Again thank you all for be so patient, and the only thing I can tell you about this chapter is that something BIG is about to happen! Enjoy :)


It was around noon when Sharon finally came up for air out of the sea of paperwork that was currently consuming her desk. Stretching the muscles in her neck cautiously and blinking her bleary eyes slowly, she finally noticed that her squad room was almost empty. The only two exceptions were Sergeants Elliot and Randall, her normal holdouts who were the ones to normally coax her out of the office for a lunch break.

Sergeant Bradley Randall was the younger of the two, being only twenty-seven, having graduated from USC at the top of his class with a major in criminal justice. It still amazed Sharon sometimes that the Sergeant had chosen the tough life of the LAPD when he could practically choose which law firm he wanted to work at in the greater Los Angeles region.

He looked like the epitome of the shaggy blonde haired, blue-eyed California surfer boy, down to the wide boyish grin, and that was exactly where people went wrong. Sharon liked to think of him as her secret weapon, he lulled the suspects into a false sense of camaraderie and security. Except that in all actuality he was ruthless in his quest for the truth, when investigating the witnesses he would stop it nothing to gather every minute detail.

When Sharon had been promoted and put in charge of this brand new branch of Internal Affairs, better known as Force Investigation Division, she had been allowed to hand pick her own team, from whatever departments or new recruits she saw fit. This fact added animosity to an already precarious position she was in at the LAPD. In fact requesting that Sergeant Trevor Elliot be the last recruit to her new division had been when the gauntlet between herself and Taylor had been thrown down.

Where Randall was slight and athletic, Elliot was tall and muscular, with short black hair and calculating brown eyes. Eliot had joined the academy fresh out of high school and had been recruited in his very first year of service to Robbery/Homicide, with the rank to match. Although he did not have a degree as Randall did, Elliot in fact was comparable if not more talented than his partner.

Elliot at the age of thirty-five had been with the LAPD for almost fifteen years, and had earned the reputation of one of the best detectives in the precinct. He had an eye for crime scenes and collecting evidence, and was more often then not Sharon's first choice to secure the scene. He also had a talent for reading body language, people said he could tell when some one lying even before the lie detector read the results.

With all their talent and combined years on the force, they had gradually earned the respect of their commanding officer, and now were considered her right-hand men. As such they took it upon themselves to make sure she took care of herself, even if it meant dragging her out of her office by force to have lunch with them. That they had respect for Sharon Raydor was an understatement; they not only respected her as a colleague and a human being, but as friend as well.

Along with their many skills came the wicked sense of humor individuals possessed, which was turned loose on Sharon Raydor at every appropriate opportunity. They loved to tease her, within reasonable limits, and enjoyed seeing her laugh and smile, which she did too seldom.

After the division had been working together for a few months and their personalities had finally meshed, Elliot and Randall had made it their mission to make their very aloof and distant captain laugh at least once a day. After all they both believed it was good for the soul, and from what privileged information they had been graciously given, they knew heir captain's soul needed it some days.

Continuing to rub her neck gently, she removed her glasses and carefully set them on top of the pile she had mentally marked as ' sorted' or 'finished.' Turning her chair slightly she could see the two drastically different figures of her men drawing closer to her office door. Stealing herself for the same argument they had everyday, Sharon inhaled through her mouth and exhaled out of her nose.

Her office door suddenly swung open and Randall sauntered in, swiftly seating him self in the chair in front of her desk, flashing her his wide, white smile. Elliot, the subtler of the two, casually leant against the door jam, grinning from ear to ear, the dimple in his cheek prominent.

Looking cautiously back and forth, Sharon voiced her question, "What's up boys?"

"Well," started Elliot, his strong baritone floating through the room, "I know for a fact that you were in your office well before I arrived this morning…"

"And I know for a fact that you haven't eaten all morning," Randall glared at the coffee cups on her desk, "I'm fairly certain coffee doesn't count as a food group either."

Sharon just glared at the two men, "You know if anyone else talked to me this way, I'd have their badges…."

Elliot's grin, if possible, grew wider, "Good thing we aren't anyone else then…."

"Lets go Captain, its your turn to pick today," Randall lifted himself from the chair and strode towards the door where his partner waited.

Sharon sat in her chair stunned as she watched the two men exit her office just as quickly as they entered. She shook her head ruefully and decided that she was lucky to have two wonderful people not only looking after her cases but her well being as well. Snatching up her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk she pushed open the door and quickly strode through the opening.

She raised her voice loud enough for the men to hear her as they walked steadily ahead of her, "Doesn't matter to me, something quick and easy, I have a meeting at two."

Elliot quirked an eyebrow as he held the squad room doors open for his captain, "May I ask with who?"

