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 12
Andy knocked on Sharon's office door before opening it slightly. "Charles and his father are sitting in jail, Provenza got Grady out of holding, and all the paperwork is finished," Andy smiled as he entered her office. Sharon closed her laptop and returned his smile.
Andy noticed some paperwork on her desk as he walked closer to her. "Provenza tells me you are going to turn over the investigation into O'Malley's behavior to Brenda," he said and pointed to the notes and file on O'Malley.
"It gives her something to do, plus it shows cooperation, right?" Sharon shrugged her shoulders and nonchalantly answered him. Andy chuckled. "Yes, it does," he answered. "So, since everything is pretty much finished here and it's almost time to pick up Matthew from school, what do you say to calling it a night?" Andy asked her, hoping she would be in agreement.
Sharon glanced at the clock on her wall. It was early but she had no doubt Chief Mason wouldn't have a problem with her letting the team go a little early on a Thursday. "Well, we did have a very productive day," she smiled.
"Yes, we did, plus we got all those guns off the street," Andy added as he leaned on her desk, looking into her eyes. She started to blush and looked away. He could still make her do that after everything they've been through.
"Speaking of those guns, do we have a final count from SID yet?" Sharon asked as she stood up from her chair and walked around to the other side of her desk. "Mike has all of that paperwork, but last I heard it was around 127 guns," Andy informed her as she now was standing in front of him.
"Hmm, not bad for executing a search warrant," she smirked. "I think a good reward for all that hard work is to let the team leave early," he reminded her. "Oh, I'll agree to that," she smiled and played with his tie. Andy smiled back at her, enjoying her flirtation in her office. "I was hoping you would," he flirted back to her and they stood there in her office.
Meanwhile, Provenza walked back into the Murder Room with Grady. Sharon glanced over through the blinds and saw them. Provenza looked into her office and they waited outside. "I wonder why he came back up here?" she said to Andy as she turned towards the door and exited her office. Andy took a deep breath and looked downward, making sure he was presentable before following Sharon out of her office.
"Grady?" Sharon called his name as she approached Provenza and him. "Ma'am, I just wanted to tell everyone thank you," Grady said in his southern drawl. Sharon didn't know why he was thanking them but she gladly accepted it.
"Lieutenant Provenza here told me that you arrested Charlie and his father," Grady added as he stood there in the middle of the room. "Yes, we did. And I wanted to thank you for your cooperation in this investigation, Grady. We wouldn't have known anything was wrong without you telling us," Sharon told him and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Well, I better get going," Grady said and everyone in the room waved good bye to him. "Where are you going to go?" Andy asked him. "Um, well, I think I'm going to head back to Atlanta, is there a way I could see where my brother's remains are or anything with regards to that, you know, before I leave?" Grady asked.
Sharon looked around the room and her eyes landed on Provenza. She was at a loss here and didn't know what happened to Grady's brother after he was shot years ago. "Um, well Grady, you see, when someone is killed in an undercover operation, the body doesn't get released to the family as no one is supposed to know that the person was deep undercover," Provenza came up with his explanation quickly.
Sharon and Andy weren't sure if Grady would understand that explanation as they waited for him to follow what Provenza had just said. Sharon stepped in to try to help him understand. "Grady, your brother was a hero, and helped a lot of officers catch the bad guys, he was not alone, if that helps," she told him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you, ma'am. Thank you everybody," Grady said and turned, walking out of the Murder Room with Provenza.
Sharon sighed along with almost everyone else in the room. She looked around at her team and couldn't have been prouder to command them. "Everyone, since you all did an outstanding job this morning, and solving the case, let's all go home early," Sharon smiled at her team and received a lot of thank you as she made her way back into her office.
"Thanks Lieutenant," Julio said as he walked past Andy and went to his desk to retrieve his things. "Why are you thanking him, Julio?" Amy asked in wonder. "Because I'm sure he buttered up the Commander when he was in her office earlier to let us leave," Julio smirked and looked at Andy.
"Hey guys, all I suggested was to let us leave early due to the fact that we had a very productive day today, and she agreed," Andy played it off like it was Sharon's idea. "Well, I for one am happy to be leaving early," Mike said as he gathered his suit jacket.
"Oh, really Tao, where are you heading off to?" Julio asked him. "I, uh, have a business meeting with the Badge of Justice director," Mike said, not wanting to say that in front of Andy.
