DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, except for Matthew and Moxie. The rest of them belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.

Chapter 9

Provenza watched Andy as he squirmed in his chair he was sitting in outside on the back deck. "I'm waiting Flynn" Provenza said to Andy as he waited to hear this story behind the Captain and him. "Yeah, well, you see, things were complicated back then. She was legally separated but still technically married so we had to be careful on how we approached our relationship" Andy said to Provenza as he listened to his best friend. "Go on" Provenza said to Andy and Andy realized that Provenza wasn't going to drop this. "I don't think Sharon wants me telling you how we started seeing each other before she took over as Captain of Major Crimes" Andy said hoping that saying that would convince his friend to let it go. "Really? We could always get her and Patrice out here as well and ask her to tell it" Provenza said to Andy.

Andy looked back at Provenza. "Why are you so interested in mine and Sharon's dating prior to me officially asking her out?" Andy asked him. "Because you idiot, you would always deny that the two of you were dating anytime I brought up the facts that you were dating!" Provenza said to Andy. Andy knew he had a point with that. Andy hung his head low. "Look, just tell me when the two of you started to see each other, how about that, hmm?" Provenza said to him. "Fine, fine" Andy said waving him off with his hand. "But, if you repeat this to anyone, and I mean anyone" Andy said but before he finished Provenza interrupted him. "Yes Flynn, I know, now get on with it" Provenza said.

"Okay, remember how upset the Chief was when Sharon arrived at the crime scene of the two cops that were shot by Kritchner and his friend?" Andy started to say to Provenza and Provenza thought back to that incident. "Yeah" Provenza said. "When Sharon took our ballistic evidence, I was livid and kind of showed that in the office area" Andy said. "Yeah, I thought you were going to pass out, your face was beat red back then" Provenza said to him. "Well, after she returned our evidence and told us about the car, even though she didn't have to, I started to see her in a different light" Andy said to Provenza. "What light was that?" Provenza asked him and Andy gave him a look. "I watched her go in to that interview room with Kritchner, by herself, and I found myself not wanting her in there alone with that creep" Andy continued as Provenza listened to him.

"After we all attended the officers' funerals, I stopped her before she got back in her car and we started talking" Andy said to him. "I mean we knew each other before that, back when she and I were Sergeants. She helped me get sober when my ex-wife threw me out of the house" Andy continued. "Yes, yes, yes. Move on Flynn" Provenza said to Andy as he motioned with his hand. "Anyways, we would go out for coffee here and there over the next couple of months. She stayed out of Major Crimes and we stayed out of FID" Andy said as he rubbed his forehead. "Then we got in to a fight about something, I forgot what it was, but I was really mad at her, hence when she wanted the Chief to investigate Ally Moore's alleged domestic violence, I told the Chief she was wasting our time and then drew the witch stick figure on the board" Andy concluded. Provenza looked at Andy and shook his head.

"After the Chief and Sharon solved the whole Ally Moore debacle, Sharon was upset over the fact that one of her detectives used her and played on her sympathy. Before we left the morgue, after you all had left, Sharon stopped me in the hallway and asked if I wanted to go to dinner with her because she wanted to talk. We did, she apologized, and after dinner, I took her home with me" Andy said to him. "The next morning, it was nice having her wake up in my arms and we knew we had to be discreet about our relationship" Andy stated as Provenza listened. "So yes, Sharon and I had been seeing each other back then, it got a little complicated with the whole lawsuit and her auditing us, but we managed through that. Then she found the leak, the Chief left, and she took over Major Crimes" Andy said.

"Wait a minute Flynn, what about when you were in the hospital after getting into your knife fight?" Provenza asked him. "After my AA meeting I was going to stop by Sharon's place and bring her some leftover cake I had picked up for the meeting. The guy jumped me from behind and we fought. I was fighting for my life but I was also fighting to see Sharon again, that's all I could think about. When I shot the guy and he ran away, I got up and went to follow him but I immediately felt winded and weak from my wounds. As I leaned up against the car, I pulled out my phone and pressed Sharon's name to call her" Andy said to him. "I told her to call an ambulance and that I was okay but she needed to get there because I discharged my weapon into that dirt bag. She rushed down and had Sergeant Brown and Elliot meet her there. When she came over to me, she had to be all business as I explained to her what had happened. I saw the look in her eyes when I first turned around and she saw the knife wounds, she was scared. It was the same look she gave me when I collapsed last year" Andy said to Provenza.