"Yeah," drawled Randall as they came to a halt at the elevator, "I'm curious as well…"

"Gentlemen, we all know that a replacement is needed within our department," she said through thin lips, folding her arms in front of her, "and the appointment is with a candidate I intend to have."

Knowing the body language well, Elliot connected eyes with Randall and gave him an imperceptible nod as if to say let the topic go. Sharon Raydor was a formidable woman when she was unemotional, but in the state her sergeants found her in today she was even more dangerous. Randall cautiously pushed the button marked number one, and the doors immediately opened permitting the party entrance. If this kept up it was going to be a long lunch.

As it turned out the captain's foul mood only lasted until they reached Elliot's squad car, then just as quickly as it had arrived it had disappeared. The trio decided to lunch at a quaint restaurant around the corner named Gatsby's, designed to look like a nineteen-thirties club, it was one of Sharon's personal favorites.

They talked about the weather, new movies out that week, Sharon's kids, Randall's new Mercedes he had recently purchased, and as the conversation grew they also discussed Elliot's love life. As the minutes wore on Sharon found herself laughing more and more, her sadness over the loss of a team member lifting. She was almost regretful when she checked her watch and it read a quarter to one…unfortunately time to head back.

Arriving back to Parker Center with five minutes to spare, the officers along with their captain rode the elevator still talking about mundane things. They had both fallen back when they exited the elevator doors, as was custom when in the presence of the rest of the team, so Captain Raydor would enter the squad doors first. As they walked through the heavy doors, their eyes caught a familiar sight; hip leant against the now empty desk staring at her feet, was a sight that brought excitement and apprehension; the men stopped and stared with their mouths agape.

She wore black pinstriped pants that hugged her long legs, which ended in pointed close-toed black pumps. The matching blazer which was open at the waist was situated over a plain cotton v-neck t-shirt, her badge was visible, clipped precisely to the waist of her pants. Her hair was curled gently above her shoulders, and her arms were folded defensively across her chest. When she looked up from staring at her feet, she locked fierce brown eyes with Sharon, and a slow smile stretched across her pretty, full lips.

"Captain Raydor," the woman stated reaching out her hand as a greeting, "A pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise Lieutenant," Sharon smiled in return then gestured to the door of her office with a sweep of her hand, "Shall we?"

The pretty Lieutenant nodded in agreement and preceded Sharon into her office as the captain held the door open, all the while the men watched; then the door close with a quiet click. With a sudden flick of her wrist, Sharon shut out the rest of the squad as she closed the blinds.

Elliot groaned as he sat down at his desk and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. He suddenly felt his desk shift under the weight of what he presumed was his partner sitting on the edge.

Then he heard Randall quietly mutter, "What the hell is she thinking?"

Elliot gingerly lifted his head from his hands, to come face to face with his partner's worried stare.

"I'm not sure," he sighed in frustration, "but she's about to start World War III."

As Sharon turned back to the detective sitting in the chair directly in front of her desk, she couldn't help the foreboding feeling that washed over her. She was already walking a precarious line with Chief Johnson, specifically located between hatred and trust. Was this a wise thing to do?

One thing she was sure of, she needed a replacement for Moore and she needed one with skills that were either comparable or that surpassed Ally's. After pouring over this certain detective's personnel packet, she was satisfied with her decision, whatever the repercussions might be.

The beautiful and young detective in question came to the LAPD with Homeland Security experience, having been a team member for five years and a bachelor's in Forensic Accounting from UC Davis. She is highly skilled in communications and following paper trails, or as with some cases tracking electronic signatures through emails or text messages. Yes she would be an asset to Sharon's team, indeed.

"So…Detective," Sharon began hesitantly, "What brings you back to this neck of the woods," she paused, "More importantly to my division?"

The detective had the grace to blush, "Well ma'am, as you know I've actually been undercover for the last few months and before that I was with the Criminal Investigation Division of the FBI." she explained as she nervously moved in her seat.

"Yes detective…but that still doesn't answer my question," Sharon chuckled, "So ill say it again, what brings you back?"

"Well Captain, to be honest with you, I've missed the LAPD," now that Sharon could understand.

"Even though I went through a struggle the first time around, I would like to give it another shot, it did become my home after all," the detective smiled evenly.

The captain nodded, "And as for the answer to why my division?"

"I want to get ahead in this male dominated industry," the young detective shrugged nonchalantly, "what better way than to than under the watchful eye of one of the precincts strongest female role models, ma'am?"

Well she certainly knew how to boost Sharon's ego, and she accepted the fact that the female detective was in fact telling the truth, but she couldn't help but push just a little more.

"Why not go back to your previous division within the LAPD?" Sharon questioned, seemingly uninterested as she picked at the invisible lint on her blazer sleeve.

