With a Bit of Luck Chapter 10

Sharon ducked down in the chair slightly and whispered, "Oh my God, seriously?"

With his eyes still on the couple Andy forced his face into a smile. Through his gritted teeth he whispered, "Seriously." He shifted his gaze to her still directing a smile to the pair as they approached. "You can slouch down and try to hide all you want, but that won't stop them from coming this way. You can't hide out here. It's an open patio."

Sharon closed her eyes in disbelief. Months of being together and now everything was coming to the forefront. It was one thing to play around and torture Provenza. It was quite another to be out to the rest of the department, and they would be out. The rumor mill would have a field day with this: Rulebook Raydor and the hot headed Lieutenant. They would never hear the end of it. "Shh," Sharon whispered, "Don't wave, don't look. Maybe they won't see us."

He rolled his eyes and reasoned, "Little late for that, babe."

Sharon pinched her face unsure of the new endearment, "Babe?" She thought he had called her that the other night in her sleep, but had not been sure.

Andy shrugged at the slip of term, but before he could say anything more the other couple approached the table.

"Flynn," greeted Fritz with an outstretched hand.

Andy half stood as he attempted to get out from underneath the table, "Howard." He stepped to the side of his chair and nodded to Brenda, "Chief. Nice to see you two out this evening."

Fritz nodded in return, "Yes, we thought it would be nice to come up and have a quiet dinner at the beach. This is one of our favorite spots. We don't make it out here that often though." Still seated in her chair Sharon rolled her eyes at the comment, and their luck, before preparing to greet their colleagues.

Beside Fritz, Brenda smiled cordially to Andy, "We haven't ever seen you here before, Lieutenant. You on a..." her voice trailed as she glanced to his dinner guest and squeaked the last word uncomfortably, "date?" Sharon gave the other woman an awkward smile. "Wait, Captain?" Brenda turned her attention back to Andy, "Lieutenant this is Captain Raydor. Did you do somethin' that I need to be made aware of? You under investigation again?" She turned back to Sharon, "Captain Raydor he has only been back to active duty for a week or so. Surely this is all some kind of mistake..."

Her words were interrupted when her husband bumping his shoulder against hers. Fritz leaned over and whispered, "I don't think that is -."

Confused, Brenda interrupted, "Is what?" She glanced back to the table, "Oh did you just run into her here then? That's nice of you to join her for dinner, considering y'all's past. I mean it's not always fun dinin' alone, but..."

Fritz bumped her again and shook his head, "Brenda, I don't think that is what is going on either."

Brenda looked between the two and dropped her voice, "Oh, is this some kind of undercover operation? Are you two having to pretend to get along? Is that why you have been hanging around Captain? You weren't able to discuss it with me again? Like you before when the Lieutenant was accused by the Zuman character? This whole need-to-know thing is startin' to really get on my nerves. How are we supposed to do our jobs with you haunting our halls, Captain?" She turned to her husband, "Fritzy you don't seem to be surprised. Did you know about this? Is the FBI involved somehow?"

Fritz shook his head and drawled, "No Brenda Leigh I think you may be overthinking this a bit."

Even more confused she stared at Flynn for a moment and then at Sharon. They were dressed stylishly casual, but they both seemed unusually flushed for the atmosphere. Finally piecing everything together Brenda took a deep breath and sighed, "Ohhh."

As the Chief began to realize what was going on Sharon found her voice. Temporarily ignoring the rambling reasoning of Chief Johnson, she rotated in her seat. She faced the two and nodded a forced, but simple greeting, "Good evening, Chief Johnson, Agent Howard. It is nice to see you out here. It is a lovely evening and the restaurant does have a very pleasant view."

Brenda opened and closed her mouth twice before her husband stepped forward to cover for her shock. Fritz smiled in acknowledgment, "Captain Raydor. Sorry we didn't mean to interrupt your evening. As I said we were just spending a rare takeout free evening away of the house."

Andy grinned as he retook his seat, "That's all right, Howard. We have not been here long. You did not interrupt much. We were just discussing the holidays. You two have any plans?"

Fritz glanced down to his wife who was still working out the scene in front of her. Allowing her to think it through a little longer he shrugged, "Well, Brenda's parents are visiting so we will be staying here. I am sure Clay and Willie Ray will have a more detailed itinerary once they get here."

"Yes," Brenda hummed regaining her speech. "Momma and Daddy love it out here. Always findin' new things to do. They're very excited to spend the holiday with us." She paused to glance between the couple at the table. Brenda held back a shutter when she noticed how close their hands seemed to be on the table. She really was not sure what was going on and could not believe they actually were sitting so calmly together in public. Shaking off her internal dialogue, of oh my gosh what is going on with Flynn, she continued, "Hopefully there plans won't be interrupted by a case or anything. They don't always like it when I'm rushin' to a crime scene. I am also pretty sure they will not want to spend Christmas dinner in the Murder Room."

Andy chuckled, "No, that's always a hard thing to explain to family, the rushing away. Although, if we had to have dinner at work I am sure your mother's cooking would almost make it worth the change in everyone's plans." He glanced over at Sharon who nodded in agreement.

Brenda followed his eyes across the table. "So, Captain," she drawled. "I'm sorry but this is a little shocking to see you two out here, together. I mean you had been nicer lately, but I just assumed you were hopin' for a promotion, not flirtin' with Flynn."

