Hi everyone! If you're enjoying your holidays, I would suggest reading this later, it's a little sad. So sorry I haven't updated in a while and I hope this kind of makes sense to everyone. Sharon acts extremely out of character, but it only adds to the building plan of who she has become. I thought it would show a nice comparison to how far she's come and how hard she had worked for it. (Also, I'm only 14 so I can't say how Sharon feels the next morning is accurate.)
My editor ran off to South Carolina, so all mistakes are mine.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!
Andy watched as Sharon's figure grew was she came closer. He noticed the sweat that trailed streaks down her skin and made her hair cling. As Sharon approached her car, and Andy, she just rolled her eyes.
"Detective," Sharon politely breathed, unconscious of her attire and appearance.
"Sharon," Andy said with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Sharon asked bluntly.
"Being your guardian angel, Beautiful."
"I don't need one. Excuse me, Detective," Sharon bent to pick up her shoes and keys. When she stood, she realized her attire. Sharon's already healthy pink cheeks turned rose red as she put her sneakers on.
"Did you run the four miles?" Andy asked trying to strike up a conversation.
"I did. Detective, if there's nothing else, would you mind letting me be?" Sharon said with as much politeness as she could muster. Andy was really starting to get on her nerves, but she had to admit, he was pretty cute. Hot, almost. The absolute last thing she wanted was him filing a complaint about her attitude and having to sit through one of the seminars she's heard about.
"I do want something. Dinner."
"No."
"I'll pick you up in an hour and a half. What's your address?"
"Detective, I-"
"Never mind. I'll look it up. I'll see you in a little bit."
Sharon stood flabbergasted. Was she just forced into a dinner? Sharon shook her head and climbed into her car. Sighing, Sharon headed home.
…
Sharon walked into her apartment and listened. Everything was silent and peaceful. Daddy's pretty penny had put her boyfriend halfway through law school, and her through the academy. When she found out Jack wasn't going to put her through law school, she told Daddy and he got her a nice apartment in her city of choice. Her excuse, Jack just wasn't the one and Daddy shouldn't waste the money on such a worthless man. Her mother had called her a spoiled brat, and Sharon had to agree. She had fought long and hard, trying to get Daddy to give Jack the money to start his career. Sharon wondered if Jack's little skimp paid for the rest of his needs.
Sharon walked towards the fridge and pulled out a cold bottle of water. Sighing, she thirstily downed the cool liquid. Jack may have ruined her relationship with her mother, but nothing would stop Daddy from protecting his little girl. He was livid when she said she wanted to become a police officer, but he supported her anyways. His way of protecting her in Los Angeles was buying her this apartment. High-end, plenty of security on the building equipped with its own guards, and close to work.
Sharon finished the bottle and headed to her bathroom for a shower. After, she placed a small amount of make up on and did up her hair. She checked the clock, she had twenty minutes to dress.
…
"You have a nice apartment," Andy stuttered looking at all the clean furniture and organized books.
"Thank you. Are those for me?" Sharon asked looking at the colorful flowers Andy held.
"Um. Yeah," Andy smiled sheepishly and handed over the flowers. "For you."
Sharon took the flowers with a hidden smirk and mumbled her thanks as she went to put them in water.
From the kitchen, she called out, "Where are you taking me?"
"Tao mentioned a good Italian place not far from here. I was thinking we could try that?"
"Oh really! Sounds perfect," Sharon returned to Andy and grabbed her purse.
"Ready?" Sharon asked.
"Ready," Andy said with a smile as Sharon followed him out locking up behind herself.
…
Sharon had time earlier to think about the dinner and she honestly saw no harm in just one dinner. Although she knew leading Andy on would most likely blow up in her face, she really wanted someone to replace Jack. And how bad could just one date be?
Andy stopped the car in front of a quaint little restaurant, two blocks from her apartment.
"We could've walked," Sharon commented as Andy opened her door and helped her step out.