"Ye gods! So that's why she was nice to the Chief and the rest of us that were waiting at the hospital. You and she had a thing going on between you two" Provenza said as he leaned back in his chair. "It wasn't just a thing, you make that sound cheap" Andy said trying to correct him. "Anyway it was right after the Rick Zuman case that Sharon conducted her IA investigation on then Captain Winnie Davis" Andy added to their conversation. "Okay, so then why did you deny dating the Captain whenever I would bring it up to you, with clear evidence that the two of you were dating?" Provenza asked him. "Because Sharon and I agreed that our relationship needed to stay as discreetly as possible, when she took over Major Crimes, and then Rusty came to live with her, there wasn't much we could do" Andy explained. "We still went out for dinners and stuff like that, but Rusty would tag along as well most of the time" Andy said.

"Hmm, well I have to say you both played the discreet part well. I mean, I didn't even know you two were seeing each other back then and I'm an elite detective in the Major Crimes division!" Provenza said to Andy and Andy laughed. Provenza gave him a look. "What? Why are you laughing at that?!" Provenza said to him. Andy just shook his head. "You're elite alright" Andy said still chuckling to himself. The two of them sat outside for a little while longer.

"What do you think those two are discussing out there?" Patrice asked Sharon as they sat at the kitchen table. "Oh, probably something to do with the past if I had to take a guess" Sharon said as she smiled at Patrice. "Louie was telling me about the latest case you and the team caught. I'm sorry Sharon, I know how difficult it is to deal with a teenage victim" Patrice said to Sharon as Sharon fidgeted with her hands. "When I was a nurse in the ER, I saw young victims of violence every day, it's heart-wrenching" Patrice said to Sharon as she reached to cover Sharon's hand with hers.

Matthew came back in the kitchen and was eating some carrots while he stood at the island counter. Sharon watched him as he entered the room. "Matthew, why don't you grab a plate and put some carrots on it, and sit down here with us" Sharon said to him. "Where did Dad and Louie go?" Matthew asked her as he ate another carrot. "Um, I believe they are outside sitting on the deck" Sharon said to Matthew. "Can I join them out there?" Matthew asked Sharon. Sharon looked at Patrice and then back at Matthew. "I don't see why not, go ahead, and take Moxie with you. I think he needs to go outside anyway" Sharon said as Matthew ran outside the back door.

"How are things going with him, now that you and Andy adopted him" Patrice asked Sharon as Sharon stood up from the table and refilled Patrice's glass with lemonade. "Thank you" Patrice said and then Sharon sat down. "Things are going pretty well. He seems to be adapting nicely and I think he enjoys calling me Mom and Andy Dad" Sharon said to her as she also took a sip of lemonade from her glass. "Andy and I were thinking about taking him on a trip this weekend coming up, if this case we are currently working on gets solved beforehand" Sharon said to Patrice. "Oh yes, Louie mentioned something like that to me as he was pouting about it" Patrice said. "Pouting?" Sharon inquired. "Yes, apparently he was upset with Andy because he was taking the two of you to Spring Training to see the Dodgers and not him" Patrice said with a chuckle. That also made Sharon laugh.

Matthew ran outside to the back yard with Moxie chasing him out of the house. "Hey, easy Matthew!" Andy called out to him as he ran right past them. "Sorry!" Matthew called back as he threw a ball to Moxie for him to retrieve. "How are things going with him?" Provenza asked Andy. "Things are going really well. He calls Sharon, Mom and me, Dad, I think that helps with the confusion from before when Sharon's kids were here for the holidays and he heard them call Sharon Mom. He accidently blurted it out one time" Andy said to Provenza. "Well that's good then, right?" Provenza said to him. "Yeah, it is" Andy said as he watched Matthew play with Moxie. "Who would have thought that Sharon and I would be at the place that we are at right now, all those years ago" Andy said to Provenza. "Certainly not me" Provenza quipped.

Sharon and Patrice made their way outside to the deck and sat down next to Provenza and Andy. "And what are you men discussing out here that was so funny earlier?" Patrice asked Andy and Provenza. "Oh, we were just talking about how Provenza here says that he is an elite detective at Major Crimes" Andy said to Patrice as he grabbed Sharon's hand when she walked over to them. "Ha, Ha Flynn" Provenza said to Andy and then he glanced over at Patrice. "Patrice, dear, did you know that Sharon and Flynn here were seeing each other long before anyone else knew about it?" Provenza said to Patrice. "Well, I don't know about that but I do know that the first time I met them, I knew there was a spark between the two of them, something just clicked" Patrice said to everyone. Andy glanced over at Sharon sitting next to him and smiled at her. Sharon smiled back at Andy and squeezed his hand.

Provenza and Patrice ended up staying for dinner and Andy had grilled them all the best salmon that they had tasted. "Andy, however you prepared the salmon filets, they were delicious" Patrice said to Andy as she helped Sharon clear the table. "Oh, thank you Patrice" Andy said to her as he rinsed the dishes that Sharon handed to him. "See, Louie, Andy helps out and puts the dishes in the dishwasher" Patrice said to Provenza as he sat down at the table and was telling Matthew about the Dodgers. Provenza looked up at her and then over at Andy and just shook his head. "So, who's your favorite player now?" Matthew asked Provenza as they continued to sit there. Andy walked back to the table to pick up the main glass tray that was used for the fish. "You're making things difficult for me at home" Provenza muttered to Andy under his breath. Andy just shook his head. "Matthew, he can't answer that question because his favorite player, is no longer playing baseball" Andy said to Matthew as he brought the dish up to the sink and rinsed it before he placed it in the dishwasher.