Sharon closed her eyes briefly at the other woman's crass phrasing. Across from her she felt Andy shift slightly and then felt his hand reach out to cover hers on top of the table. Without thinking too much about the gesture she rolled her hand under his and wrapped her fingers around his hand. Andy squeezed her hand in silent support. At the small act of reassurance she opened her eyes to address the Chief. "Well, Chief Johnson like I explained at our lunch. I do believe we need to support one another and for the department as a whole to be a more cohesive unit. After all we get nowhere if we just stay on our opposing sides thinking everyone else is wrong. We have to support one another, or at least leave avenues to open dialogues about our disagreements. Simply shouting into the void does very little to garner respect or support. I was not just," she paused and forced a smile as she echoed the other woman's comment, "flirtin' with Flynn."

Fritz snorted a laugh into his hand as Brenda smirked, "Well, Captain I didn't mean anything by it."

Sharon returned the expression and dipped her head in the other woman's direction, "Of course not, Chief."

Fritz nudged his wife again, "Brenda, honey, maybe we should let them carry on with their dinner." Still slightly stunned by the scene Brenda turned to her husband. He shook his head at her continued level of wariness about the couple. Fritz lifted his hand to her shoulder and reasoned, "A few minutes ago you were absolutely starvin' so if you want to eat tonight let's leave them be. I am sure this will not be your last opportunity to speak with them."

At the table Andy jostled their joined hands encouragingly before pulling his back to his side. He lifted his right hand and gave a mock salute, "Chief, Howard. Enjoy your evening."

Fritz smiled to them both, "You two as well," before following the host to the other side of the patio.

Not quite ready to leave Brenda paused briefly, but then hummed as Fritz stepped away, "Captain, Lieutenant, see you Monday." She bit down on her lip as she considered something more to say, but stopped. Instead she followed Fritz across the floor.

"Well," Andy mused as he watched the two walk away. He turned back to Sharon, "that went well."

She sighed, "I suppose." She reached out for her drink and took a sip to gather her thoughts. As she returned it to the table she shrugged lightheartedly, "At least no one keeled over, or accused you of hitting your head so hard that you were insane. They also didn't assume I had put some kind of weird spell on you... so I suppose that is well enough, better than Provenza."

Andy chuckled, "I'll take the win then."

Sharon stared off behind him as Brenda and Fritz took their seats. "Although," she hummed, "I'm not so sure she is convinced this is not some kind of set up or prank."

"Like Provenza set her up to stumble on us fake dating, or something?" He suggested with a grin.

"That would take a great deal of planning and involvement on his part," Sharon laughed at the awkwardness of the entire situation. "Of course, just like in the movies. You had to find someone presentable and I was the only one available." She paused a moment and smirked, "Lucky me."

He tipped his glass to her, "You know it."

At his cocky reply she rolled her eyes, "but have you ever noticed that those are just mindless? They always end up together in the end; fake dating to real dating in a matter of minutes."

Andy returned his drink to the table and shrugged, "Oh, don't try to take away people's joy. They may be mindless, but they are at least something less intense than the real world. Occasionally it is nice for something to be simple." Across from him Sharon beamed at his cheesiness as he went on, "Even if that were the case we have passed the fake part of that plotline. Look at us out here, we are now real dating."

"One evening out and we are passed that stage?" she mocked shaking her head. "I have no idea why I put up with you and your odd sense of humor."

He smiled at her jest, "Oh come on, babe," he tried the name again, "you know you love it."

"I don't know why," she sighed looking out over the patio. "And since when did you start calling me that?"

He shrugged, "It seemed appropriate so I went with it."

She rolled her eyes again and picked up her menu, "We'll see."

Silently Andy did the same. They sat in comfortable silence until their waiter arrived to take their orders. Once the man had left Andy hummed, "So, earlier we were discussing Christmas plans and how you we were going to spend some time up in Salt Lake. Maybe do something with my kids here?"

She raised an eyebrow in his direction, "Oh were we now?"

"I think it may be an okay time," he shrugged. He hooked his thumb behind him, "I mean now the list of those in the know, now includes my Chief, the FBI, and my partner. Never mind the fact that I have it on good authority that a few of your friends know how crazy you are about me as well. Seems only natural to go ahead and just come out to everyone. So, Captain, I think it is time."

Sharon hummed, "Oh you think so, Lieutenant?"

"Definitely," he stated with more confidence than he felt. "You know this is the real deal. You have been hooked since the beginning."

Sharon pressed her lips together into a half smirk before sighing, "Oh, really now? Since the beginning?"

"Since mostly the beginning," Andy amended. "I mean there were some ups and downs, but I do seem to remember you giving me a key first."

Sharon rolled her eyes, "That was so you I wouldn't have to leave the door unlocked when you were on your way over."

"Yes," he smirked. "Purely for safety. Then of course you offered to let me keep a spare suit at your condo..."

"Again, for convenience," she interjected.

He continued without missing a beat, "...My favorite leather jacket still seems to be in someone's care, and I do believe that someone has also stolen a t-shirt or two..."

"The jacket is out being repaired. Someone thought it would be fun to get into a knife fight one evening. The t-shirts? They're more comfortable than mine, and they were left behind," she reasoned as he continued to list off her offenses.

"...Plus, someone was completely fine with torturing Provenza for a couple weeks without even a second thought to what she was doing. This is just the natural progression." He gestured between them, "Two people not so sure they needed one another, but over time deciding they liked having the other one around."

"Is that how it works?" She droned, attempting to hold back her amusement.

Andy shrugged, "I think the evidence supports my claims." The waiter delivering their meals temporarily interrupted their conversation. When the man left Andy shifted in his seat in preparation to eat. He put his napkin in his lap and hummed across the table, "So, Sharon, are we driving or flying out to Salt Lake this year?"

A/N: I think this is an okay place to end this? Thank you for trailing along with me. My original idea did not have it going out this far. So, I hope it was at least somewhat enjoyable/entertaining. :)