"And let other people besides myself stare at you? I think not," Andy scuffed, sliding an arm to the small of her back and gently resting it there. "By the way, you look beautiful." Andy's eyes danced over the tight sleeveless dress, and low cut neckline.
Sharon bowed her head and mumbled, "Thank you."
Andy gave his name to the waiter and the two were seated at a small window table. Andy mentioned his Italian ties and Sharon entrusted him with ordering the food. They talked, and laughed, and enjoyed the time. They were the last two people in the restaurant, and the waiter was politely trying to get rid of them. The two left a couple minutes after that, a string of giggles following them. Sharon thought she might've had a drink too many, but Andy seemed perfectly sober. She didn't remember him having any alcohol. She made a mental note to ask him about that later. She stumbled slightly in her heels, gripping Andy's arm to steady herself.
"Take me home," Sharon breathed throatily with a smile and giggle.
Andy smirked and said, "Alright, Beautiful."
…
Andy walked a stumbling Sharon back to her apartment and waited for her to unlock the door. She stepped in and walked halfway down the hall before realizing that Andy wasn't behind her. Sharon strutted back towards Andy, her hair loose and framing her gorgeous features.
"Coming?" Sharon asked.
"I- No, not today," Andy said with a gulp and shaky smile. It took all his will not to run and sweep her into his arms and never let go. "Not today," Andy repeated. Sharon shrugged and turned her back to Andy.
Calling over her shoulder, Sharon said, "Suit yourself."
Andy closed the door and leaned against it, breathing deeply. That, Andy thought, was a great night.
…
Sharon walked into the kitchen and pulled down a wine glass. Quickly, Sharon uncorked her favorite wine and poured some into the glass. Staring between the glass and bottle, Sharon made a cheer to herself.
"To our first lost," Sharon said taking a swig from the bottle and leaving the wine glass to be. Nobody returned the cheer, and that just made Sharon take a bigger and longer gulp. The alcohol didn't burn her throat, she's done this far too many times.
…
Sharon woke the next morning with an empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand and a massive headache. She lay sleepily on her couch, an uncomfortable lump in her back. Slowly she sat up. Fighting the headache, Sharon stood with the empty bottle and headed to the kitchen. Her feet ached from sleeping in heels, her back was knotted, and her eyes- she knew- were most likely bloodshot.
She fumbled to toss out the bottle and kick off her heels. Sharon reached for a glass, but the remnants of the wine made her hand shaky and the glass hit the tile. Glass shards bounced and slid. Thankfully, none of them hit Sharon. She reached for another glass, this time with both hands and carefully filled it with water. Sharon gulped the water faster than she did the wine bottle. The glass was refilled three mores times before Sharon's throat was moist again. Sharon put the glass into the dishwasher and ignored the broken one. She'd pick that up later.
Sharon glanced at the clock.
"Shit!" She muttered, jumping the shards on her toes. She was three hours late for work. She didn't have time to shower. The smell of white wine would linger on her skin, but she didn't care. Not today. Sharon brushed through her hair and touched up her makeup. She tried to hide the blueish purple bags under her eyes but it was no use. Her pale skin, auburn hair, headache, and dry throat made her just want to stay home. Maybe this job was too much for her. Maybe she should just run to Daddy and tell him how bad the world is. But all she'd get is a, "That's life, kid," or, "Suck it up, Honey. You choose this." She had but Sharon never thought it would be this bad.
Cadaver #3
"Are you diabetic?" Pope asked the young man who was going to be the next test for the rookies.
"No," The man responded with a shaky smile. "How- how will this protect me? I mean I'll still go to jail, but why should I agree to this?"
Pope shrugged, "Instead of going to jail today, you'll go tomorrow. Your last day of freedom."
Mr. Blonde hair- blue eyes nodded.