"Oh geeze, really Mike?" Andy groaned. "See you tomorrow," Mike said and waved as he walked out of the office.
Andy shook his head as he turned around and gathered his things at his desk. "Badge, badge, badge," he mumbled as he grabbed his car keys.
Sharon exited her office and ran her hand along Andy's back. "Are you ready?" she asked, noticing he had been mumbling something. "Yeah," he smiled and the two of them walked out of the office.
They walked down the hallway towards the elevators. Sharon gave him a look before she spoke. "You're not still mad about the old man comment, are you?" she asked noticing his happy face from before was now replaced with a huff.
"What? No, I'm not, besides I thought I would show you that I'm not an old man tonight when we're alone," he muttered and smiled when he suggested the last part.
Sharon smirked as she stepped into the elevator. "Oh, I know for a fact you're not an old man," she said slyly and Andy wrapped his arm around her waist as the elevator doors closed.
They made their way out of the elevator and headed towards their cars. Sharon was holding Andy's hand as he walked her to her car. Sharon unlocked her car and Andy opened her driver side door. "I'll stop and pick up dinner for us," she whispered as they were standing close together.
"Okay," he smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "And I'll get Matthew," he said as he pulled away. Sharon nodded and caught her breath. "See you at home," she smiled, ran her hand down the front of his shirt, and slipped into the driver's seat.
Andy turned around and headed to his car, opening the driver's side door, and slipping inside. He then drove off towards Matthew's school.
Meanwhile, as Sharon drove towards the little Greek restaurant, her phone rang so she answered it hands free. "Hello?" she said, knowing it was Emily calling her. "Hey Mom, how's it going so far?" Emily asked as she was sitting backstage, after just finishing rehearsals.
"Oh, good. We are just leaving work now," she smiled as she turned the car down the street. "Wow, it's early isn't it?" Emily looked at her phone to check the time again. "You know sometimes we get out early," Sharon chuckled at her daughter.
"How was your last rehearsal?" Sharon asked. "It was good Mom. I think we will all be ready for tomorrow night," Emily sounded excited and Sharon was grateful for that after she decided to move back home.
"I'm happy for you," Sharon told her as she pulled up to the restaurant. "I know you'll be late coming home tonight," she added. "The party is till 10 so it won't be that late, Mom," Emily grinned. "Oh, and apparently one of the guys that's in the production likes me, well that's according to Karen," Emily added to her conversation with Sharon.
"Really?" Sharon smiled wondering how long Emily had been keeping that from her. "Yes Mom, and I just found out about it this morning during rehearsal, so don't think I've been keeping it from you," Emily knew her mother well.
"I wouldn't think of that at all," Sharon said innocently. "Okay Mom," Emily chuckled. There was a pause before Emily spoke again. "So, I take it because you got out early that you and Andy finished your case?" Emily said with a hopeful voice.
"Yes, we did honey so we will all be there tomorrow night," Sharon smiled. "Great!" Emily was excited even though this wasn't like her first performance ever, but she was still happy that her mom, Andy, and the rest of them were able to come.
"Okay Mom, I got to go!" Emily said as she saw Karen waiving to her from the back-stage area. "Okay sweetie, have fun and be safe tonight!" Sharon said and she could picture Emily rolling her eyes after she said that. "Yes Mom, love you, bye!" Emily said and hung up her phone.
Sharon stepped out of her car and entered the restaurant to place their order for dinner.
Meanwhile, Andy pulled up into the school parking lot and parked his car. He got out of the car and started walking towards the school building when he saw that same car he had seen the other night down the block.
The police detective in him told him to investigate further but the dad in him told him he needed to pick up Matthew instead. He sighed. The suspicious car was in the parking lot as well so maybe the owner of the car was picking up a student as well. Andy glanced over to the car again and didn't see anyone sitting inside.
He made his way into the school building and joined the other parents that were picking up their kids from the afterschool care program.
"Ah Lieutenant Flynn!" the principal greeted him as he was standing there waiting for Matthew. "Principal Gottardo, how are you?" he shook her hand. "I'm doing well, thank you," she answered him and then took a look around to see if Sharon was with him. "Your wife is not with you today?" she asked him.