"That's not true Matthew, my favorite player currently on the team is Adrian Gonzalez" Provenza answered Matthew. "Oh come on! Everyone likes Adrian Gonzalez" Andy stated as he walked back to the table. Sharon and Patrice walked over to the family room while they discussed the Dodgers in the kitchen. "You like him too, Dad" Matthew said to Andy and Provenza looked at Andy and then folded his arms across his chest, smiling with a big grin.

"How are things with Andy, his health I mean" Patrice asked Sharon as they sat down on the couch. "He's doing well. His doctor is happy with the diet he placed him on and the numbers at his checkups are within the range the doctor wants him at" Sharon said to Patrice. "But, you worry about him" Patrice said to Sharon. Sharon glanced up at her sitting on the other end of the couch. "I do, yes" Sharon said in an almost whisper to Patrice. "He knows that too" Sharon added as she glanced over in the direction of the kitchen and then looked at Patrice. Patrice nodded.

It was getting late in the evening, and Provenza walked over to the family room. "Patrice, we should get going. Captain, it's been a pleasure. See you and Flynn early tomorrow. We'll deal with Mr. Herrera and Winnie Davis tomorrow, if she pops up" Provenza said to Sharon as he and Patrice walked over to the front door. "Good night Flynn" Provenza said to Andy as he shook his hand. "Night" Andy said in return. "Matthew, come say goodbye to Louie and Patrice" Sharon called over to Matthew, who was still sitting in the kitchen. Matthew came over to them and gave each of them a hug. "Goodbye" Matthew said as Provenza and Patrice walked out the door. Andy closed the front door and locked it, then turned around to look at Sharon and Matthew.

"Well Matthew, it is getting late and you have school tomorrow, so I guess you know what that means" Sharon said to him as he turned around to go upstairs. Matthew slowly climbed up the stairs, practically climbing them on his stomach. Sharon and Andy looked at each other. Andy walked up behind Matthew. "What'cha doing buddy?" Andy asked him as he climbed the stairs. "Pretending to be a mountain climber. Do I have to go to bed?" Matthew asked Andy as they made it to the top of the stairs. "Afraid so, it's a school night" Andy said as he walked with Matthew to his room. Matthew got ready for bed and a minute later, Sharon came up to join them along with Moxie.

Moxie jumped on Matthew's bed and settled down for the night. Matthew climbed into his bed and Sharon tucked him in. "Good night, Matthew" Sharon said as she kissed his forehead. "Good night, Mommy" Matthew said as he curled up on his side. "Good night buddy" Andy said to him. "Night Dad" Matthew said as he yawned and closed his eyes. Andy stood there for a second before closing the door behind Sharon and him.

Sharon and Andy made their way into their bedroom, closing their door behind them. "So, do we know who the lawyer is for Mr. Herrera yet?" Andy asked Sharon as he got ready for bed. "No, we don't" Sharon called out from the bathroom where she was getting herself ready for bed. "Well, hopefully the dirt bag doesn't do anything stupid, otherwise I'd hate to be the one to set him straight" Andy said as Sharon walked out of the bathroom wearing one of Andy's Dodgers shirts and a pair of silk shorts. Andy saw her as he turned around and watched her walk out of the bathroom. He pulled on his right ear lobe as she made her way closer to him. Andy swallowed as she came right up to him and pulled him in for a kiss. "You will do no such thing Andy, again, the last thing we need is an FID investigation of you with Winnie Davis flying around" Sharon said as she pulled away from him.

"So I assume you told Provenza the story of how we started seeing each other" Sharon said to him as she reached up and kissed him. "I did, just the basics only" Andy said as he ran his hands through her hair. "You are so beautiful" Andy whispered to her which made Sharon blush. She smiled at him and played with his short hair on the back of his head. He pulled her in for another kiss. She ran her hands up and down his back as Andy held her close to him. "How are you feeling?" he asked Sharon. "I'm doing better, Patrice and I talked about this case a little and it helped" Sharon answered Andy as she led him to their bed.

Andy pulled back the covers and Sharon slipped in with Andy right behind her. "Promise me you'll keep your cool tomorrow when we deal with the father" Sharon said as she turned in Andy's arms to face him. "I promise" Andy said as he kissed Sharon. Sharon found her usual spot and laid her head right on Andy's shoulder as he held her. She took her hand and placed it on his bare chest right above his heart. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Andy did the same as soon as he felt her relax into his embrace.

TBC