The detective cleared her throat, "It was an honor to work with Chief Johnson," she hesitated slightly, "but I think she doesn't have anything else beneficial to teach me, whereas your division and your leadership, I think would be more useful to me in the long run."

Sharon chose not to bring to light the fact that she endured a messy break up with a fellow officer, and that may have been a reason also. As she looked at the detective, she observed that she was calm on the surface, but underneath she was scared…of what the captain didn't know.

Her eyes were astutely examining Sharon as well, her gaze open and appraising, showing that it wasn't the captain of FID that she was afraid of, but the prospect of not being accepted back into an institution she thought of for so many years as her home. Flashing green eyes connected with fiery brown, and in that instant a decision was made.

Sharon chuckled quietly to herself then rose from behind her desk, extending her hand forward in a gesture of peace.

"Welcome to Force Investigation Division Detective Daniels," Sharon grinned, "I will see you tomorrow morning at eight o'clock sharp; we'll begin to bring you up to speed on our most recent cases."

Detective Daniels' eyes lit up as she reached for the captain's hand, "Thank you ma'am, you will not regret this."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Sharon muttered, as she looked towards the clock on the far wall of her office. It read four fifteen…where had the two hours gone?

Watching the detective gather herself as she prepared to leave the office, Sharon stilled her with a hand on her arm.

"I'm actually just about to head out my self, how about I see you out to your car?" she said with a genuine smile.

"No need ma'am," Daniels hesitated but then was quickly cut off.

"It will be my pleasure," the captain promised.

Both women strode out of the small office and made their way down aisle between the row of desks toward the corridor that would led them to the elevator. As Sharon fished her cell phone out of the front pocket of her purse, her eyes locked with those of Sergeant Elliot. He looked so worried; she sought to allay his fears and nodded slowly towards Detective Daniels with a confident smile. Her eyebrows furrowed as she watched Elliot's face drop back to his paperwork, and proceeded to announce that she was leaving.

"Sergeant Elliot," she called, "I'll be out of my office for the remainder of the day…I'll be reachable on my cell."

He didn't verbally respond to her, but raised his had in acknowledgement.

He's acting odd, Sharon thought to he self.

Chalking it up to the heavy workload among other... things in the last couple of days, she pushed it to the back of her mind. Today had indeed been a very good and successful day, now all that was left to do was to head home and attempt to explain her evening plans to her children.

Detective Daniels held the squad room doors open for the captain, and the two women continued to chat amongst themselves as they waited for their summoned elevator to arrive. Suddenly the door opened permitting the party of two entrance and they eagerly stepped inside.

What neither of them expected was for the next stop to come so suddenly or for it to admit the one person neither woman particularly wanted to see. Bouncy blonde curls; warm brown eyes, a wide welcoming smile and an outlandishly colored skirt complete the view of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. She first noticed Detective Daniels and beamed as she stepped merrily into the elevator.

"Hello Detective, it's so nice to see you," she smiled warmly, "How have you been?"

Detective Daniels answered her former commanding officer with an equally large smile, "Just fine ma'am, and yourself?"

"Wonderful, thank yew," as she turned to face the other occupant of the car, her face fell, if only marginally.

"Afternoon Capt'n"," she said with an overtly polite smile.

The southern lilt to her words that seemed to stretch out each syllable never failed to make the hairs on the back of Sharon's neck rise.

She hummed an irritated sound before addressing the blonde southern belle, "Afternoon Chief."

Sufficiently including the captain in her greetings, Chief Johnson immediately turned back to her former detective, "What brings you back to the LAPD?"

Sharon watched as the detective became extremely nervous, "Well…. I…. um that is to say…I had…." she was beginning to stutter.

Clutching at her purse, the captain made a split second decision, "She had an interview with me for an open position in my department..." the words fell from her lips.

"Chief." she added as an afterthought.

The Chief slowly turned to face Sharon, her face blanched and drawn, as if in pain. She sized the captain up, looking her up and down, but Sharon stared back at the chief unflinchingly, she wasn't going to be backing down this time. The chief was the first to look away from the staring contest, shaking her head.

"Well," she drawled in obviously irritated and clipped tone, "Congratulations to the both of you, she will be a true asset to your team Capt'n."

Sharon acknowledged the chief with a subtle nod of her head as a shrill ding filled the elevator car. The doors quickly opened with a soft whoosh, and just as quickly the blonde exited muttering an apology for having to run.

Sharon couldn't help but smirk at the way the chief stomped off like a spoiled child, reminding her oddly of her children when they were younger.

As the doors closed the Detective recovered somewhat, "Well that went better than I though it would," she said shakily.

"Yes," Sharon concluded aloud, "much better."

In the back of the FID captain's mind, she couldn't help but feel as if she hadn't heard the last of this from the southern spitfire.