you were going to arrest me, you would have done it by now. But you can't risk what I might say on record about you and Flynn."

He smiled smugly as he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Okay," I said casually as I stood and headed for the door. "Fine. Let's do it. I'll arrest you, for a felony I should remind you, and then you can feel free to spout out anything you might want to say about this supposed affair I'm having with my lieutenant. Because if you want to talk about what we both know, it's that you have no proof, and you'll only come off sounding like the spurned ex-husband that you are. And for your trouble, you'll also end up with a criminal record that should be oh so helpful with your career as a lawyer."

I whipped open my office door as Jack called out, "Sharon, wait! Hang on a minute. Sharon!"

Everyone in the squad room turned around, and I know I'm making a spectacle of myself, but I can't make myself care too much because I think maybe I finally got through to him.

"Come back," he said more quietly. "Just…come back. You win. I'll sign."

TBC...