"Alright, so you just need to pretend you've overdosed on something. The team will come in a poke around at you and talk to each other. But you, you need to stay silent and still. You can blink, breath, and itch, but that's it. Don't talk to them, don't touch them, don't help them. Got it?" Pope asked staring in the depths of the man's blue eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed with his gulp but the man nodded. "Good. Now go set up," Pope barked at the man who scrambled from his seat and was lead away by the uniformed officers. Pope glanced out the glass walls at his team. Sharon still wasn't there. With a sigh, Pope sat down and started on his never ending pile of paperwork.
…
Sharon took a deep breath and stepped from the elevator. She righted her sunglasses, and finished her coffee, tossing it to the nearest trash. Sharon rounded the corner into the division's lair and walked quickly to her desk. Her was head bowed, and her arms were crossed tightly around the folders.
Provenza looked up from his crossword and watch with scrutiny as Sharon placed her stuff down. She left the sunglasses on.
"Detective, you're inside. Why don't you take the sunglasses off?" Provenza said gruffly, turning his attention back to the clue for four down.
"I think I'll keep them on," Sharon said hoarsely. Her dry throat scratching her words. She looked around her desk then headed to the break room to grab a water. Provenza's head shot up at her defiance and he watched as she scrambled down the hall.
"She arrives four hours late, offers no reason, and sounds like she swallowed an ocean!" Provenza scuffed, ignoring the puzzle altogether.
"She must have a reasonable explanation or a personal problem she might not want to share with us," Tao suggested. Andy listened to the two men before setting down his Sports Illustrated and heading to the break room.
"Sharon?" Flynn asked tentatively as he stepped into the room. Sharon stood downing a bottle of water. She held up her finger to signal for one minute. When the water bottle was empty, she tossed it and reached for another. "Sharon, what's wrong?"
"We went on one date, Andy. You don't need to pretend to worry about me."
"Sharon, if someone hurt you, you should file a complaint. Put them behind bars."
"Can't put myself back there, can I?"
Andy stepped forward, Sharon stepped back.
"Sharon-"
"Detective-" Sharon started.
Oh, so, they're back to formalities, Flynn thought.
"Don't pretend to care. Don't pretend," Sharon muttered, not meeting his gaze.
"Sharon, why the glasses?" Andy stepped forwards and pulled off the sunglasses.
"That's why," Sharon croaked to Andy's shocked face once he saw her puffy, bloodshot eyes. She tore her sunglasses from Andy's hands and slipped them back over her eyes. Sharon downed the second bottle of water and pulled what looked like a Motrin from her pocket. She swallowed that and reached for a third bottle.
"I left your apartment, and you got drunk. Is that why you asked me to stay? So I could drink too?! I'm a recovering alcoholic! I've been in AA for three years and haven't touched a drink in two!" Andy shouted at her, his arms flailing above his head is harsh gestures.
"Detective!" Sharon shouted over Andy's outburst. "What I do or don't do on my time is none of your business."
"That doesn't answer my question," Andy commented between clenched teeth. His patience was running dangerously low.
"No. I was hoping, Detective, you would keep me from drinking. I didn't know about you being in alcoholics anonymous. I'm- I'm sorry, Detective, I just need time mostly. To get my act together and figure out how to deal with loosing vic- people," Sharon mumbled, the third water bottle being tossed into the trash. The fridge opened and a fourth was removed from the door. Andy sighed and ran his hand down his face.
"Alright. Just, alright. Just- just know I'm here, okay, that's all I want you to know," Andy said, turning on his heels and walking from the break room. Sharon downed the fourth bottle, satisfying her throat, but starting to upset her stomach. With a shaky sigh, Sharon blinked back the tears that would just add to the redness and puffy eyes. When Sharon tilted her head back down, Chief Pope stood at the doorway.
"Sharon," Pope said, walking towards the coffee machine.
"Chief," Sharon said with a nod, finishing her fourth and final bottle of water.
"Are those new sunglasses, Detective?"
"Yes," Sharon snapped, side-stepping the Chief and heading towards the door.
"Detective, care to explain why you were four hours late this morning?"
"Personal problems that will be resolved," Sharon said defensively. She turned her back to the Chief and started walking.