Andy shook his head no. "No, she's picking up dinner while I get Matthew," he smiled. "Oh, very well, I'll just ask you the question I have," she told him. "Sure," he nodded and listened. "It has come to my attention that there is a letter going around through the fourth graders and I want to know if Matthew happened to show the letter to you or your wife," she asked him.
"Ah, not that I'm aware of. What's in this letter?" he asked her as they stood off to the side of the hallway. "It's about a boy, Joey Madson. He's in Matthew's class and I was just wondering if Matthew mentioned it to either you or your wife," she told him but Andy shook his head no.
"I can certainly ask him if he's seen it," Andy mentioned that to her. "That would be helpful," the principal said and then watched Andy walk away to greet Matthew further down the hallway.
"Hey buddy, how was school?" Andy asked as Matthew and he walked out of the building. "It was okay, Billy brought in his pet snake and showed it around to everyone during science class," Matthew smiled as they walked towards the car.
"Oh, a snake, huh?" Andy said as he opened the car door for Matthew. "Yep! It was really cool," Matthew said as he climbed in the back seat. "Well, don't tell your mother that, she hates snakes," Andy said as he handed Matthew's backpack to him and closed the door.
Andy walked around to the driver's side and looked around the parking lot but didn't see that car anymore. He then got in the car and drove Matthew and himself home.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he came to a stop at the light. "Better," mumbled Matthew as he sat there looking out the window.
As he was driving he thought about asking Matthew if there was this letter that was going around his class. "Hey Matthew?" he asked to get his attention. "Huh," Matthew's response came out as the boy looked from the window to his dad.
"Have you seen anything about a boy in your class going around?" Andy asked as he thought of the best way to approach this topic with him. "Like what?" Matthew asked. "Like a letter saying something?" Andy furthered his question.
Matthew paused as he listened to his dad's question. The truth was that he did see some boys passing around something yesterday but he never saw it with his own eyes. His silence was noted by Andy. "Matthew?" he said his name.
Matthew saw his dad's eyes in the rear-view mirror looking back at him. "I saw something a couple of boys were passing around yesterday," he answered him quietly. "I don't know what it was, they never showed me," he added.
"They're always teasing someone in class even though the teacher has told these two boys to stop," he continued as Andy drove. "Have they teased you?" Andy asked him, hoping that they haven't. "No, I think they don't bother me because they know both you and Mom are police officers," Matthew said like it was no big deal.
"Hmm," Andy thought as he turned off of Sunset Boulevard and onto Fountain Avenue. They were about 15 minutes from home and he had just received a text alert saying that Sharon was on her way home from the restaurant.
Andy turned his thoughts to Sharon's Christmas gift. He didn't know what to get her and he was running out of time as Christmas was quickly approaching. He supposed he could never go wrong with jewelry, but he had gotten her jewelry last year.
He sighed as he pulled the car into their driveway. He was just opening the garage with the remote when he saw Sharon pull up behind him. "Good," he muttered to himself and then turned to his son after he had parked the car in the garage. "Matthew, can you help Mom with carrying the bags for dinner?" he asked and the boy nodded.
Matthew waited until the other car was parked next to them before he got out of the car and grabbed his backpack. He walked over to the other car's driver's seat and waited for Sharon to get out.
"Hi Mom!" he smiled and waited patiently. "Hey, my sweet boy, how are you feeling?" she asked as she stepped out of the car. "Better," he told her. She enveloped him in a small hug before releasing him. She glanced Andy's way and saw him smiling at her.
"Here, can you take this bag into the house for me?" Sharon asked Matthew as she held one of the bags out for him to take. Matthew grabbed it and then exited the garage with Sharon and Andy behind him.
"What are you thinking?" Sharon asked Andy as the two of them followed Matthew into the house. "Me?" Andy asked innocently as they watched Matthew unlock the back door. Sharon shook her head at her husband. "I was just trying to think of a gift for you for Christmas," Andy grinned.
"Hmm, well, I hope you know what you're getting me, because I already got you your present, well part of it anyway," Sharon flashed her sexy smile at Andy as she made her way into the house.
"How do you know I'll like it?" he asked as he made his way, following her. "Oh, trust me, you'll like it," she smiled again, placing the bag of food on the counter next to the one Matthew brought in.
Andy stood there looking at her while Matthew went to play with Moxie. Now he really needed to figure out a good present for her as he watched her get things ready for dinner.
TBC