"So, after a hard case, you get so drunk you miss work. Will there be a problem, Detective?" Pope asked with a raised eyebrow. Sharon stopped but didn't turn back.
"After a-" Sharon had to stop her sentence. After a hard case, that you fucked up, yeah I drink a little. Maybe I drank too much last night, but at least I'm not the one with skeletons in the closet. "After a hard case do indulge in some alcoholic beverages, I may have had too much last night, and I do take fault for that. It won't happen again," Sharon croaked over her shoulder.
"Detective, take off the sunglasses."
"Chief-"
"You made a choice to get drunk last night, deal with it."
"Chief-" Sharon gritted through her teeth. "You made a choice and that young, divorced woman died. How do you deal with skeletons?" Sharon left the Chief stunned. She walked calmly back to her desk.
Sharon didn't even have time to sit. Pope had stalked into the room and announced the third case. Dead man, early twenty, blonde hair, and blue eyed. The team had shuffled into the elevator, Pope joining them. Provenza stood in front of Sharon, staring down in her sunglasses. Sharon and worn flats today, making everyone a head or two taller than her. Heels would've been too wobbly for her and just would've confirmed her drunken state. Sharon held her chin high and stared right back through the tinted shades into the smart-ass's eyes. Provenza must've liked her faith, and how she stared him down equally, because he backed down with a nod.
…
"It's an overdose on cocaine," Sharon said not even walking into the room. She sniffed the air audibly and shook her head. "Overdose on meth, actually."
"And how do you know?" Provenza snarked, "Why should we trust a drunk?"
The skin on skin slap startled everyone.
"Detective! My roommate overdosed on meth and I woke up to the smell of her rotting corpse the next morning. I know a little about drugs and their smells," Sharon spat, turning on her heels and walking from the room.
Pope's eyebrows raised, "She got it."
…
"Sharon," Pope said walking into the room. "My office please."
Sharon gulped, and complied.
"I really should send you on your way. A week or two leave without pay. You're hungover, you talked back to a superior officer, and slapped a peer. If you were any other person, that's exactly what I would do," Pope reprimanded. With a sigh, her continued, "But, your no any other person. You're a damn good detective, Sharon. Clean up your act and become the best. I have a feeling you could get far in life, in this police department, if you just clean up your act. For everyone."
Sharon was stunned. The leniency shown by Chief William Pope was extroadainary.
"Thank you, Sir. I promise-" Sharon stopped and took a breath, her throat scratching her words to unintelligible mumbles. "I promise it won't happen again."
Pope nodded and sighed, "Good. Now, go home and sober up."
Sharon let out a grateful sigh and mumbled her thank you before leaving the Chief's office. Provenza and Tao eyed her curiously as she packed up her things and headed for the elevator.
"Where are you going? Did the Chief give you leave without pay?" Provenza asked with a small 'I told you so' smirk on his face.
"No, Detective. He sent me home for the day so I could get better. I'll be back tomorrow morning. And I'll be on time."
The smirk fell from Provenza's face as Sharon walked freely from the lair.
"So, she gets drunk. I drive for hours listening to opera music-" Provenza said being interrupted by Tao's and Flynn's muffled chuckles. "What do you guys do?"
"I go home to my girlfriend and just hold her," Tao said with a slight blush and a small smile.
"I took her to dinner," Flynn announced.
"You did what?!" Provenza screeched, not sure if he had heard the Latino man properly.
"I took Sharon to dinner last night, and she invited me back to her house. But I just drove her home and walked her to her apartment. When I left her, she seemed okay. She had a drink too many at the restaurant. I didn't expect her to drink a bottle when I left her," Andy said hurriedly.
"Enough! Enough. Detective, you should know better than to fraternize with colleagues-"
"It was one dinner!" Flynn said defensively.
"This isn't working well. This isn't working well at all." Provenza muttered.
Pope watched the argument from his office, the glass walls offering only a little privacy between him and his division, but he had to agree with Provenza.
This isn't working well at all.
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